Golden Eagles Looking to Continue Winning Streak this Weekend at Minot State
Last weekend was the home opener for the Golden Eagles women's basketball team, as they hosted Northern State for week two of NSIC North play. The young Golden Eagles were able to make plays down the stretch and sweep the Wolves for the first time in program history.

The Golden Eagles fell behind by double-digits in both Friday and Saturday night's game, but both times were able to chip away and pick up two huge wins in the NSIC North. The Golden Eagles now sit in fourth place in the NSIC North. The top-four teams in each division will make the NSIC playoffs.

The Golden Eagles will travel to North Dakota this weekend to take on the Beavers of Minot State. Minot State heads into this weekend winless on the season with four straight losses to Southwest Minnesota State and Minnesota Duluth.
BISHOP STRONG
The Golden Eagles family is dealing with a major loss to its family. Former KROX announcer Matt Bishop passed away in December after a long battle with cancer. Matt loved announcing Golden Eagle games and will always be a part of the Golden Eagle family.
SHE MIGHT ACTUALLY BE A CARPENTER
Sophomore guard Emma Carpenter is becoming a core player in year two and is laying the foundation for the Golden Eagles this season. Carpenter was key in getting the Golden Eagles first win last Friday night, scoring a season-high 16 points on 4-12 shooting from the field with two three-point makes in a season-high 34 minutes. Carpenter has made a huge stride from year one to year two, and she will look to continue that this weekend against the Beavers.
SHE CAN'T ONLY BE A FRESHMAN, CAN SHE?
Freshman Jes Mertens has come to campus and has made an immediate impact for head coach Mike Roysland and his Golden Eagles squad. The Devils Lake, N.D. product has started in every game for the maroon and gold and has been special on both sides of the ball. Mertens leads the team in scoring with 11.5 points per game and has scored double-figures in three of her last four games. Defensively, Mertens has 29 steals (second in the nation) in just six games, which is good for 4.8 steals per game. That leads the conference and is first in the entire nation with that steals per game total. Golden Eagle fans should be excited to see Mertens for the foreseeable future.
THREE IS BETTER THAN TWO
One thing that has been evident with the Golden Eagles through six games has been their ability to shoot the three-ball effectively. The Golden Eagles currently rank fourth in the NSIC shooting the deep ball at a 36.5 percent clip. The Golden Eagles are also seventh in the conference with 6.3 makes from deep per game. Minnesota Crookston currently has three players with six or more three's on the season with Mary Burke's 11 makes from deep. Sophomore's Emma Carpenter and Alyssa Peterson have seven and six makes on the season, respectively.
TAKE THE WHEEL(ER) 
Another freshman who was expected to make a huge impact this season was Haylee Wheeler. Wheeler made her debut last weekend and made a huge impact in the two Golden Eagle wins. Wheeler had a career game on Saturday night, scoring 10 points on 4-7 shooting from the field and 2-5 from deep, while pulling down five rebounds in 27 minutes. The Golden Eagles needed a big day on Saturday from their frontcourt and they got it the way of Wheeler.
MS. BIG SHOT
Playing on her senior day, Ashley Freund arguably hit the biggest shot of her four-year career as a Golden Eagle. With the Golden Eagles leading by five with three minutes remaining, the Golden Eagles got a big shot from the Jordan, Minn., native who buried a left corner three to give the Golden Eagles an eight point lead and put the game out of reach. That shot late in the fourth quarter on Saturday could go a long, long way while determining the Golden Eagles season.
YOU CAN'T WIN IF YOU DON'T SHOOT
The name of the game is putting the ball in the basket. For the Golden Eagles opponents, that's been easier said than done. The Golden Eagles have a whopping 59 steals through six games, led by Merten's 29, while Post has nine on the season. Those 59 steals are second in the conference, only behind Minnesota State, who have a whopping 79 steals. The Golden Eagles have proven to be a good defensive team and that has started with teams not able to get a chance to score.

Game Information
Friday, Jan. 22
5:30 P.M.
Minnesota Crookston at Minot State
Minot Dome
Live Video - https://nsicnetwork.com/msubeavers/
 
Saturday, Jan. 23
Minnesota Crookston at Minot State
1:30 P.M.
Minot Dome
Live Video - https://nsicnetwork.com/msubeavers/


2020-21 NSIC Rankings
Scoring Offense: 14th
Scoring Defense: 11th
Scoring Margin: 13th
Free Throw Pct.: 9th
Field Goal Pct.: 15th
Field Goal Pct. Defense: 15th
3-Point Field Goal Pct.: 4th
3-Point Field Goal Pct. Defense: 14th
Rebounding Offense: 15th
Rebounding Defense: 12th
Rebounding Margin: 16th
Offensive Rebounds: 13th
Defensive Rebounds: 16th
Blocked Shots: 10th
Assists: 16th
Steals: 2nd
Turnover Margin: 9th
Assist/Turnover Ratio: 16th 

Weekly Snapshot

Minnesota Crookston
Projected Starters
So. G 4 Emma Carpenter (5-10, Eagan, Minn.) 7.0 PPG, 2.2 RPG
Jr. G 5 Kylie Post (5-7, Corcoran, Minn.) 10.3 PPG, 4.5 RPG
R-So. G/F 14 Mary Burke (5-11, Virginia, Minn.) 10.0 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 11 3-Point makes
Fr. G 21 Jes Mertens (5-9, Devils Lake, N.D.) 11.5 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 4.8 SPG (1st NSIC/Nation)
Fr. F 32 Eden Golliher (6-0, Iron River, Mich.) 2.7 PPG, 2.7 RPG
Top Bench Players
So. G 3 Alyssa Peterson (5-7, Menahga, Minn.) 4.0 PPG
Sr. F 10 Ashley Freund (5-11, Jordan, Minn.) 1.5 PPG
Jr. G 11 Kylea Praska (5-8, Thief River Falls, Minn.) 1.3 PPG
Sr. G 12 Abby Guidinger (5-10, Waukesha, Wis.) 2.2 PPG
Fr. F 30 Haylee Wheeler (6-2, Lakeville, Minn.) 5.0 PPG, 3.0 RPG
Minot State University
Projected Starters
Jr. G 11 Kate Head (5-5, Brisbane, Australia) 8.5 PPG, 2.3 RPG
Sr. G/F 12 Calli Delsman (5-10, Waukesha, Wis.) 8.0 PPG, 4.8 RPG
Sr. F 22 Haley Hildebrand (6-2, Parker, Colo.) 5.0 PPG, 2.3 RPG
So. G 32 Lucy Chapman (5-8, Wamberal, Australia) 4.8 PPG, 3.0 RPG
Jr. F 34 Amber Stevahn (5-11, Bismarck, N.D.) 15.0 PPG, 5.0 RPG
Top Bench Players
Sr. G 3 Bethany Theodore (5-4, Melbourne, Australia) 5.3 PPG, 1.0 RPG
So. F 4 Natasha Elliot (5-11, Brisbane, Australia) 4.0 PPG, 2.3 RPG
R-So. G 5 Faith Brintle (5-7, Alta Vista, Kan.) 1.0 PPG
Jr. F 30 Mollie Wilson (5-11, Gillette, Wyo.) 2.5 PPG, 1.8 RPG
Jr. C 44 Anna Counts (6-2, Crystal, Minn.) 4.0 PPG, 4.8 RPG




STUDY THE OPPONENT

Minot State
 
A weekend ago, the Beavers didn't play their scheduled games against St. Cloud State. Their last games came two weekends ago, falling to one of the best teams in the NSIC, Minnesota Duluth in both games. Minot State will look to get their first wins of the season over the Golden Eagles, a team they split with a season ago.

HEAD OF THE TABLE
 
In four games for the Beavers, Australian Kate Head has scored in double-digits in half of those games, scoring 12 points twice and five points each in the other two. The junior is second on her team scoring 8.5 points per game and leads her team in minutes played, averaging 34.0 minutes per game. Head will be at the top of the scouting report for the Golden Eagles this weekend.

LAND DOWN UNDER
 
The Beavers have an international flavor to their roster this season. Head coach Mark Graupe has four Australians on his roster this season, including the aforementioned Head. All four have made an impact through four games this season and will look to continue that this weekend.

STEVAHN SAYS
 
Amber Stevahn, a junior from Bismarck, N.D., has been the main offensive threat this season for MISU. The former Shiloh Christian High star has scored double-figures in all but one game this season, including 22 in the season opening loss to Southwest Minnesota State. Stevahn is the only Beaver to average double-digits this season (15.0 PPG), while also pulling down 5.0 rebounds per game.

WHAT TO WATCH
1. Can the Golden Eagles pick up a win on the road?

2. Momentum for the Golden Eagles

3. These two teams split a season ago

4. Can the Golden Eagles make it back-to-back sweeps?

5. Will the dominant fourth quarters continue?