• The Minnesota Crookston women's basketball team enters the weekend with a 10-10 (5-9 NSIC) mark. The Golden Eagles are currently in fifth place in the NSIC North. The Golden Eagles are currently three games back from the top four in the North Division. The Golden Eagles will look to halt a two-game losing streak as they roll into Sioux Falls, S.D., and Marshall, Minn., this weekend. Minnesota Crookston takes on Southwest Minnesota State Fri., Feb. 1 at 5:30 p.m., and University of Sioux Falls Sat., Feb. 2 at 4 p.m.

•  TAMING THE MUSTANGS. The Minnesota Crookston women's basketball team has had winning ways against Southwest Minnesota State University recently. The Mustangs might own the series by the tune of 18-12, but the Golden Eagles have won six of the last seven games. 

•  LAST WIN OVER THE COUGARS. Sioux Falls owns the series record 5-2 since they first started playing in 2012 when the Cougars joined the NSIC. Minnesota Crookston's last win over Sioux Falls came Feb. 6, 2015 with a 71-62 victory. On that day, the Golden Eagles were led by Katrina Moenkedick (Nordick) with 22 points. Alexa Thielman added 20 points. 

• 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 third in the league, averaging 18.2 points per game. She is sixth in the conference with 9.2 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 1,363 points. Odor needs 97 points to surpass her former teammate Alexa Thielman for fourth all-time on the scoring charts. In addition, she set the school record for rebounds recently. Odor surpassed Laurie Tyson for second, and Katrina Nordick, her former teammate, for the all-time record. Odor has 720 career rebounds in her time in the Maroon and Gold.

• 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 11.5 points per game. Michaelis has been strong from outside the arc, where she is hitting at a 31.9 percent clip. Michaelis had a career-high 21 points, including 5-of-6 from beyond the arc Jan. 11 at Northern State University. She has had 13 games where she has scored in double figures.

• A WEAKLEY THING. Minnesota Crookston junior Paige Weakley has had a great stretch of games for the Golden Eagles. The native of Kearney, Mo., is averaging 12.3 points per game over the last four tilts for Minnesota Crookston. Weakley had a career-high 21 points against Winona State Jan. 18, which included a school-record tying seven three-pointers. She notched 13 points against UMary. Weakley is shooting 14-of-23 for 60.9 percent from beyond the arc over the last four games.

• DEAR ABBY. Minnesota Crookston sophomore Abby Guidinger is a very versatile player for the Golden Eagles. Guidinger has had a major impact in the last three games for the Golden Eagles. Guidinger is notching 10.7 points per game over the last three games. She tallied 16 points in a win over Upper Iowa, and notched 12 points versus Minot State. Guidinger is averaging 8.4 points per game on the season. 

• 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 7.0 points per game off the bench in the last nine games. Cornale is notching 8.7 points per game over the last three tilts. She is shooting 37.5 percent from beyond the arc on the season.

• AMBER WAVES. Minnesota Crookston junior forward Amber Schoenicke made a strong impact off the bench last weekend for the Golden Eagles. Schoenicke had six points and five rebounds against UMary. Schoenicke averaged 4.5 points and 3.5 rebounds in two games last weekend.

• 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 9-2 when holding opponents under the 70-point mark. The Golden Eagles have held teams to 68.4 points per game this season. Their opponents are shooting 41.5 percent from the field, and 32.6 percent from beyond the arc on the season.

•  SINK THE FREE ONES.  Minnesota Crookston is ranked second in the conference when it comes to free throw shooting. The Golden Eagles are hitting at a 76.4 percent clip from the line this season. Paige Cornale, and Stephanie McWilliams all have over 10 attempts, and are shooting over 90-percent from the charity stripe.  Caitlin Michaelis comes in shooting 87.5 percent from the charity stripe. Isieoma Odor has the most attempts from the line, and is hitting at a 77.2 percent clip. Needless to say, Minnesota Crookston is hoping to get to the line this weekend and make it pay off. 

•  AWAY FROM HOME. Minnesota Crookston is 4-7 away from the friendly confines of Lysaker Gymnasium this season. The Golden Eagles only win on the road in conference play came with a win over Bemidji State University on the road in Bemidji, Minn. Dec. 1. 

Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles
Head Coach: Mike Roysland
Record at UMC: 123-223 Season at UMC: 13th Season

Southwest Minnesota State Mustangs
Head Coach: Tom Webb
Record at SMSU: 17-55 Season at SMSU: Third Season

Sioux Falls Cougars
Head Coach: Travis Traphagen
Record at USF: 207-110 Season at USF: 11th Season

Minnesota Crookston at Southwest Minnesota State
Date: Fri., Feb. 1
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Video: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/smsu/
Live Stats: https://smsumustangs.com/sidearmstats/wbball/summary
TV: Midco Sports Network 
Series Record: Southwest Minnesota State leads 18-12
Last Meeting: Minnesota Crookston won 65-61 Jan. 12 in Crookston, Minn.
Trends: Minnesota Crookston has won six of the last seven meetings
Radio: 1260 KROX AM/105.7 FM, on the app, www.kroxam.com, and on Amazon Alexa
Officials: Kelly Ternes, Angie Ahrendt, LeAnn Hall

Minnesota Crookston at Sioux Falls
Date: Sat., Feb. 2
Time: 4 p.m.
Video: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/siouxfalls/
Live Stats: https://usfcougars.com/sidearmstats/wbball/summary
Series Record: Sioux Falls leads 5-2
Last Meeting: Sioux Falls won 74-57 in Crookston, Minn. Jan. 13, 2018
Trends: Sioux Falls has won the last four meetings
Radio: 1260 KROX AM/105.7 FM, on the app, www.kroxam.com, and on Amazon Alexa
Officials: Ann Schroeder, Jeremy Becker, Jeremy McHugh

Weekly Snapshot

Minnesota Crookston
Projected Starters
Fr. PG 5 Kylie Post (5-7, Corcoran, Minn.)   8.6 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 2.2 APG
Sr. SG 3 Caitlin Michaelis (5-8, Marshfield, Wis.) 11.5 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 2.1 APG
Jr. 3G 32 Paige Weakley (5-9, Kearney, Mo.) 6.0 PPG, 2.4 RPG
Fr. SF 24 Paige Cornale (5-10, Oak Creek, Wis.) 4.4 PPG, 0.6 RPG
R-Sr. PF 15 Isieoma Odor (6-0, Bloomington, Minn.) 18.2 PPG, 9.2 RPG
Top Bench Players
Fr. F/C 23 Bren Fox (6-3, Norwood Young America, Minn.) 3.2 PPG, 4.4 RPG
So. G/F 12 Abby Guidinger (5-10, Waukesha, Wis.) 8.4 PPG, 3.1 RPG
Jr. G 4 Stephanie McWilliams (5-8, Grand Forks, N.D.) 3.2 PPG, 2.7 RPG
Fr. G 11 Kylea Praska (5-8, Thief River Falls, Minn.) 2.8 PPG, 1.2 RPG

Southwest Minnesota State
Projected Starters
So. PG 3 Sadie Stelter (5-8, Wood Lake, Minn.) 10.5 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 2.1 APG
So. SG 1 Meleah Reinhart (5-9, New Ulm, Minn.) 12.2 PPG, 3.2 RPG
Fr. 3G 11 Jenna Borchers (5-6, Grimes, Iowa) 5.9 PPG, 1.9 RPG
Jr. SF 5 Caleigh Rodning (5-11, Shakopee, Minn.) 13.3 PPG, 7.1 RPG
So. PF 24 Erin Baxter (6-0, Apple Valley, Minn.) 8.9 PPG, 3.3 RPG
Top Bench Players
Sr. G 21 Sarah Buysse (5-9, Marshall, Minn.) 5.2 PPG, 2.8 RPG
So. C 35 Abuk Akoi (6-4, Sioux Falls, S.D.) 8.4 PPG, 4.9 RPG
So. F 20 Sara Teske (6-0, Lakeville, Minn.) 4.6 PPG, 4.4 RPG
So. F 23 Mateya Hutton (6-0, Shakopee, Minn.) 2.0 PPG, 2.9 RPG

Sioux Falls
Projected Starters
Jr. PG 22 Mariah Szymanski (5-6, Pulaski, Wis.) 8.5 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 2.6 APG
Jr. SG 10 Jessie Geer (5-8, Gillette, Wyo.) 7.6 PPG, 1.9 RPG
Jr. 3G 12 Kaely Hummel (5-8, Cherokee, Iowa) 14.6 PPG, 2.4 RPG
Fr. SF 34 Krystal Carlson (5-11, Hastings, Minn.) 4.0 PPG, 2.7 RPG
R-So. PF 2 Anna Goodhope (6-0, Sioux Falls, S.D.) 7.3 PPG, 5.2 RPG
Top Bench Players
Jr. F 21 Gloria Mulumba (6-2, Helsinki, Finland) 5.7 PPG, 3.3 RPG
R-Fr. G 4 Jasmine Harris (5-10, Davenport, Iowa) 4.0 PPG, 0.8 RPG
So. G 32 Lauren Sanders (5-7, Millard, Neb.) 3.7 PPG, 1.3 RPG
Jr. G 3 Augusta Thramer (5-8, South Sioux City, Neb.) 3.5 PPG, 3.6 RPG

SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA STATE MUSTANGS. The Mustangs come into the weekend with a 9-10 (6-8 NSIC) mark. Southwest Minnesota State comes into the weekend ranked sixth in the NSIC North. The Mustangs are in their third season under Head Coach Tom Webb. Southwest Minnesota State split last weekend with Winona State University and Upper Iowa University.

GOLDEN EAGLE CONNECTION.  Minnesota Crookston alum Brittani Wiese is in her third season as an assistant coach for Southwest Minnesota State. Wiese scored 1,204 points in her career for the Golden Eagles, currently ranking seventh all-time. 

CATCH CALEIGH. Junior forward Caleigh Rodning plays a huge part in Southwest Minnesota State's offense. Rodning comes in averaging 13.3 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. She also leads the team with 37 assists on the season. Rodning also has the ability to shoot the outside shot, as well as go inside. Rodning is shooting 35.7 percent from beyond the arc.

STOP SADIE. Southwest Minnesota State guard Sadie Stelter comes into the weekend averaging 10.5 points per game. Stelter is coming off 16 points against Upper Iowa. She is shooting 31.6 percent from beyond the arc.

MELEAH MAKES HER THREES. Southwest Minnesota State guard Meleah Reinhart is dangerous from beyond the arc. Reinhart leads the team by shooting 46.9 percent from beyond the arc. Reinhart is averaging 12.2 points per game on the 2018-19 season.

SIOUX FALLS COUGARS. The University of Sioux Falls Cougars enters the weekend with a 13-7 (8-6 NSIC) mark. The Cougars are currently tied for third in the NSIC South. Sioux Falls is 2-1 in their last three games, with their lone loss coming to Winona State University.

WHEN YOU GET THAT SONG IN YOUR HEAD, YOU JUST HUMMEL. Sioux Falls guard Kaely Hummel has been stuck in the head of opposing defenders over the last several years, as she is a very dynamic player who leads the Cougars. Hummel is averaging 14.6 points per game coming into the weekend. She comes into the weekend shooting 39.5 percent from beyond the arc. 

ASSISTS BY SZYMANSKI. Sioux Falls guard Mariah Szymanski comes a great job finding her teammates. She leads the way with 51 assists on the season, for an average of 2.6 assists per game. In addition, she comes into the weekend averaging 8.5 points per game.

ALWAYS REMAIN (GOOD)HOPEFUL. Sioux Falls forward Anna Goodhope enters the weekend notching 7.3 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. Goodhope's best game of the season came with 28 points against Minnesota State University Jan. 11. She will look to be a factor for the Cougars this weekend.

#5StoryLines
1. Can Minnesota Crookston start strong against SMSU and SIoux Falls?

2. Can the Golden Eagles limit Caleigh Rodning against the Mustangs?

3. Can the Golden Eagles shut down Kaely Hummel of Sioux Falls?

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

5. Will Isy Odor continue her strong season?