• The Minnesota Crookston women's basketball team enters the season with a 9-7 overall mark, and a 4-6 NSIC record. The Golden Eagles are off to their best start since the 2015-16 season. Minnesota Crookston would go on to an 18-10 mark on the 2015-16 campaign. The Golden Eagles will look to continue their strong start overall as they head into the weekend against Winona State University, and Upper Iowa University. Minnesota Crookston is looking to reach 10 or more wins for the fourth time in the last six years.

•  HOME SWEET HOME. The Minnesota Crookston women's basketball team enters the weekend with a 5-2 mark at Lysaker Gymnasium. The Golden Eagles have definitely enjoyed a home court advantage this season. Minnesota Crookston is averaging 67.0 points per game at Lysaker Gymnasium, while allowing 64.6 points per game to their foes.

• ISY DOES IT. Minnesota Crookston redshirt senior Isieoma Odor has been off to one of the best seasons any player has had in the history of the Golden Eagle women's basketball program. Odor is second in the league, averaging 17.9 points per game. She is fifth in the conference with 9.4 rebounds per game. Odor also continues to move up the all-time charts for the 
Golden Eagles. She is fifth all-time in scoring for the Golden Eagles with 1,287 points. Odor needs 173 points to surpass her former teammate Alexa Thielman for fourth all-time on the scoring charts. In addition, she should be able to set the all-time rebounding mark this weekend. Odor needs nine points to move past Laurie Tyson for second all-time in career boards, and 11 rebounds to surpass her former teammate Katrina (Moenkedick) Nordick for first all-time in rebounds. Odor currently has 687 career rebounds. She will look to add to both of her totals this weekend against Upper Iowa and Winona State.

• THE LAST I IS SILENT. The last I may be silent in the last name of Caitlin Michaelis (my-kulls), but she has been anything but silent this season. The senior comes into the weekend averaging 13.1 points per game. Michaelis has been strong from outside the arc, where she is hitting at a 35.8 percent clip. Michaelis is coming off a 21-point performance against Northern State University last weekend, which include five three-pointers. Michaelis will look to continue to be an x-factor for the Golden Eagles this weekend.

• POST AT GUARD. Freshman Kylie Post, a native of Corcoran, Minn., has been a key player for the Golden Eagles this season. Post has been able to create for herself and her teammates with a team-high 2.3 assists per game, to go with her 9.3 points per game. Post is usually focused on getting to the hoop, but has also been very efficient beyond the arc, where she is 5-of-10 for 50.0 percent this season. Post will look to be a key this weekend for the Golden Eagles. 

• PAIGE TURNER.  Paige Cornale has really turned the page on her freshman season in recent weeks, as she has become a crucial player for the Golden Eagles off the bench. Cornale is averaging 6.6 points per game off the bench in the last five games. She is 2-of-6 for 33.3 percent from beyond the arc in those games, and has also showcased her ability to get to the bucket.

• FOXING OUT THE OPPONENT. Bren Fox has been a key for the Golden Eagles, especially against teams with size in the post. Bren Fox has been crucial on the boards with 6.8 rebounds per game in the last six tilts. In addition, Fox continues to improve on the offensive end, where she is tallying 5.3 points per game in the last six contests. Fox will look to have a big weekend for the Golden Eagles both offensively, and on the glass, against Winona State and Upper Iowa.

• DEAR ABBY. Minnesota Crookston sophomore Abby Guidinger comes into the weekend averaging 8.3 points per game off the bench. Guidinger is notching 8.0 points per game in the last five for the Golden Eagles. Guidinger has been strong from beyond the arc in recent games, as she is shooting 5-of-16 for 31.3 percent in the last five for Minnesota Crookston. Guidinger will look to be a catalyst off the bench for the Golden Eagles.

• DEFENSE DEFENSE DEFENSE.  The Golden Eagles have found success when they have been able to keep opponents under 70 points this season. Minnesota Crookston is 8-2 when holding opponents under the 70-point mark. The Golden Eagles have held teams to 68.6 points per game this season. Their opponents are shooting 41.0 percent from the field, and 31.5 percent from beyond the arc on the season.

•  SUCCESS.  Winona State and Upper Iowa are two programs the Golden Eagles have historically had success against. Minnesota Crookston is a combined 28-22 since the 1999-00 season against this weekend's foes. Minnesota Crookston has struggled with the Warriors recently, as they have lost the last four games in the series, while they have picked up the last five wins in the series with the Peacocks.

•  SINK THE FREE ONES.  Minnesota Crookston is the top team in the conference when it comes to free throw 
shooting. The Golden Eagles are hitting at a 76.9 percent clip from the line this season. Paige Cornale, Caitlin Michaelis, and Stephanie McWilliams all have over 10 attempts, and are shooting over 90-percent from the charity stripe. Isieoma Odor has the most attempts from the line, and is hitting at a 77.9 percent clip. Needless to say, Minnesota Crookston is hoping to get to the line this weekend and make it pay off. 

Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles
Head Coach: Mike Roysland
Record at UMC: 122-220 Season at UMC: 13th Season

Winona State Warriors
Head Coach: Scott Ballard
Record at WSU: 256-173 Season at WSU: 15th Season

Upper Iowa Peacocks
Interim Head Coach: Kelly Kielsmeier
Record at UIU: 0-2 Season at UIU: First Season

Winona State at Minnesota Crookston
Date: Fri., Jan. 18
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Video: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/crk/
Live Stats: http://www.sidearmstats.com/umcrookston/wbball
Series Record: Minnesota Crookston and Winona State are tied 17-17 since the 1999-00 season
Last Meeting: Winona State won 74-73 Dec. 30, 2017 in Crookston, Minn.
Trends: Winona State has won the last four meeting
Radio: 1260 KROX AM/105.7 FM, on the app, www.kroxam.com, and on Amazon Alexa
Officials: Ben Franson, Brady Solum, Caleb Curfman

Upper Iowa at Minnesota Crookston
Date: Sat., Jan. 19
Time: 3:30 p.m.
Video: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/crk/
Live Stats: http://www.sidearmstats.com/umcrookston/wbball
Series Record: Minnesota Crookston leads 11-5
Last Meeting: Minnesota Duluth won 89-61 Dec. 31, 2017 in Crookston, Minn.
Trends: Minnesota Crookston has won the last five games in the series
Radio: 1260 KROX AM/105.7 FM, on the app, www.kroxam.com, and on Amazon Alexa
Officials: Kevin Sundre, Eric Ringeisen, Nic Thompson

Minnesota Crookston
Projected Starters
Fr. PG 5 Kylie Post (5-7, Corcoran, Minn.)   9.3 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 2.3 APG
Sr. SG 3 Caitlin Michaelis (5-8, Marshfield, Wis.) 13.1 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 2.0 APG
Jr. 3G 32 Paige Weakley (5-9, Kearney, Mo.) 4.4 PPG, 2.1 RPG
R-Sr. SF 15 Isieoma Odor (6-0, Bloomington, Minn.) 17.9 PPG, 9.4 RPG
Fr. PF 23 Bren Fox (6-3, Norwood Young America, Minn.) 3.0 PPG, 4.4 RPG
Top Bench Players
So. G/F 12 Abby Guidinger (5-10, Waukesha, Wis.) 8.3 PPG, 3.4 RPG
Jr. G 4 Stephanie McWilliams (5-8, Grand Forks, N.D.) 3.4 PPG, 2.4 RPG
Fr. G 11 Kylea Praska (5-8, Thief River Falls, Minn.) 3.1 PPG, 1.2 RPG
Fr. G 24 Paige Cornale (5-10, Oak Creek, Wis.) 3.4 PPG, 0.4 RPG

Winona State
Projected Starters
So.PG 2 Allie Pickrain (5-7, Apple Valley, Minn.) 9.9 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 2.7 APG
So. SG 11 Emily Kieck (5-6, Baraboo, Wis.) 8.4 PPG, 1.3 RPG
Jr. 3G 1 Gabie Doud (5-9, Huxley, Iowa) 9.8 PPG, 4.9 RPG
Sr. SF 25 Kayla Schaefer (5-11, Paynesville, Minn.) 10.7 PPG, 3.9 RPG
Sr. PF 10 Rachel Novotny (6-2, New Berlin, Wis.) 11.1 PPG, 7.3 RPG
Top Bench Players
So. G 5 Julia Silloway (5-8, Berlin, Wis.) 5.0 PPG, 2.6 RPG
So. F 12 Taylor Hustad (5-10, New Prague, Minn.) 4.5 PPG, 5.1 RPG
So. C 43 Emma Fee (6-1, Burnsville, Minn.) 2.6 PPG, 2.8 RPG
Fr. F 21 Sydney Lodermeier (5-11, Goodhue, Minn.) 1.6 PPG, 1.3 RPG

Upper Iowa
Projected Starters
R-Sr. PG 15 Casey Miles (5-8, Hudson, Iowa) 4.5 PPG, 1.4 RPG, 2.2 APG
So. SG 5 Natalie Dinius (5-8, Canby, Minn.) 9.9 PPG, 3.1 RPG
Jr. 3G 14 Laker Ward (5-9, Madison, Wis.) 3.3 PPG, 2.5 RPG
Sr. SF 24 Haley Martin (6-1, Mound, Minn.) 4.9 PPG, 5.7 RPG
Jr. PF 22 Bekka Pierson (6-2, Shell Rock, Iowa) 7.2 PPG, 4.3 RPG
Top Bench Players
So. F/C 21 Savannah Domeyer (6-3, Guttenberg, Iowa) 9.3 PPG, 5.4 RPG
So. G 3 Emma Gaber (5-9, Bondurant, Iowa) 7.0 PPG, 1.7 RPG
Jr. G 2 Marina Peinado Balaguer (5-7, Mataro, Spain) 2.2 PPG, 1.6 RPG, 2.2 APG
Sr. G 11 Amanda Cartney (5-9, Hudson, Iowa) 1.5 PPG, 0.9 RPG

WINONA STATE UNIVERSITY WARRIORS.  The Winona State Warriors head into Friday's contest with a 7-7 overall mark and a 5-5 conference record.  Their record seats them at fifth place in the NSIC South and tied with Northern State University in 9th place in the overall standings.  They look to improve their record this weekend.   

NEEDING NOVOTNY. Senior Forward from New Berlin, Wis., Rachel Novotny, has made heads turn not only at WSU but in the NSIC.  Novotny is ranked first for FG% (.655), 5th in blocked shots (1.6 PG, 22 total) and 3rd in offensive rebounds (3.0 PG, 46 total).  The standout senior looks to challenge the Golden Eagles with her stellar performance.

SENIOR SCHAEFER. Senior from Paynesville, Minn., Kayla Schaefer, has also been a huge asset to the Warriors this season.  Starting all 10 conference contests, Schaefer leads the team in 3 pointers made and is averaging 10.7 PPG.  She looks to improve her stats against the Golden Eagles this Friday.

PICK ME UP. 2017-2018 Winona State Female Freshman Athlete of the Year, Allie Pickrain, is making an impact on the court her Sophomore season.  Pickrain, native of Apple Valley, Minn., is ranked 5th for 3 pointers made in the NSIC.  She also leads WSU in minutes played at 462, while averaging 33.0 PG. 

UPPER IOWA UNIVERISTY PEACOCKS.  The Upper Iowa Peacocks are flying into this weekends battle with a 3-15 mark overall and a 0-10 NSIC tally.  They are averaging 54.3 PPG, while the Golden Eagles are averaging 68 PPG.  The Peacocks look to challenge UMC, and will battle to earn their first conference win.   

THE NATURAL. Sophomore guard, Natalie Dinius, has had a major role for the Peacocks during the 2018-2019 season.  The young player is averaging 9.9 PPG, while having 178 points in 18 games.  She is also the 3-point FG leader, making 42 in 18 games (2.3 p/g) as well as playing the most minutes (536).  

SWEET SAVANNAH. The 6-3 center from Guttenberg, Iowa, Savannah Domeyer, has come off the bench and helped the peacocks stay afloat.  Her field goal percentage is 48.7% (56 of 115), the highest on the team.  She has 5.4 rebounds p/g and has had 31 blocks in 16 games.  

GET IT TO BEKS. A junior forward from Shell Rock, Iowa, Bekka Pierson has had a strong, consistent season, starting all conference and non-conference games.  She has 10 blocked shots and 77 rebounds (50 of which have been defensive) in 18 games.  A key defensive role, she looks to help get a win off of UMC this weekend.

#5StoryLines

1. Can UMC's defense limit Winona State and Upper Iowa this weekend?

2. Can Isy Odor control the post for the Golden Eagles?

3. Can the Golden Eagles knock down the three-point shot?

4. Who will step up off the bench for the Golden Eagles?

5. Will Caitlin Michaelis have a big weekend for Minnesota Crookston?