• THE MINNESOTA CROOKSTON women's basketball team wraps up 2022 at home with a pair of games against Minot State University and University of Mary. The Golden Eagles have a pair of pivotal match-ups in the NSIC North. UMary comes into the weekend in a tie for second place in the division, while Minot State is currently in seventh place. The Golden Eagles come into Friday in fifth place in the NSIC North. Minnesota Crookston has a 4-8 (3-3 NSIC) record. The Golden Eagles have already matched their win total from the 2021-22 season. The Golden Eagles claimed the last win in the series over Minot State, defeating the Beavers 91-65 at Lysaker Gymnasium February 5, 2022. UMary has picked up the last two wins in that series. UMN Crookston last defeated the Marauders 73-65 January 30, 2021 at Lysaker Gymnasium. 

·   NSIC PLAYER OF THE WEEK. UMN Crookston freshman Emma Miller has been a phenom as of late for the Golden Eagles. Miller is coming off a NSIC North Player of the Week nod heading into the Holiday season. She scored a Minnesota Crookston school-record 37 points on 13-of-20 from the field. Miller is the first Golden Eagle to earn the accolade since Isieoma Odor won the honor four times during the 2018-19 season. Miller has scored 92 points in the last three games for an average of 30.7 points per tilt. She comes into the weekend averaging 17.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game. Miller is shooting 40.0 percent from beyond the arc during the 2022-23 campaign. 

·  DOUBLE-DOUBLE MACHINE. Bren Fox has already secured three double-doubles during the 2022-23 season. The fifth-year senior is coming off a double-double of 14 points and 16 rebounds to help UMN Crookston secure a season sweep of Bemidji State University with a victory December 17. Fox is notching 12.0 points and 13.0 rebounds per game in the last two for UMN Crookston. Fox is fifth all-time in career rebounds for the Golden Eagles. She needs just nine rebounds to surpass Emily Gruber for fourth all-time in the Minnesota Crookston record books. Fox is 97 rebounds away from tying Laurie Tyson for third. She is 99 rebounds from Katrina (Moenkedick) Nordick in second, and is 182 rebounds away from Isieoma Odor at the top of the charts. In addition, Fox has 685 points in her career, to go with her 593 rebounds. She is currently averaging 7.0 points and 8.0 rebounds per game for the Golden Eagles.

·  TARYN IT UP. Freshman Taryn Frazer, a Cass Lake, Minn., native, has jumped right on to the scene for the Golden Eagles.
Frazer comes into the weekend notching 7.1 points per game. Frazer is coming off eight points against Bemidji State on December 17. She had a season-high 25 points earlier this season in a victory over Palm Beach Atlantic University. 

• DON'T HURT US FROM DEEP. Minnesota Crookston continues to prevent opponents from shooting the long ball well. The Golden Eagles are holding foes to just 27.2 percent from beyond the arc this season. Teams are just averaging 5.4 three-pointers per game. Minnesota Crookston held MSU Moorhead to 23.5 percent last weekend. Against St. Cloud State on December 3, the Huskies shot just 29.4 percent from beyond the arc. Palm Beach Atlantic was the only team this season to shoot over 40.0 percent on more than 10 attempts from beyond the arc. 

• IMPACT TRANSFER. Nicole Hernandez has made an immediate impact after transferring over from Lindenwood University. The 6-2 forward is averaging 4.7 points and 5.4 rebounds per game for UMN Crookston. She has started 9-of-12 games for 
Minnesota Crookston. Hernandez had eight points and 13 rebounds in a win over Palm Beach Atlantic. She notched nine points and six boards against St. Cloud State. In the last game, Hernandez notched six points and four boards to help Minnesota 
Crookston past Bemidji State. The Golden Eagles are second in the conference for three-point percentage defense. 

• HITTING THE FREE ONES. Minnesota Crookston has made it count at the charity stripe this season. The Golden Eagles lead the conference with a 79.3 free throw percentage this season. They have made 119-of-150 shots this season. Emma Miller leads the team with a 94.7 free throw percentage this season. Alex Page, Bren Fox, and Erika Lane are all shooting above 80.0 percent on more than 10 attempts this season. 

• AT HOME. Minnesota Crookston is looking to make it a winning streak at home after defeating Bemidji State at home December 17. The Golden Eagles are 1-3 at home this season. Last season, UMN Crookston went 1-7 on Gary Senske Court. They are looking to change their fortunes on their home court the rest of the way in 2022-23. 

MINOT STATE. Minot State comes in with a 5-7 mark (1-5 NSIC). The Beavers are coming off a four-game losing streak to UMary (twice), Minnesota Duluth, and St. Cloud State. The Beavers come into the weekend shooting 38.2 percent from the field, and 31.0 percent from beyond the arc. Minot State is narrowly out-rebounding their foes 33.9-33.5. They are committing 15.3 turnovers per game. 

HEAD OF THE CLASS. Kate Head, a 5-5 senior guard, leads the Minot State Beavers with 15.3 points per game this season. She is the only Minot State player averaging double figures coming into the weekend. Head enters the weekend shooting 38.9 percent from the field, and 35.4 percent from beyond the arc. Head has 10 double-figure scoring games this season, including 26 versus Southeastern Oklahoma State. Head also leads the team with 38 assists this season.

FARGO PROUD.  6-4 freshman Emily Srejma, a product of Shanley H.S., in Fargo, N.D., is leading the way in the post for the Beavers this season. Srejma comes in averaging 7.8 points and 3.4 rebounds per game. Srejma had 12 points against Minnesota Duluth and Southeastern Oklahoma State this season. She will look to be a force inside for the Beavers. Srejma did not play in Minot State's most recent game December 17 against UMary. 

ELLIOTT ON THE GLASS.  Natasha Elliott leads Minot State in rebounding this season. The 5-11 native of Brisbane, Australia, comes in notching a team-high 4.8 rebounds a game, to go with her 7.3 points per tilt. Elliott's season high came in Minot State's most recent game against UMary, as she tallied 16 points on 5-of-15 from the field.

FROM A LAND DOWN UNDER.  The Australian connection is strong on the Minot State roster and it has been for a long time, going back to Carly and Christina Boag, who arrived on campus for the 2010-11 season. The Beavers currently have three players from Australia and Western Australia with Natasha Elliott, Jaime Skeggs, and Kate Head.
 
UMARY. The Marauders come into the weekend with a 5-4 (4-2 NSIC) record. UMary is coming off a 59-54 win over Minot State December 17. The Marauders come in averaging 67.1 points per game. UMary is shooting 42.3 percent from the field, and 33.1 percent from beyond the arc. UMary is out-rebounding their foes 37.3-34.2.

Z IS THE LETTER OF THE DAY. Megan Zander leads the Marauders this season with 15.1 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. She is shooting 38.7 percent from beyond the arc. She had a season-high 23 points against MSU Moorhead. Zander has scored in double figures in all nine games this season for the Marauders. She had 12 points in a win over Minot State December 17. 

CAN'T HELP BUT JUST "WACHA". Ryleigh Wacha comes into the weekend averaging 9.0 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. The Fargo, N.D. native has been a crucial figure for the Marauders this season. Wacha scored a season-high 21 points last weekend against St. Cloud State. 

THREE BALL. Megan Voit leads UMary this season, shooting at a 40.7 percent clip from beyond the arc. Voit is averaging 9.2 points per game this season. Voit scored a season-high 17 points in the season opener November 16 against Black Hills State. She had 15 points versus Minot State December 17.

GAMEDAY

Minot State @ Minnesota Crookston
DATE: Friday Dec. 30
TIME: 3 p.m.
SITE: Crookston, Minn. 
ARENA: Gary Senske Court at Lysaker Gymnasium
Watch Live: https://nsicnetwork.com/goldeneaglesports/
Live Stats: https://goldeneaglesports.com/sidearmstats/wbball/summary
TWITTER: @UMNCrookstonATH/@UMNCrookstonWBB

UMary @ Minnesota Crookston
DATE: Sat. Dec. 31
TIME: 1 p.m.
SITE: Crookston, Minn. 
ARENA: Gary Senske Court at Lysaker Gymnasium
Watch Live: https://nsicnetwork.com/goldeneaglesports/
Live Stats: https://goldeneaglesports.com/sidearmstats/wbball/summary
TWITTER: @UMNCrookstonATH/@UMNCrookstonWBB


WEEKLY SNAPSHOT

MINNESOTA CROOKSTON
Projected Starters
Fr. G 1 Emma Miller (5-1, Albertville, Minn.) 17.3 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 3.1 APG
So. F 20 Alex Page (6-0, Grand Forks, N.D.) 7.3 PPG, 3.6 RPG
Fr. G 3 Taryn Frazer (5-4, Cass Lake, Minn.) 7.1 PPG, 2.8 RPG
Jr. F/C 4 Nicole Hernandez (6-2, Oak Creek, Minn.) 4.7 PPG, 5.4 RPG
R-Sr. C 23 Bren Fox (6-3, Norwood Young America, Minn.) 7.0 PPG, 8.0 RPG
Top Bench Players
So. G 5 Erika Lane (5-10, Breezy Point, Minn.) 5.3 PPG, 2.3 RPG
Fr. F/C 15 Janie Tormanen (6-0, Menahga, Minn.) 4.5 PPG, 2.3 RPG
Fr. G 11 Natalie Mikrot (5-6, Willow River, Minn.) 3.0 PPG, 0.8 RPG
R-Jr. F 21 Abigail Leach (6-0, Wyoming, Minn.) 3.0 PPG, 1.6 RPG

MINOT STATE
Projected Starters
Jr. F 4 Natasha Elliott (5-11, Brisbane, Australia) 7.3 PPG, 4.8 RPG
So. G 5 Emma Mogen (5-8, Watford City, N.D.) 5.8 PPG, 2.8 RPG
Sr. G 11 Kate Head (5-5, Brisbane, Australia) 15.3 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 3.2 APG
Fr. G 13 Vilborg Jonsdottir (5-5, Njardvik, Reykjanesbaer, Iceland) 2.6 PPG, 3.8 RPG
Fr. F 22 Lorelei McIver (6-0, Glenburn, N.D.) 4.3 PPG, 4.3 RPG
Top Bench Players
Jr. G 14 Kennedy Harris (5-6, Mandan, N.D.) 4.9 PPG, 2.8 RPG
Fr. G 10 Jaime Skeggs (5-9, Mandurah, West Australia) 4.8 PPG, 2.3 RPG
Fr. C 33 Emily Srejma (6-4, Fargo, N.D.) 7.8 PPG, 3.4 RPG
Sr. G 23 Breianna Smestad (5-7, Plymouth, Minn.) 3.7 PPG, 1.3 RPG
So. F/C 21 Alexandra Baker (6-3, West Sussex, United Kingdom) 3.7 PPG, 1.1 RPG

UMARY
Projected Starters
R-Sr. 13 Carly Kottsick (5-8, Fargo, N.D.) 4.6 PPG, 3.0 RPG
So. G 14 Ryleigh Wacha (5-10, Fargo, N.D.) 9.0 PPG, 5.2 RPG
Sr. G 22 Megan Zander (5-10, Mandan, N.D.) 15.1 PPG, 5.4 RPG
Sr. G 23 Megan Voit (5-9, Sauk Rapids, Minn.) 9.2 PPG, 3.7 RPG
So. F 33 Addison Rozell (6-2, Redfield, S.D.) 7.8 PPG, 4.8 RPG
Top Bench Players
So. C 12 Moriku Hakim (6-0, Fargo, N.D.) 7.1 PPG, 4.9 RPG
Sr. F 21 Reese Wishart (5-10, Buffalo, Minn.) 8.2 PPG, 2.1 RPG
Jr. G 2 Zoe Velde (5-10, Pipestone, Minn.) 3.9 PPG, 2.0 RPG
So. G 24 Julia Fitterer (5-9, Bismarck, N.D.) 2.6 PPG, 0.8 RPG