CROOKSTON, Minn. - THE MINNESOTA CROOKSTON women's basketball team opened the 2023-24 season in Marshall, Minn., last weekend. The Golden Eagles put together two solid performances against two strong teams in the region in the University of Nebraska Kearney and Northwest Missouri State. Unfortunately, they lost both games on a neutral court. The main struggle for the Golden Eagles was putting together four quarters, as they had lapses during one quarter in each game. The Golden Eagles come into the week averaging 73.0 points, while allowing 84.5 to their foes. They shot 42.3 percent from the field in the two games, and were 44.7 percent from beyond the arc. The Golden Eagles were 80.6 percent from the stripe in the first weekend. Minnesota Crookston outrebounded their opponents 41.5-40.0. They had 11 assists to 16.5 turnovers. Minnesota Crookston makes their home debut this week. The Golden Eagles host North Central University Wednesday, November 15 at 3 p.m., and Crown College Saturday, November 18 at 2 p.m. The games will mark the home debut for Head Coach Natalie Moynihan.

• COACHING DEBUT. Natalie Moynihan made her debut as a head coach officially last weekend in Marshall, Minn., against Nebraska Kearney and Northwest Missouri State. She went 0-2 in her first weekend, but will look to get her first win as a collegiate head coach this week at home. Moynihan came to Minnesota Crookston after serving as an assistant coach at the University of Bridgeport. She played collegiately at Franklin Pierce University, and professionally overseas. 

• SHE MADE SPORTSCENTER, DA DA DA DA DA DA. Minnesota Crookston sophomore guard Emma Miller made the Sports Center Top 10 last week after hitting a buzzer-beating half-court heave against Northwest Missouri State, marking the program's first feature on the Top 10. Miller is the reigning NSIC Freshman of the Year, and was an All-NSIC First Team selection last season. Miller comes in averaging 23.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game. She shot 44.7 percent from the field, and 47.1 percent from beyond the arc. Miller will be crucial this week for the Golden Eagles. 

• AUSTIN, MINNESOTA. Minnesota Crookston has three players from the city of Austin, Minn. The Golden Eagles return Emma and Hope Dudycha from last season's team and brought in Olivia Walsh this season. All three players will look to make their presence this season. Walsh started both games as a freshman last weekend, notching 9.0 points and 6.5 rebounds per tilt. Walsh shot an impressive 66.7 percent from the field. Hope Dudycha was the top player off the bench for the Golden Eagles, averaging 26.5 minutes per game. She tallied 4.5 points per game. Emma Dudycha hasn't appeared on the court yet this season, but played a crucial role last season. Hope Dudycha is in her first season competing for Minnesota Crookston after redshirting last season.

• NAT. Natalie Mikrot, a sophomore from Willow River, Minn., will look to be a key piece for Minnesota Crookston. Mikrot started both games, and shot 44.4 percent from distance against the Lopers and Bearcats. She comes into the week tallying 7.5 points per game. Mikrot started two games, and played in 26 as a freshman. She tallied 3.1 points per game in her first season.

• GOLDEN EAGLES AT HOME. Minnesota Crookston went 4-9 at home during the 2022-23 season. The Golden Eagles will look to improve upon those numbers this season as they welcome their first opponents to Gary Senske Court at Lysaker Gymnasium.

• HEY NIKKI. Nicole Hernandez, a 6-2 redshirt junior from Oak Creek, Wis., returns for her second season in the Maroon and Gold. Hernandez played in both games, starting one last week. Hernandez averaged 6.0 points and 4.0 rebounds per game last week. Hernandez will be a key player down low for the Golden Eagles this season. She will look to play a major impact against North Central and Crown. 

• TARYN UP MY HEART. Sophomore guard Taryn Frazer, a native of Cass Lake, Minn., adds a lot to the Golden Eagle attack. She started one game, and played in both last weekend. Frazer tallied 4.0 points and 2.5 rebounds per game, and was 2-of-2 from beyond the arc. 

NORTH CENTRAL. North Central University won their first game of the 2023-24 season against Alverno College, outscoring Alverno College 81-37. As a team North Central University had 41 rebounds, eight steals, two blocks and went 14 for 17 at the free throw line. Caitlyn Ryan led North Central University going seven-for-eight at field goal range, four-for- five at the free throw line, having four rebounds, a block and 18 points. Mia Mabanag went six-for-nine at field goal range, two-for-three from beyond the arc and had 14 points. NiNi Davenport went four-for-ten at field goal range, two-for-two on free throws, had two steals, one block and 11 points.

RYAN LEADING THE WAY. Caitlyn Ryan, a 5-10 native of Papillion, Neb., leads the Rams averaging 18.0 points and 4.0 rebounds per game. She Ryan leads North Central University in points with 18, field goals made with seven-of-eight attempts, free throws made with four and is second on the team in minutes played with 21 while being in the top four for rebounds with four. She will be crucial to North Central's success this weekend. 

MARK MIA. Mia Mabanag comes in averaging 14.0 points per tilt. Mabanag is second on North Central University in points with 14 and with field goals made with six. Mabanag has led North Central University in three pointers making two-of-three attempts. It will be crucial to mark her from beyond the arc, and slow her down in general this week. 

HEY NINI. NiNi Davenport comes into Wednesday's game averaging 11.0 points per game. She looks to be an 
important player for the Rams this season. Davenport has had the most field goals attempts with ten, making four of those. Davenport is third on North Central with 11 points and is tied for first on the team with two steals and one block.

UND CONNECTION. Former University of North Dakota 1,000 point scorer Leah Szabla is leading the way in her second season for North Central University. Szabla led the Rams to a 22-11 mark last season, including a NCCAA Division II National Tournament appearance. The Rams claimed fifth place nationally last season. 

CROWN. Crown College has started off the 2023-24 season with an 0-2 record losing to College of St. Scholastica and Grinnell College. In those two games Crown College has scored 99 points, going 37-for-117 at field goal range, has had 64 rebounds and 15 steals with no blocks. Latzke of Crown College has averaged 35 minutes, has made 11-of-22 field goals taken, seven-of-14 from beyond the arc with three steals and 29 points. Aylsworth has gone six-for-13 at field goal range, three-for-six on three-pointers, one-for-two at the free throw line, with three rebounds and 16 points. Urbina has averaged 28 minutes, has had five total rebounds, three assists and four steals with 13 points.

WATCH OUT FOR LATZKE. McKenzie Latzke has been the key player for the Polars so far this season, notching 14.5 points per game. Latzke leads Crown College in points with 29, field goals attempted and made going 11-for-22, three-pointers attempted and made going seven for 14, is second with three steals, is tied for first on Crown College with three assists and leads in minutes played with 70. It will be crucial to slow her down Saturday.

WHAT AYLS YOU. Morgan Aylsworth came off the bench for the Polars in their first two games, notching 8.0 points per tilt. Aylsworth is second on the team in points with 16, has six field goals made, three 3-pointers made, is fourth on Crown College with two assists while only averaging 16 minutes played.

SONIA SONIA. Sonia Urbina enters the week averaging 6.5 points and 2.5 rebounds per game for Crown College. Urbina is third on the team in points with 13, has the second most field goals and three-pointers attempted and leads Crown College in steals with four steals.

NORTH CENTRAL AT MINNESOTA CROOKSTON
DATE: Wed., Nov. 15
TIME: 3 p.m.
SITE: Crookston, Minn.
ARENA: Gary Senske Court at Lysaker Gymnasium
LIVE STATS: https://goldeneaglesports.com/sidearmstats/wbball/summary
LIVE VIDEO: https://nsicnetwork.com/goldeneaglesports/
TWITTER: @UMNCrookstonATH/@UMNCrookstonWBB

CROWN AT MINNESOTA CROOKSTON
DATE: Sat., Nov. 18
TIME: 2 p.m.
SITE: Crookston, Minn.
ARENA: Gary Senske Court at Lysaker Gymnasium
LIVE STATS: https://goldeneaglesports.com/sidearmstats/wbball/summary
LIVE VIDEO: https://nsicnetwork.com/goldeneaglesports/
TWITTER: @UMNCrookstonATH/@UMNCrookstonWBB

KEYS TO THE WEEKEND

- Can the Golden Eagles limit turnovers against North Central and Crown?

- Who will step up on the glass for Minnesota Crookston?

- Can Emma Miller build off her big weekend, as the Golden Eagles return home?

- Will Janie Tormanen continue to be a strong force the Golden Eagles?

- Can Minnesota Crookston avoid having a lapse in a quarter?

- Can the Golden Eagles get two wins at home?