CROOKSTON, Minn. - The University of Minnesota Crookston women's basketball team returns home to Gary Senske Court at Lysaker Gymnasium for the first time in 2022. The Golden Eagles will host Upper Iowa University Friday, January 7 at 7:30 p.m., and Winona State University Saturday, January 8 at 5:30 p.m.

The Golden Eagles are searching for their first NSIC win of the 2021-22 season. Minnesota Crookston comes in with a 1-13 (0-8 NSIC) mark. Upper Iowa enters the weekend with a 2-11 (0-8 NSIC) mark, while Winona State is 6-6 (3-5 NSIC).

UPPER IOWA SERIES
Upper Iowa won the last game in the series Jan. 18, 2020 in Fayette, Iowa. The Golden Eagles and Peacocks did not play during the 2020-21 season. Minnesota Crookston had previously won the last six games against the Peacocks. The Golden Eagles have taken six of the last seven. Upper Iowa's longest streak was a two-game win streak from February 17, 2012 to January 18, 2013.

WINONA STATE SERIES
Winona State has won the last nine games in the series against Minnesota Crookston. The Golden Eagles and Warriors did not compete during the 2020-21 season. Minnesota Crookston's last win over Winona State came February 19, 2011 in Crookston, Minn.

ORAZAM FROM ONAMIA

• Freshman guard Lily Orazem from Onamia, Minn., had her best game as a Golden Eagle last Sunday, January 2. Orazem came off the bench for 10 points. She shot 4-of-5 from the field. Orazem will look to continue to help the team in any way possible.

POST PLAY

• UMN Crookston senior Kylie Post has been a staple in the Golden Eagle line-up for the last four years. She is looking to cap off her career with a strong senior season. Post comes into Friday averaging 10.3 points per game. She comes into the weekend with 707 career points, 291 rebounds, and 160 assists. Her best game this season came with a career-high 27 points at home against Bemidji State.

ELECTRIC EMMA

• Junior Emma Carpenter leads the Golden Eagles with 34 assists and 2.4 assists per game. She has been the key facilitator for Minnesota Crookston this season. Carpenter is averaging 6.0 points per game this season. Her best game came with 16 points on 5-of-5 from the field versus UMary.

FRESHMAN STAND-OUT

• Freshman forward Abi Fraaza has jumped right on to the scene for the Golden Eagles. Fraaza, a native of Birnamwood, Wis., comes in leading all UMN Crookston players with 10.4 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. Fraaza is shooting 48.6 percent from the field this season. She has started the last four games for the Golden Eagles. Fraaza is notching 12.8 points per game in the last five tilts for Minnesota Crookston.

BOXED OUT BY FOX

• UMN Crookston redshirt junior Bren Fox leads the team this season with 5.7 rebounds per game. Fox has been a staple in the post for the Golden Eagles for four seasons. Fox is also averaging 7.8 points per game on the year. Her best game came with 17 points and 14 rebounds in a win over Chaminade earlier this season. She will look to channel that game heading into this weekend.  

IMPROVING FROM THREE

• The Golden Eagles are trending in the right direction from beyond the arc. They had struggled early in the season beyond the arc, but in the last four games the Golden Eagles are averaging 6.7 three-pointers per game and shooting 35.5 percent. UMN Crookston will look to continue to trend in a positive direction heading into this weekend against Upper Iowa and Winona State.

UPPER IOWA
TRANSFER TORNSTROM

• MSU Moorhead transfer Katie Tornstrom has only played in five games this season for Upper Iowa, but she has made a major impact. Tornstrom had 10 points on 4-of-10 from the field on January 2 against Upper Iowa. Tornstrom had 15 points on 5-of-7 from the field against Wayne State December 18.  

LYDIA LIGHTING IT UP

• Upper Iowa has been led this season by Lydia Haack. The sophomore from Elk River, Minn., has led the Peacocks with 14.2 points per game. She also leads Upper Iowa with 4.0 assists per game.

MUSGRAVE MUSINGS

• Jessica Musgrave comes in averaging 13.7 points and 7.2 rebounds per game for Upper Iowa. Her best game came with 33 points against Southern Arkansas November 13.

WINONA STATE
"KIECK"ING IT

• Emily Kieck comes in averaging 11.8 points per game to lead the way this season for Winona State. Kieck has scored 37 points this season at the free throw line. She is shooting 84.1 percent from the stripe this season.

HUSTAD HAPPENINGS

• Emily Hustad comes in notching 11.4 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. She is shooting 51.0 percent from the field this season. Hustad has two double-doubles this season. She had 23 points and 10 rebounds against Upper Iowa and notched 20 points and 10 boards versus Wayne State.

THAT "FEE"LING

• Emma Fee is tallying 9.5 points and 6.7 rebounds per game for Winona State. Fee's best scoring game came with 24 points against Northwest Missouri State. Her best game on the boards came with 13 rebounds against Southwest Minnesota State.