CROOKSTON, Minn.- The University of Minnesota Crookston women's basketball team will host Northern State University Fri., Jan. 15 and Sat., Jan. 16 in their home debut at Gary Senske Court at Lysaker Gymnasium. The Golden Eagles will take on the Wolves at 5:30 p.m. Fri., Jan. 15 and 1:30 p.m. Sat., Jan. 16.

Minnesota Crookston Projected Starters
So. PG 4 Emma Carpenter (5-10, Eagan, Minn.)
Jr. SG 5 Kylie Post (5-7, Corcoran, Minn.)
So. 3G 3 Alyssa Peterson (5-8, Menahga, Minn.)
Fr. SF 21 Jes Mertens (5-9, Devils Lake, N.D.)
Jr. PF 23 Bren Fox (6-3, Norwood Young America, Minn.)

Northern State Projected Starters
Fr. PG 14 Rianna Fillipi (5-8, Lennox, S.D.)
Fr. SG 30 Abbey Holmes (5-7, Algona, Iowa)
Jr. SF 4 Lexi Wadsworth (5-11, Hayti, S.D.)
R-Fr. PF 34 Kailee Oliverson (6-4, Cardwell, Mont.)
Sr. C 52 Alayna Johnson (6-1, Dassel, Minn.)

Northern State at Minnesota Crookston
Fri., Jan. 15, 5:30 p.m.
Live Stats - https://goldeneaglesports.com/sidearmstats/wbball/summary
Live Video - https://nsicnetwork.com/goldeneaglesports/

Sat., Jan. 16, 1:30 p.m.
Live Stats - https://goldeneaglesports.com/sidearmstats/wbball/summary
Live Video - https://nsicnetwork.com/goldeneaglesports/


Fan Policy – Fans are still not being allowed at UMN Crookston home games. Stay tuned for more in terms of further decisions on fan policies.

The Golden Eagles have started out the season 0-4 (0-2 NSIC) but have been showing improvement and have been close in several games this season. UMN Crookston had a lead for the majority of the game before suffering a one-point loss to Concordia University-St. Paul. The Golden Eagles fell by just 10 to Minnesota State University Moorhead last Friday and were within five points of the Dragons with 6:37 remaining in last Saturday's tilt.

Minnesota Crookston comes into the game averaging 54.0 points per game, while allowing 77.3 to their foes. The Golden Eagles are shooting 35.0 percent from the field, and 32.7 percent from beyond the arc. UMN Crookston is averaging 70.3 percent from the foul stripe on the year. Minnesota Crookston will look to improve in the realm of turnovers. The Golden Eagles have notched 80 turnovers in four games for an average of 20 per game. The turnover statistic will be a key area for UMN Crookston to improve on heading into the weekend.

Freshman Phenom
Jes Mertens, a freshman from Devils Lake, N.D., has been impressive in her first four games for UMN Crookston. Mertens is notching 10.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, and an impressive 4.8 steals per game. Mertens comes into the games against the Wolves shooting 37.5 percent from beyond the arc. Mertens will be a key player for the Golden Eagles this season and she will look to have an impact versus Northern State.

Post Game
Kylie Post, a junior from Corcoran, Minn., might not be a post player, but she brings her "post" game day in and day out. The junior guard is notching 10.5 points and 4.3 rebounds per game. Post had a team-high 17 points on 7-of-11 from the field against the Dragons last Saturday. She will look to make a major impact this weekend.

Fox in the Box
Bren Fox, a 6-3 junior post from Norwood Young America, Minn., had a great first weekend for the Golden Eagles as she notched a double-double of 18 points and 14 boards versus Concordia-St. Paul. Fox is averaging 10.0 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. Fox has continued to improve and become a presence in the post for the Golden Eagles. She will be a major factor against the size Northern State brings to the table.

Senior Day
Minnesota Crookston will honor seniors Abby Guidinger, Ashley Freund, and Jennifer Lax prior to Saturday's game against Northern State. The trio has played a major role for the Golden Eagles and they have been strong leaders for a young group for the Golden Eagles.

 Something About Mary

Minnesota Crookston redshirt sophomore Mary Burke led the way for the Golden Eagles last season. Burke is tallying 8.0 points and 3.5 rebounds per game this season. She had 12 points and six boards last Saturday versus Northern State. Burke will continue to be a major factor for UMN Crookston.

Northern State Preview
Northern State comes in with a 1-1 mark. The Wolves had games canceled last weekend. They last played Jan. 2 and 3 in a series at home against Wayne State College. Northern State had a split in their opening weekend with a 77-53 win Jan. 2 and an 81-73 loss to the Wildcats Jan. 3.

The Wolves are tallying 75.0 per game and allowing 67.0 points per tilt to their opponents. Northern State is shooting 43.1 percent from the field and 34.4 percent from behind the three-point line. The Wolves have been strong from the stripe, as they are hitting at a 78.6 percent clip. In addition, they come into the weekend out-rebounding their foes 40.5 to 32.5.

Northern State has also struggled with ball control as they are averaging 15.5 turnovers per game.

Lexi Wadsworth has been the hands-down leader for the Wolves on the court. Wadsworth is notching 19.5 points and 9.0 rebounds per game. She is shooting 35.3 percent from the field and 42.9 percent from beyond the arc.

Kailee Oliverson, a 6-4 redshirt freshman for the Wolves, had an immediate impact in the team's first two games. Oliverson notched 9.5 points and 7.0 rebounds per tilt. In addition, Joie Spier has made an impact for the Wolves. She is averaging 9.5 points and 3.0 boards per game. Rianna Fillipi comes in notching 8.0 points and 7.0 rebounds per tilt.