• THE MINNESOTA CROOKSTON women's basketball team comes into the weekend with a 5-5 (2-2 NSIC) mark. The Golden Eagles are currently tied for ninth in the NSIC. Minnesota Crookston wraps up the 2023 calendar year with a pair of home games. Minnesota Crookston takes on Minnesota State University Moorhead Thursday, December 14 at 7:30 p.m., and Northern State University Saturday, December 16 at 3 p.m. The Golden Eagles rank third in the NSIC in offense, averaging 70.0 points per game. They are 11th in team defense allowing 67.2 points per tilt. Minnesota Crookston is hitting at a 41.0 percent clip from the field, and 31.4 percent from beyond the arc. The Golden Eagles are off to their best start since the 2018-19 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 5-5 start overall, and a 2-2 start in league play following wins over Minot State University, and Bemidji 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. 

• 70 OR UNDER. Minnesota Crookston has a fast-paced, high-scoring offense, but this season it is their defense that has helped them to their victories. The Golden Eagles are 5-1 when they hold their foes to 70 or fewer points, and are 0-4 when they allow 70 or more points to their opponents. Minnesota Crookston is holding their opponents to 57.8 points per game in their wins, and they are allowing 76.6 points per tilt in their losses. 

• ASSISTS TO TURNOVERS. The closer Minnesota Crookston is to a 1.00 assist/turnover ratio, the more success they are finding. Their average assist to turnover in their wins is 0.84 with 71 assists to 84 turnovers. In their losses, they have 40 assists to 115 turnovers for a 0.35 assists/turnover ratio. With their fast-paced offense it is crucial to keep this number as close to one as they can. In addition to looking at the full-team, it is also crucial Emma Miller keeps her assist/turnover ratio above one or as close to one as she can. In Minnesota Crookston's five wins, Miller has 27 assists to 18 turnovers, for a ratio of 1.5 In their five losses, she has 14 assists to 28 turnovers, for an assist/turnover ratio of 0.50. 

• 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, the reigning NSIC Freshman of the Year, comes into the tilt averaging 16.8 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game. Miller is sixth in the NSIC for scoring, third in rebounding, and third for assists. Miller's season high came with 31 points against Northwest Missouri State University. Miller has two games with 20 or more points, and eight games scoring double figures. The defenses last week were able to slow down Miller, holding her to 7.0 points per game, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game. 

• "LIV"IN IT UP. Freshman Olivia Walsh, a native of Austin, Minn., is playing great basketball for the Golden Eagles. Walsh is averaging 14.0 points, and 5.5 rebounds per game in the last two tilts. Walsh is coming off a career high 15 points against the University of Mary last Thursday. Walsh has six games where she has scored 10 or more points. She is notching 10.3 points, and 5.9 rebounds per game. Walsh comes in shooting 46.6 percent from the field for the Golden Eagles. She will be a key factor moving forward with Minnesota Crookston. Walsh has two games with 10 or more rebounds this season, as well. She had a 
double-double of 11 points, and 10 boards against Crown.

• GET IT TO JANIE. Sophomore Janie Tormanen has been a key player for Minnesota Crookston. The Menahga, Minn., native is averaging 12.3 points, and 6.6 rebounds per tilt. Tormanen is notching 14.5 points, and nine rebounds per game in the last two games. Tormanen is shooting 49.1 percent from the field. It is crucial to continue to get Tormanen touches for the Golden Eagles. She has seven games with 10 or more points, and two games with 10 or more boards. She had double doubles against UMary and Barry. 

• TARYN UP MY HEART. Sophomore guard Taryn Frazer, a native of Cass Lake, Minn., adds a lot to the Golden Eagle attack. Frazer is averaging 6.1 points, and 2.2 rebounds per tilt. Frazer has averaged 7.5 points per game for the Golden Eagles in the last two tilts. Frazer had seven points off the bench in 12 minutes for the Golden Eagles last Thursday against UMary. She has six games with seven or more points this season. Frazer will continue to be a major factor for the Golden Eagles. She is shooting 45.2 percent from the field, and 50.0 percent from beyond the arc. 

• A LITTLE HOPE. Redshirt freshman guard Hope Dudycha, a native of Austin, Minn., has started 8-of-10 games this season. Hope Dudycha is notching 6.5 points, and 2.2 rebounds per tilt. Hope Dudycha comes into the weekend shooting 40.0 percent from beyond the arc. Hope Dudycha's career high came with 11 points against Barry. Dudycha has four games with eight or more points this season. 

• HEY NIKKI. Redshirt junior forward/center Nicole Hernandez (Oak Creek, Wis.) comes in averaging 5.9 points and 5.8 rebounds per tilt. Hernandez had a double double of 10 points and 14 boards in a win over Minot State University November 21. Hernandez has been crucial on the boards this season. She has seven games with five or more rebounds this season. 

MSU MOORHEAD. Minnesota State University Moorhead has gone 2-7 on the 2023-24 season, winning their last game played against St. Cloud State University 57-48. Minnesota State University Moorhead has averaged 59.6 points with a field goal percentage of . 353, they average 39.8 rebounds and seven steals per game. Minnesota State University Moorhead is led by Natalie Jens who has 126 points while averaging just over 33 minutes per game and leads MSUM in assists with 42. Terryn Johnson of MSUM is second on the team in points with 94 and has the most rebounds with 67. Minnesota State University Moorhead's Ashley Fritz is third on the team in points with 65 and is second on the team in both assists and steals with ten and 12 respectively. The Dragons have won their last two games coming into this week, and will look to continue the trend. 

JENS SETTING IT UP. Natalie Jens, a junior guard from Beaver Dam, Wis., has been crucial for MSU Moorhead this season. Jens leads the team averaging 14.0 points, and 4.7 assists per game. Jens has the most minutes played on MSUM with 303, most points with 126, the most field goals made with 41, most assists with 42, most steals with 18, most free throws made with 33  and is fourth on the team in rebounds with 37. Jens comes in shooting 31.0 percent from beyond the arc. Jens has two games with 20 or more points, notching 21 points versus Rogers State, and 22 points versus UMary. 

TERRYN IT UP. Terryn Johnson, a 6-2 forward/center from Kindred, N.D., has been a key piece for Coach Karla Nelson's squad. Johnson is notching 10.4 points, and 7.4 rebounds per tilt. Johnson is second on MSUM in minutes played with 248, points with 94, field goals made with 35, free throws made with 24 and is first in both rebounds and blocks with 67 rebounds and six blocks. Johnson had a double double with 18 points, and 10 boards against Simon Fraser, and 10 points, and 11 boards versus St. Cloud State University. 

FINDING FRITZ. Freshman Ashley Fritz is off to a strong start to her career for the Dragons. She comes in averaging 7.2 points, and 5.6 rebounds per tilt. Fritz comes in shooting 41.2 percent from beyond the arc. Fritz, like Jens and Johnson has started all nine games being third on the MSUM in points with 64, second in rebounds with 50 and steals with 12.

NORTHERN STATE. Northern State University has gone 8-2 on the 2023-24 season outsourcing teams by a margin of 6.4. Northern State has a team field goal percentage of .426 with 657 ponts, 390 rebounds, 65 steals and 35 blocks. Northern State is led by Madelyn Bragg who has 198 points with a field goal percentage of .599 and a free throw percentage of .756, 70 rebounds and 21 blocks. Rianna Fillipi of Northern State has averaged the most minutes with just over 37 while being second on the team in points with 128 and assists with 49. Northern States Alayna Benike is third on the team in points with 93, has made and attempted the most 3pt going 18 for 49 and is tied for fourth on the team in rebounds with 40.

NOT TO BRAGG. Madelyn Bragg, a 6-3 sophomore center, paces the Wolves. She leads the team with 19.8 points, and 7.0 rebounds per game. Bragg has been one of the top players in the NSIC this season. She is currently second in the league in the conference. Bragg is shooting 59.9 percent from the field. She has scored in double figures every game this season. Bragg has led Northern State in multiple categories having 198 points, going 82 for 137 from the field, 34 for 45 from the free throw line all while having 70 assists, 21 blocks and being second on Northern state in steals with 11.

RIANNA ON THE ASSIST. Rianna Filippi is the straw that stirs the drink for the Golden Eagles. Filippi is notching 12.8 points, and 5.2 rebounds per game. Filippi leads the team with 4.9 assists per game, and is crucial in setting up the offense. Filippi has nine games with four or more assists this season. Fillipi has the most minutes played for Northern State with 377, being second on the team in points with 128 and first in assists and steals with 49 and 16 respectively.

ALL ABOUT ALAYNA. Alayna Benike enters the week notching 9.3 points, and 5.2 rebounds per game. Benike is shooting 36.7 percent from beyond the arc. Benike, unlike Bragg and Fillipi, has only started nine of her ten games played. She is third on the team in points with 93, being first in 3pts made and attempted going 18 for 49, is tied for fourth on the team in rebounds with 52 and is fourth on the team in assists with 17.

WEEKLY SNAPSHOT

MINNESOTA CROOKSTON
Projected Starters
So. PG 1 Emma Miller (5-1, Albertville, Minn.) 16.8 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 4.2 APG
R-Fr. SG 2 Hope Dudycha (5-5, Austin, Minn.) 6.5 PPG, 2.2 RPG
Fr. SF 31 Olivia Walsh (5-10, Austin, Minn.) 10.3 PPG, 5.9 RPG
So. PF 15 Janie Tormanen (6-0, Menahga, Minn.) 12.3 PPG, 6.6 RPG
R-Jr. C 4 Nicole Hernandez (6-2, Oak Creek, Wis.) 5.9 PPG, 5.8 RPG
Bench
So. G 3 Taryn Frazer (5-4, Cass Lake, Minn.) 6.1 PPG, 2.2 RPG
Fr. F 14 Rayna Klejeski (6-0, Barnum, Minn.) 5.3 PPG, 3.8 RPG
So. G 11 Natalie Mikrot (5-6, Willow River, Minn.) 3.8 PPG, 1.1 RPG
R-Fr. G/F 30 Riley Jenkins (5-10, Galesburg, Ill.) 3.0 PPG, 2.7 RPG

MSU MOORHEAD
Projected Starters
Jr. PG 10 Natalie Jens (5-8, Beaver Dam, Wis.) 14.0 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 4.7 APG
Fr. SG 12 Ashley Fritz (5-10, Hastings, Minn.) 7.2 PPG, 5.6 RPG
Gr. SF 23 Olivia Skibiel (6-0, Snohomish, Wash.) 6.4 PPG, 2.9 RPG
Fr. PF 5 Maya Metcalf (6-2, West Fargo, N.D.) 6.1 PPG, 4.0 RPG
So. C 22 Terryn Johnson (6-2, Kindred, N.D.) 10.4 PPG, 7.4 RPG
Bench
Fr. G/F 30 Abby Berge (5-11, Sunburg, Minn.) 6.1 PPG, 4.8 RPG
Fr. G 32 Karlee Fisher (5-8, Brooklyn Park, Minn.) 3.4 PPG, 1.6 RPG
So. G 4 Tori Ratz (5-8, Fergus Falls, Minn.) 1.5 PPG, 1.0 RPG
Gr. G 1 Ashley Gustavson (5-8, North Mankato, Minn.) 1.3 PPG, 1.4 RPG
So. G 2 Bailey Keske (5-8, Albany, Minn.) 2.0 PPG, 1.6 RPG

NORTHERN STATE
Projected Starters
Sr. PG 3 Rianna Fillipi (5-8, Lennox, S.D.) 12.8 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 4.9 APG
So. SG 4 Morgan Fiedler (5-8, Aberdeen, S.D.) 3.3 PPG, 2.1 RPG
Jr. SF 23 Alayna Benike (5-11, Castlewood, S.D.) 9.3 PPG, 5.2 RPG
Sr. PF 25 Brynn Alfson (6-0, Hayti, S.D.) 7.1 PPG, 6.8 RPG
So. C 2 Madelyn Bragg (6-3, Aberdeen, S.D.) 19.8 PPG, 7.0 RPG
Bench
Fr. G 5 Decontee Smith (5-8, Mapleton, N.D.) 6.0 PPG, 5.5 RPG
Fr. F/C 24 Brylie Schultz (6-2, Wheaton, Minn.) 3.6 PPG, 2.1 RPG
Fr. G/F 1 Gracie Traphagen (5-10, Aberdeen, S.D.) 2.7 PPG, 2.0 RPG

GAMEDAY

MSU MOORHEAD AT MINNESOTA CROOKSTON
DATE: Thursday, December 14
TIME: 7:30 p.m.
SITE: Crookston, Minn.
ARENA: Lysaker Gymnasium
LIVE STATS: https://goldeneaglesports.com/sidearmstats/wbball/summary
LIVE VIDEO: https://nsicnetwork.com/goldeneaglesports/
TWITTER: @UMNCrookstonATH/@UMNCrookstonWBB

NORTHERN STATE AT MINNESOTA CROOKSTON
DATE: Thursday, December 16
TIME: 3 p.m.
SITE: Crookston, Minn.
ARENA: Lysaker Gymnasium
LIVE STATS: https://goldeneaglesports.com/sidearmstats/wbball/summary
LIVE VIDEO: https://nsicnetwork.com/goldeneaglesports/
TWITTER: @UMNCrookstonATH/@UMNCrookstonWBB

KEYS TO THE WEEKEND

- Can Emma Miller keep her assist/turnover ratio above 1.0?

- Can the Golden Eagles build on their 3-0 record at the friendly confines of Lysaker Gymnasium?

- Who will step up for Minnesota Crookston?

- Can Emma Miller have strong bounce back games for the Golden Eagles?

- Can Minnesota Crookston get the ball to Janie Tormanen inside?

- Will Olivia Walsh continue her strong play for the Golden Eagles?