• THE MINNESOTA CROOKSTON women's basketball team enters the week with a 5-4 (2-1 NSIC) record. The Golden Eagles continue to be off to their best start since the 2018-19 season. They are in their first season under Head Coach Natalie Moynihan, who spent the previous two seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Bridgeport. The Golden Eagles are the second-highest scoring offense in the NSIC, notching 71.8 points per game. They are ninth in defense, allowing 66.9 points per tilt.  Minnesota Crookston is fourth in team field goal percentage at 42.7 percent, and fourth in field goal percentage defense at 35.7 percent. The Golden Eagles are coming off a split, with a 72-51 loss to St. Cloud State University, and a buzzer-beating 73-70 victory over Bemidji State University. They are set for three more NSIC contests to wrap up the 2023 calendar year. 

• 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 5-4 start overall, and a 2-1 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 5-0 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 78.3 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 34 assists to 96 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 fave wins, Miller has 27 assists to 18 turnovers, for a ratio of 1.5 In their four losses, she has 10 assists to 21 turnovers, for an assist/turnover ratio of 0.48. 

• 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, is fifth in 
scoring for 18.0 points per game. She is second in the league in rebounding, averaging 8.3 boards per game. Additionally, she is third in assists with 4.2 helpers per game. Miller comes in shooting 41.9 percent from the field, and 38.8 percent from beyond the arc. She had a season-high 31 points against Northwest Missouri State University. Miller has three double-doubles this season.

• LAST SECOND LIVE. Freshman Olivia Walsh, a native of Austin, Minn., had the game-winning and-one opportunity for the Golden Eagles against Bemidji State University Saturday, sending Minnesota Crookston to a 73-70 win. Walsh got the game-winning lay-in in the final seconds, and also added a bonus free throw to seal the victory. She has made a major impact as a newcomer for the Golden Eagles. Walsh comes in notching 9.8 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. She scored 13 points against the Beavers last Saturday. 

• GET IT TO JANIE. Sophomore Janie Tormanen has been a key player for Minnesota Crookston. The Menahga, Minn., native is averaging 12.4 points and 6.2 rebounds in her second year for the Golden Eagles. Tormanen comes into Thursday 
shooting 50.0 percent from the field, and 75.0 percent from the charity stripe. She had a great game in Saturday's win over Bemidji State, notching 18 points on 9-of-16 from the field for Minnesota Crookston. Tormanen has one double-double this seaon, securing 14 points and 12 boards in a win over Barry University. It remains key for Minnesota Crookston to get the ball to 
Tormanen in the course of their offense. 

• TIME FOR RILEY. Riley Jenkins finally showed her potential Saturday against Bemidji State University. Jenkins is 
coming back from an injury after transferring from the University of Illinois-Springfield and has been getting more and more minutes over recent weeks. Jenkins had a season-high 12 points off the bench against the Beavers Saturday in a season-high 28 minutes. Jenkins will continue to remain a crucial component for the Golden Eagles moving forward. 

• TARYN UP MY HEART. Sophomore guard Taryn Frazer, a native of Cass Lake, Minn., adds a lot to the Golden Eagle attack. Frazer had the opportunity to play a key role off the bench against Bemidji State, located near her hometown of Cass Lake. Frazer had eight points off the bench against the Beavers on 3-of-5 from the field. Frazer comes into Thursday averaging 6.0 points per game. She is shooting 55.0 percent from beyond the arc to lead all Golden Eagles. 

• A LITTLE HOPE. Redshirt freshman guard Hope Dudycha, a native of Austin, Minn., has started 7-of-9 games this season. Hope Dudycha is notching 6.8 points per game. Dudycha has been a key piece for Moynihan's Golden Eagles after having to redshirt her initial season at Minnesota Crookston due to injury. Dudycha is shooting 42.3 percent from the field, and 47.6 percent from beyond the arc. She had a season-high 11 points November 25 against Barry. 

UMARY. The University of Mary has gone 3-5 on the 2023-24 season winning their last game out by a score of 68-63 against Minnesota State University Moorhead. As a team University of Mary has scored 530 points averaging 66.3 while averaging 38 rebounds, 7.3 steals and 3.8 blocks. University of Mary has been led by Lexie Schneider who has 163 points, 53 field goals made, 73 rebounds and 11 steals. Mariah McKeever of UMary has 102 points, has the most three pointers made with 18 and the most assists on UMary with 21. UMarys Zander is third on the team with 88 points, has the most three-pointers attempted with 40 and has 41 rebounds. Those three student-athletes, all graduate students, have been the key recipe for success for the Marauders. They currently account for 66 percent of UMary's offense coming into Thursday. After the great trio, they have an over 6.0 points per game gap to their next-leading scorer, which is Bergan Kinnebrew at 4.9 points per game. 

LEXIE LEADING THE WAY. Lexie Schneider, a 6-3 graduate student from Appleton, Wis., leads the NSIC in scoring (20.4 points per game), and rebounding (9.1 points per game). Schneider leads UMary in minutes played with 239, points with 163, field goal percentage making 53 out of 100, free throws made with 57 out of 66, 73 rebounds, 11 steals and is second on UMary with 20 assists. She has five games with 20 or more points, including 26 points against Northeastern State University. Schneider is shooting 53.0 percent from the field entering Thursday's game. 

BACK NEAR HOME. Mariah McKeever is in her first year with the UMary Marauders after transferring from Minnesota State University Moorhead. McKeever has the opportunity to play back near her home area. She played at Ada-Borup High School, while her sister Madison McKeever went to Win-E-Mac High School.  McKeever is third on UMary in minutes played with 226, first on the team in three-pointers made with 18 on 30 attempts and is first in assists with 21 and is second on the team in points with 102. McKeever comes in averaging 12.8 points and 4.3 rebounds per tilt. She is coming off a season-high 24 points against her former teammates for the Dragons last weekend. 

Z IS FOR ZANDER. Megan Zander is also a graduate student for UMary, as they are one of the most experienced teams in the NSIC. Zander enters the week notching 11.0 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. Like Schneider and McKeever, Zander has played and started all eight games playing 235 minutes. Zander has the most three-pointers attempts with 40 making 14 of those, is third on UMAry with 88 points and is second on UMary in rebounds with 41.

WEEKLY SNAPSHOT

MINNESOTA CROOKSTON
Projected Starters
So. PG 1 Emma Miller (5-1, Albertville, Minn.) 18.0 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 4.2 APG
R-Fr. SG 2 Hope Dudycha (5-5, Austin, Minn.) 6.8 PPG, 2.2 RPG
Fr. SF 31 Olivia Walsh (5-10, Austin, Minn.) 9.8 PPG, 5.9 RPG
So. PF 15 Janie Tormanen (6-0, Menahga, Minn.) 12.4 PPG, 6.2 RPG
R-Jr. C 4 Nicole Hernandez (6-2, Oak Creek, Wis.) 6.2 PPG, 5.9 RPG
Bench
So. G 3 Taryn Frazer (5-4, Cass Lake, Minn.) 6.0 PPG, 2.3 RPG
Fr. F 14 Rayna Klejeski (6-0, Barnum, Minn.) 5.8 PPG, 3.9 RPG
So. G 11 Natalie Mikrot (5-6, Willow River, Minn.) 4.0 PPG, 1.1 RPG
R-Fr. G/F 30 Riley Jenkins (5-10, Galesburg, Ill.) 3.0 PPG, 2.7 RPG

UMARY
Projected Starters
Gr. PG 1 Mariah McKeever (5-8, Ada, Minn.) 12.8 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 2.6 APG
Jr. SG 14 Ryleigh Wacha (5-10, Fargo, N.D.) 3.0 PPG, 1.6 RPG
Gr. 3G 22 Megan Zander (5-10, Mandan, N.D.) 11.0 PPG, 5.1 RPG
Jr. SF 33 Addison Rozell (6-2, Redfield, S.D.) 4.4 PPG, 3.9 RPG
Gr. PF 4 Lexie Schneider (6-3, Appleton, Wis.) 20.4 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 2.5 APG
Bench
Fr. G 13 Bergan Kinnebrew (5-11, Bismarck, N.D.) 4.9 PPG, 1.9 RPG
Jr. G 3 Ashton Kinnebrew (5-9, Bismarck, N.D.) 4.6 PPG, 1.6 RPG
Jr. C 12 Moriku Hakim (6-0, Fargo, N.D.) 3.7 PPG, 2.9 RPG
Sr. G 2 Zoe Velde (5-10, Pipestone, Minn.) 2.0 PPG, 1.5 RPG

GAMEDAY

MINNESOTA CROOKSTON AT UMARY
DATE: Thursday, December 7
TIME: 7:30 p.m.
SITE: Bismarck, N.D.
ARENA: McDowell Gymnasium
LIVE STATS: https://goumary.com/sidearmstats/wbball/summary
LIVE VIDEO: https://nsicnetwork.com/goumary/
TWITTER: @UMNCrookstonATH/@UMNCrookstonWBB

KEYS TO THE WEEKEND

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

- Can the Golden Eagles hold the Marauders to 70 points or less?

- Will Riley Jenkins have another strong game for the Golden Eagles?

- Can Janie Tormanen continue to have a big impact in the post for U of M Crookston?

- Who will continue to make crucial plays for the Golden Eagles?