• THE MINNESOTA CROOKSTON women's basketball team comes into the weekend with a 4-3 (1-0 NSIC) mark. The Golden Eagles continue their best start since the 2018-19 season. Minnesota Crookston is in their first season under Head Coach Natalie Moynihan. The Golden Eagles are coming off a split in Florida, as they fell to Lynn University but picked up a 73-67 win over Barry University. Minnesota Crookston now enters their full NSIC schedule the rest of the way beginning this weekend. They are looking to snap a six-game losing streak against St. Cloud State University. Their last win over the Huskies came February 22, 2020 in Crookston. Minnesota Crookston's last win at Halenbeck Hall was a 91-68 victory January 9, 2015. The Golden Eagles have won the last two games against the Beavers. They won at BSU Gymnasium 69-64 last season.

• STRONG START. Natalie Moynihan is off to the best start of any full-time Minnesota Crookston women's basketball coach since Janna Hjelseth during the 1989-90 season. Moynihan has the Golden Eagles off to a 4-3 start overall, and a 1-0 start in league play following a win over Minot State University. Moynihan has a young team, but a team that gained a lot of experience last season. She took over for long-time Golden Eagle Head Coach Mike Roysland, who retired prior to the 2023-24 season. 

• MILLER TIME. Minnesota Crookston sophomore guard Emma Miller has been a swiss army knife for the Golden Eagles this season, doing a little bit of everything and doing it well. Miller currently is second in the league in scoring with 20.1 points per game, the 5-1 sophomore leads the league in rebounding with 9.0 per game, and is fourth in assists with 4.6 per game. Miller comes in shooting 44.1 percent from the field, 41.9 percent from beyond the arc, and 95.0 percent from the stripe. She has two games over 20 points, three games over 10 rebounds, and four over six assists. She will be crucial for Minnesota Crookston this weekend. 

• LIV-ING IT UP. Freshman Olivia Walsh, a native of Austin, Minn., has made an instant impact for the Golden Eagles this season. Walsh is averaging 9.7 points and 6.6 rebounds per game entering this weekend. Last weekend she played a pivotal role, averaging 11.5 points and 3.0 rebounds per game for the Golden Eagles. She had her career-high 13 points against Barry. Walsh's best rebounding performance came with 12 boards in the win over Minot State University. Look for Walsh to make an impact against the Huskies and Beavers. 

• GET IT TO JANIE. Sophomore Janie Tormanen has been a key player for Minnesota Crookston. The Menahga, Minn., native is averaging 12.9 points and 6.1 rebounds per game this season. Tormanen was instrumental in the win on the road at Barry. She had 14 points and 12 rebounds against the Buccaneers. Tormanen comes into the game with five double-figure scoring 
performances. She has eclipsed 10 rebounds once this season. Tormanen is shooting 52.8 percent from the field entering this weekend. 

• HEY NIKKI. Nicole Hernandez, a redshirt junior from Oak Creek, Wis., enters the weekend notching 6.4 point and 5.9 rebounds per game. Hernandez has started 5-of-7 games for Minnesota Crookston. Her best game came with a double-double of 10 points and 14 boards against Minot State November 21. Hernandez had nine points and five rebounds in a win over North Central University. She will be a key player to Minnesota Crookston's success this weekend. 

• DEFENSE DEFENSE DEFENSE. The Golden Eagles come into this weekend 4-0 when they hold opponents under 70 points. The Golden Eagle offense has been great, but the defense is what is going to get them wins this season. Minnesota Crookston comes into Friday allowing 65.7 points per game. The Golden Eagles are scoring 74.6 points per tilt. Minnesota 
Crookston is allowing 80.3 points per tilt in their losses this season. It will be crucial to slow down the Huskies and Bemidji State this season. St. Cloud State University comes in averaging 70.5 points per game, Bemidji State University is notching 64.7 points per tilt. 

• TARYN UP MY HEART. Sophomore guard Taryn Frazer, a native of Cass Lake, Minn., adds a lot to the Golden Eagle attack. Frazer has played in all seven games, starting two. Frazer comes in averaging 6.6 points and 2.6 rebounds per game. Frazer is shooting a team-best 53.6 percent from the field. Frazer has also been crucial from beyond the arc, hitting at a 58.8 percent clip from distance. Frazer had nine points off the bench in the win over Barry. She also scored nine points at home November 18 versus Crown College. 

• A LITTLE HOPE. Redshirt freshman guard Hope Dudycha, a native of Austin, Minn., has started 5-of-7 games this season. Hope Dudycha is notching 6.7 points per game.  Dudycha comes into the weekend shooting 52.9 percent from beyond the arc. Dudycha is coming off a career-high 11 points against Barry.

• RAYNA OFF THE BENCH. Rayna Klejeski, a freshman from Barnum, Minn., has had a big impact off the bench this season for the Golden Eagles. Klejeski is averaging 5.7 points and 4.5 rebounds per tilt. Her best game came with 13 points against Crown. Klejeski is shooting 51.9 percent from the field. 

ST. CLOUD STATE. The St. Cloud State University women's basketball has gone 3-1 on the season only losing their last game to Michigan Tech. As a team St. Cloud State has outscored their opponents 282 to 237, averaging 70.5 points per game. St Cloud State is led by Eggebrecht who has started all four of the games played with 121 total minutes while leading the team in points with 51. Draheim of St. Cloud State has also started all four games of the 2023-24 season and is second on the team in points with 43. Sawicki has the fourth most field goals made on St Cloud State.

JADA'S WORLD. Jada Eggebrecht leads St Cloud State in minutes played with 121, field goals made with 19, points with 51, is tied for first on St. Cloud State with six three-pointers made, and is second on St. Cloud State with 16 total rebounds. Eggebrecht comes in averaging 12.8 points and 4.0 rebounds per game. In addition, she is shooting 44.2 percent from the field, and 40.0 percent from beyond the arc. 

NEED MORE MORGAN. Morgan Draheim is second on St. Cloud State in total minutes with 113, 17 field goals made and 43 points. Draheim is tied for first on St. Cloud State in three-pointer attempted with 15 and field goals attempted with 35 and has nine rebounds on the season. Draheim is notching 10.8 points per tilt. Draheim had 16 points November 26 against Michigan Tech. 

SAWICKI ON THE BOARDS. Ashley Sawicki, like Draheim and Eggebrecht has started all four games while having 21 points, going eight for 24 at field goal range and having a total of 30 rebounds on the season to lead St. Cloud State. Sawicki has been huge on the glass for the Huskies, averaging a team-high 7.5 rebounds to go with her 5.3 points per tilt. 

BEMIDJI STATE. Bemidji State University has gone 2-1 on the 2023-24 season, outscoring their opponents 194 to 165, 
having 32 steals and 18 blocks. Bemidji State University is led by Alyssa Hill who has 39 points and has made 16 of her 31 attempted field goals. Sam Pogatchnik of Bemidji State has played the most minutes with 74, is second on Bemidji State University with 26 points and tied in first with 17 rebounds. Sydney White has started all three games played, being second in field goals attempted with 24 and free throws made with eight, while scoring 20 points and 15 rebounds.

RUNNING UP THAT HILL. Alyssa Hill started all three games played being first on Bemidji State University in field goals made with 16, first in points with 39 and making all six of her free throws along with making her only three-pointer attempted. Hill leads the team averaging 13.0 points per game. She is shooting 51.6 percent from the field. Hill had 19 points against Mayville State University. 

HEY SAM. Sam Pogatchnik leads Bemidji State University in minutes played with 74, is second with 11 field goals made and 26 points scored and tied for first on Bemidji State University with 17 rebounds. Pogatchnik is averaging 8.7 points and 5.7 rebounds per game. Pogatchnik is shooting 45.8 percent from the field this season. 

IMPACT TRANSFER. Sydney White, a transfer from the University of Sioux Falls, is making a major impact in her second season with the Beavers. White is tallying 6.7 points and 5.0 rebounds per game. White is third on Bemidji State University in points with 20, has attempted the second most field goals with 24, has the most free throws made with eight and is third on the team with 15 rebounds.

GAMEDAY

MINNESOTA CROOKSTON AT ST. CLOUD STATE
DATE: Friday, December 1 
TIME: 7:30 p.m.
SITE: St. Cloud, Minn.
ARENA: Halenbeck Hall 
LIVE STATS: https://scsuhuskies.com/sidearmstats/wbball/summary
LIVE VIDEO: https://nsicnetwork.com/scsuhuskies/
TWITTER: @UMNCrookstonATH/@UMNCrookstonWBB

MINNESOTA CROOKSTON AT BEMIDJI STATE
DATE: Saturday, December 2
TIME: 5:30 p.m.
SITE: Bemidji, Minn.
ARENA: BSU Gymnasium
LIVE STATS: https://bsubeavers.com/sidearmstats/wbball/summary
LIVE VIDEO: https://nsicnetwork.com/bsubeavers/
TWITTER: @UMNCrookstonATH/@UMNCrookstonWBB


WEEKLY SNAPSHOT

MINNESOTA CROOKSTON
Projected Starters
So. PG 1 Emma Miller (5-1, Albertville, Minn.) 20.1 PPG, 9.0 RPG, 4.6 APG
R-FR. SG 2 Hope Dudycha (5-5, Austin, Minn.) 6.7 PPG, 1.7 RPG
So. 3G 3 Taryn Frazer (5-4, Cass Lake, Minn.) 6.6 PPG, 2.6 RPG
Fr. SF 31 Olivia Walsh (5-10, Austin, Minn.) 9.7 PPG, 6.6 RPG
So. PF 15 Janie Tormanen (6-0, Menahga, Minn.) 12.9 PPG, 6.1 RPG
Bench
R-Jr. F/C 4 Nicole Hernandez (6-2, Oak Creek, Wis.) 6.4 PPG, 5.9 RPG
Fr. F 14 Rayna Klejeski (6-0, Barnum, Minn.) 5.7 PPG, 4.5 RPG
So. G 11 Natalie Mikrot (5-6, Willow River, Minn.) 4.6 PPG, 1.1 RPG
R-Fr. G/F 30 Riley Jenkins (5-10, Galesburg, Ill.) 1.0 PPG, 2.0 RPG

ST. CLOUD STATE
Projected Starters
Sr. PG 4 Morgan Draheim (5-6, Hortonville, Wis.) 10.8 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 2.8 APG
So. SG 11 Jada Eggebrecht (5-9, Phillips, Wis.) 12.8 PPG, 4.0 RPG
Sr. SF 34 Dru Henning (5-10, Mukwonago, Wis.) 7.5 PPG, 3.0 RPG
Sr. PF 33 Jasmine Litt (6-0, Pulaski, Wis.) 10.8 PPG, 1.8 RPG
So. C 40 Ashley Sawicki (6-1, Waunakee, Wis.) 5.3 PPG, 7.5 RPG
Bench
Sr. G 21 Tori Peschel (5-9, Sauk Centre, Minn.) 7.0 PPG, 6.0 RPG
Sr. G 22 Makenna Vanzant (5-7, Farmington, Ark.) 7.0 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 2.8 APG
Fr. F 12 Paige Lambe (6-2, Veronia, Wis.) 4.3 PPG, 2.3 RPG
So. G 10 Alyssa Stamer (5-7, Hutchinson, Minn.) 1.0 PPG, 2.0 RPG


BEMIDJI STATE
Projected Starters
R-So. PG 12 Sydney White (5-8, Andover, Minn.) 6.7 PPG, 5.0 RPG
Jr. SG 0 Erin Barrette (5-7, Menominee, Mich.) 4.0 PPG, 1.7 RPG
Sr. 3G 22 Sam Pogatchnik (5-9, Proctor, Minn.) 8.7 PPG, 5.7 RPG
Sr. SF 1 Amme Sheforgen (5-8, St. Francis, Minn.) 5.7 PPG, 5.7 RPG
So. PF 42 Alyssa Hill (6-1, Negaunee, Mich.) 13.0 PPG, 3.0 RPG
Bench
So. F 20 Rachel Koenig (6-2, Nodine, Wis.) 6.3 PPG, 4.0 RPG
R-Fr. G 5 Alayna Suprenand (5-9, Fond du Lac, Wis.) 5.3 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 4.7 APG
Fr. F 25 Ashlynne Guenther (5-11, Duluth, Minn.) 3.3 PPG, 2.o RPG
Sr. G 11 Isabel Majewski (5-9, Pulaski, Wis.) 3.7 PPG, 1.7 RPG
Fr. G 10 Tieryn Plasch (5-7, Lake Nebagamon, Wis.) 3.7 PPG, 2.7 RPG

KEYS TO THE WEEKEND

- Can Emma Miller continue her hot start for the Golden Eagles?

- Will Taryn Frazer continue to make an impact for the Golden Eagles either off the bench of in the starting line-up?

- Can Minnesota Crookston get the ball to Janie Tormanen down low?

- Can Olivia Walsh continue to make a major impact as a freshman for the Golden Eagles?

- Can the Golden Eagle defense continue to make a difference against St. Cloud State and Bemidji State?