CROOKSTON, Minn. - Minnesota Crookston will lift the lid on the 2020-21 season on the road Jan. 2 and 3 at Concordia University-St. Paul with games tipping off at 2 p.m. each day. The games will be non-conference games for the 2020-21 season, in which the Golden Eagles will play 16 games, including 14 NSIC games and two non-conference games against an NSIC South opponent. 

The Golden Eagles are looking to build on the work they have put in during practice in the fall and early winter of 2020. UMN Crookston is entering their 15th season under Head Coach Mike Roysland, who is the winningest coach in any sport at UMN Crookston during the NCAA Division II era. The Golden Eagles are looking to build on a 5-22 finish in 2019-20. Minnesota Crookston had a young squad last season and they return several key pieces. The Golden Eagles have 13 players back from their 2019-20 roster, including eight players who started more than nine games last season. UMN Crookston is led by Mary Burke (R-So., F, Virginia, Minn.), who tallied 9.2 points and 4.3 rebounds per game last season. In addition, Bren Fox (Jr., F/C, Norwood Young America, Minn.) returns after notching 7.6 points and 6.7 rebounds per tilt, while Kylie Post (Jr., G, Corcoran, Minn.) notched 7.0 points and 1.9 assists per game. Abby Guidinger (Sr., F, Waukesha, Wis.) is back after averaging 8.1 points and 3.1 rebounds per game last season.

UMN Crookston also brings back starting experience with Julia Peplinski (Jr., F/C, Hustisford, Wis.), Alyssa Peterson (So., G, Menahga, Minn.) and Emma Carpenter (So., G, Eagan, Minn.). Mattea Vetsch (So., G, Devils Lake, N.D.) also returns but will miss the 2020-21 season due to injury.
The Golden Eagles also return Paige Cornale (Jr., G, Oak Creek, Wis.), Ashley Freund (Sr., G/F, Jordan, Minn.), Veronica Schwartz (So., G/F, Parkers Prairie, Minn.), Kylea Praska (Jr., G, Thief River Falls, Minn.) and Jennifer Lax (Sr., G, Sleepy Eye, Minn.).

Game Information
Saturday, Jan. 2
Minnesota Crookston at Concordia-St. Paul
Gangelhoff Center, St. Paul, Minn., 2 p.m.
Live Stats - https://cspbears.com/sidearmstats/wbball/summary
Live Video - https://nsicnetwork.com/goldeneaglesports/?B=213904
Sunday, Jan. 3
Minnesota Crookston at Concordia-St. Paul
Gangelhoff Center, St. Paul, Minn., 2 p.m.
Live Stats - https://cspbears.com/sidearmstats/wbball/summary
Live Video - https://nsicnetwork.com/goldeneaglesports/?B=213905

New Faces
UMN Crookston also brings in a strong recruiting class who will look to make an instant impact in 2020-21. The Golden Eagles add Jes Mertens (Fr., G, Devils Lake, N.D.), Eden Golliher (Fr., G, Iron River, Mich.) and Haylee Wheeler (Fr., F/C, Lakeville, Minn.). All three had impressive high school careers and will look to make an impact on the court for Roysland's squad.

Consistency Behind the Arc
A key for the Golden Eagles this season will be consistency behind the arc. UMN Crookston has several players who can launch the trey from distance, but the key will be consistency. The Golden Eagles shot 29.1 percent from behind the arc last season. UMN Crookston had eight games where they hit 35.0 percent or higher from beyond the arc, but they also had 18 games where they hit under 35.0 percent. Minnesota Crookston was led behind the three-point arc last season by Freund, who shot 34.8 percent on 23 attempts. Burke shot 32.4 percent for the Golden Eagles, while Peterson hit at a 31.5 percent clip last season.

Family Ties
UMN Crookston has some family ties in their freshman class. Newcomer Jes Mertens is the cousin of Golden Eagle great Katrina (Moenkedick) Nordick. They will share the same jersey number as Mertens will also don number 21. Mertens will look to make an impact on and off the court similar to her cousin Nordick. Mertens comes from a basketball family as her brother Jake Mertens plays for Minnesota State University Moorhead. In addition, her brother Nathan Mertens is fifth all-time in scoring all-time at Minot State University. Her brother B.J. Mertens played basketball at University of Jamestown, while her sister Steph Mertens played basketball at Lake Region State College.

In the Post
The Golden Eagles return Fox and Peplinski inside and both look poised for improvement in their junior seasons. UMN Crookston also brings in some size with freshmen Haylee Wheeler (6-2) and Eden Golliher (6-0). Burke and Guidinger can also play down low for the Golden Eagles and will look to aid UMN Crookston. Minnesota Crookston had 35.0 rebounds per game last season and gave up 38.4 rebounds to their opponents. They will look to shift their rebound margin on the 2020-21 season.

Fan Policy
Concordia-St. Paul will not allow fans for at least the first two weeks of the season due to MDH guidelines. The same will go for home games for UMN Crookston at Gary Senske Court at Lysaker Gymnasium.

Watch Party
UMN Crookston fans can tune into the games on the NSIC Network at https://nsicnetwork.com/goldeneaglesports/?B=213904 and https://nsicnetwork.com/goldeneaglesports/?B=213905. In addition, fans can tune into the UMC Teambackers Watch Party starting at 1:15 p.m. at https://umn.zoom.us/j/92132294792#success. This week we will play the men's basketball game on the Zoom, but fans are encouraged to stream the women's basketball games starting at 2 p.m. on their devices. We are looking to foster a community despite not being able to gather in the stands.

Scouting Concordia-St. Paul
Concordia-St. Paul posted a 15-14 (12-10) mark during the 2019-20 season. UMN Crookston is in their sixth full season under Head Coach Amanda Johnson. The Golden Bears are guided by senior guard Riley Wheatcraft, a University of Northern Iowa transfer. Wheatcraft returns after averaging 13.8 points and 4.6 rebounds per game last season. She shot 36.8 percent from beyond the arc in 2019-20.

In addition, Concordia-St. Paul returns senior Danielle Schaub, who notched 12.3 points and 3.0 assists per game. Schaub leads the Golden Bears from beyond the arc after shooting 44.5 percent from distance in 2019-20. Senior Sidney Wentland, a former Division I player at University of Denver, also returns after notching 12.2 points and 4.6 rebounds per game. Juniors Meghan DuBois and Sydney Schultz also return for Concordia-St. Paul. Senior Ayla Lemke also saw time in the starting line-up last season for the Golden Bears.

Jadyn Hanson and Sydney Zgutowicz also return after key roles off the bench last season. In addition, CSP has added newcomers Lindsey Becher and Sarah Kuma along with redshirts Makayla Johnson and Alyssa Daugherty.

Concordia-St. Paul averaged 72.8 point and allowed 69.9 points per game last season. The Golden Bears shot 42.7 percent from the field, 37.4 percent from beyond the arc, and 73.0 percent from the foul stripe. Last season, Concordia-St. Paul was out-rebounded by their opponents 37.6 to 36.5.