•  The Minnesota Crookston women's basketball team looks to continue their strong as they conclude the 2018 portion of their schedule against Bemidji State University at 2 p.m. at Lysaker Gymnasium. The Golden Eagles are looking for the season sweep against the Beavers as they picked up a 70-61 win over the Beavers in Bemidji, Minn., Dec. 1. 

•  GREAT START. The Minnesota Crookston women's basketball team has opened up the 2018-19 season with a 7-4 mark, their best start to a campaign since the 2015-16 season. The Golden Eagles are currently 2-3 in conference play with wins over Northern State and Bemidji State. The best season in program history for the Golden Eagles came during the 2015-16 campaign as Minnesota Crookston finished with an 18-10 mark. Minnesota Crookston started out the 2015-16 season with an 8-3 mark in the first 11 games. Minnesota Crookston has tied the start they posted in the 2004-05 season, where they also went 7-4 in the first 11 games. 

• TRY AND SLOW HER DOWN. Isieoma Odor has been off to one of the greatest starts a Golden Eagle player has had in program history as evidenced by her three selections as NSIC North Player of the Week in just five weeks. Odor is leading the team with 18.2 points per game and 9.5 rebounds per game. The Minnesota Crookston senior has secured four double-doubles on the 2018-19 season. She is currently third in scoring in the NSIC, and fourth in rebounding in the conference. In addition, Odor continues to move up the all-time scoring and rebounding charts. She needs just six points to move past former Golden Eagle and current Southwest Minnesota State University assistant coach Brittani Weise. In addition, Odor has 624 career rebounds to rank third all-time. She needs 55 rebounds to surpass Laurie Tyson for second all-time, and 57 boards to move past Katrina Nordick for the school record for rebounds.

• FOXING OUT THE OPPONENT. Minnesota Crookston freshman Bren Fox has been a major player for the Golden Eagles in recent weeks. The newcomer from Norwood Young America, Minn., earned her first start of her career against Northern State Dec. 8 and secured her first career double-double against Wayne State with career-highs of 10 points and 13 rebounds. Fox has averaged 5.3 points and 7.7  rebounds over her last three games. She will look to continue to improve as the Golden Eagles take on Bemidji State Sunday. 

• THE LAST I IS SILENT. The last I might be silent in Caitlin Michaelis' last name, but she has been anything but silent as a senior for the Golden Eagles. The Marshfield, Wis., native is off to her best start for the Golden Eagles as she is averaging 14.8 points per game. Michaelis has been strong from beyond the arc, where she is hitting at a 39.1 percent clip. She is coming off 15 points, including going 5-of-10 from behind the three-point line, against Wayne State. Michaelis has now scored 705 career points in her four seasons in the Maroon and Gold.

• POST GAME. Her name is Kylie Post, she not play in the post, but it has become important to get the ball to her in her inaugural campaign for the Golden Eagles. Post leads the team with 2.5 assists per game and has helped get the rest of the offense involved for Minnesota Crookston. In addition, Post is phenomenal at generating her own offense, especially when it involves getting to the hoop. Post is notching 10.5 points per game in her inaugural campaign. She is coming off nine points, six rebounds, and three assists versus Wayne State in the last game for the Golden Eagles. 

• TURN THE PAIGE. Paige Weakley is coming off a strong game for the Golden Eagles against Wayne State as she posted 14 points, including shooting 4-of-8 from beyond the arc. Weakley had a few off games prior to the Wayne State game, but looks to get back on track from beyond the arc for Minnesota Crookston. Weakley has enjoyed playing at Rice Auditorium in Wayne, Neb. this season. Two of her best games came in the Cornhusker State, as she tallied 13 points and went 3-of-3 from distance in a win over Northwest Missouri State in Wayne, Neb., Nov. 10. 

• HOME SWEET HOME.  Minnesota Crookston comes into Sunday with a 3-1 mark in the friendly confines of Lysaker Gymnasium. The Golden Eagles last win at home came Dec. 8 in a win over Northern State. Minnesota Crookston's only loss at home came Dec. 7 at the hands of Minnesota State University Moorhead.

• HAVING THE BEAVERS NUMBER. Minnesota Crookston has had the number of the Bemidji State women's basketball team recently. The Golden Eagles have posted a 7-3 mark in the last 10 meetings with the Beavers. The most recent win for Bemidji State came Dec .16, 2017 in Bemidji, Minn. The Golden Eagles had previously won four-straight over the Beavers prior to the 2017 win for Bemidji State. Minnesota Crookston will look to continue their success against the Beavers.

• FINSHING OUT.  A key for Minnesota Crookston will be finishing out the game. The last time out for the Golden Eagles, Minnesota Crookston held a 66-59 lead over Wayne State going into the fourth quarter. Unforunately, the WIldcats out-scored the Golden Eagles 29-17 in the final stanza to come away with the win. 

Beaver Women's Basketball. Bemidji State enters Sunday with a 2-7 (0-5 NSIC) mark. The Beavers are seeking their first win in the NSIC for the 2018-19 season. They are also looking to avoid the sweep after Minnesota Crookston earned a win in Bemidji, Minn., Dec. 1. Bemidji State is averaging 61.8 points per game on the season, while allowing 70.9 points per tilt to their foes. The Beavers are shooting 37.6 percent from the field, just 37.6 percent from the field, and 26.2 percent from beyond the arc. 

MARIA MARIA. Bemidji State has been led on the 2018-19 season by the play of sophomore guard Maria Appicelli. She comes into Sunday leading the team with 12.1 points per game. Appicelli has hit a team-high 13 three-pointers on the season, but is shooting just 28.3 percent from beyond the arc. Appicelli's best game came with 23 points against Valley City State. She notched eight points against Minnesota Crookston Dec. 1. 

CONTAINING DUBOIS. A key for Minnesota Crookston will be containing Gabby Dubois as she gave the Golden Eagles fits Dec. 1 in Bemidji, Minn. Dubois had a double-double of 19 points and 11 rebounds against the Golden Eagles in that game. She is averaging 7.8 points and 6.0 rebounds per game on the 2018-19 season.

HAVE A BRAY. Bemidji State sophomore post Taylor Bray had quite the game against Wayne State Dec. 15. Bray notched 24 points and seven rebounds on the road against the Wildcats. She will look to match her performance as she goes up against Minnesota Crookston. Bray is averaging 8.2 points and 4.1 rebounds on the season. She had 11 points against Minnesota Crookston Dec. 1.

IT'S A RAPPE. Bemidji State forward Emma Rappe has been key off the bench for the Beavers with 8.2 points and 2.7 rebounds per game. Rappe did not play against the Golden Eagles earlier this season. She averaged 6.0 point and 3.5 rebounds per game in the last NSIC weekend prior to the Minnesota Crookston game. 

Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles
Head Coach: Mike Roysland
Record at UMC: 120-217 Season at UMC: 13th Season

Bemidji State Beavers
Head Coach: Chelsea DeVille
Record at BSU: 20-70 Season at BSU: Fourth Season

Bemidji State at Minnesota Crookston
Date: Dec. 30, 2018
Time: 2 p.m.
Site: Lysaker Gymnasium (Crookston, Minn.)
Live Stats: https://goldeneaglesports.com/sidearmstats/mbball/summary
Video: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/crk/
Officials: Kevin Sundre, Ryan Weiser, Brady Solum
Last: Minnesota Crookston won 70-61 over Bemidji State Dec. 1, 2018 in Bemidji, Minn.
Trends: Minnesota Crookston has won seven of the last nine
Series: Minnesota Crookston leads 21-18

Minnesota Crookston
Projected Starters
Fr. PG 5 Kylie Post, 5-7, Corcoran, Minn. 10.5 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 2.5 APG
Sr. SG 3 Caitlin Michaelis, 5-8, Marshfield, Wis. 14.8 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 2.2 APG
Jr. 3G 32 Paige Weakley, 5-9, Kearney, Mo. 4.9 PPG, 2.0 RPG
R-Sr. SF 15 Isieoma Odor, 6-0, Bloomington, Minn. 18.2 PPG, 9.5 RPG
Fr. PF 23 Bren Fox, 6-3, Norwood Young America, Minn. 2.4 PPG, 3.9 RPG
Top Bench Players
Jr. G 4 Stephanie McWilliams, 5-8, Grand Forks, N.D. 3.7 PPG, 2.1 RPG
So. G/F 12 Abby Guidinger, 5-10, Waukesha, Wis. 8.5 PPG, 4.2 RPG
So. G/F 10 Ashley Freund, 5-11, Jordan, Minn. 1.1 PPG, 1.6 RPG
Fr. G 11 Kylea Praska, 5-8, Thief River Falls, Minn. 3.2 PPG, 1.2 RPG

Bemidji State Beavers
Projected Starters
So. PG 15 Maria Appicelli, 5-8, Winona, Minn., 12.1 PPG, 2.6 RPG
So. SG 12 Brooklyn Bachmann, 5-9, Minooka, Ill., 8.6 PPG, 3.6 RPG
So. 3G 20 Sydney Zerr, 5-6, Shakopee, Minn., 2.8 PPG, 1.8 RPG
So. SF 23 Gabby Dubois, 5-10, West Fargo, N.D., 7.8 PPG, 6.0 RPG
So. PF 42 Taylor Bray, 6-1, Anoka, Minn., 8.2 PPG, 4.1 RPG
Top  Bench Players
Jr. G 3 Erica Gartner, 5-7, Altamont, Kan., 3.8 PPG, 1.1 RPG
Fr. G 13 Shea Oman, 5-7, Spicer, Minn., 3.4 PPG, 2.3 RPG
Fr. G 14 Trinity Myer, 5-9, Hayward, Wis., 3.9 PPG, 2.6 RPG
Fr. F 24 Claire Wolhowe, 6-0, Staples, Minn., 3.4 PPG, 2.7 RPG
Sr. F 34 Emma Rappe, 6-0, Fox Lake, Ill., 8.2 PPG, 2.7 RPG

#5StoryLines
1. Can the Golden Eagles slow down Bray and Dubois in the post for Bemidji State?

2. Can Odor continue her great start to her senior season?

3. Can the Golden Eagles get strong three-point shooting on the weekend?

4. Who will step up for Minnesota Crookston off the bench?

5. Can the Golden Eagles continue their strong record against the Beavers in recent seasons?