• THE MINNESOTA CROOKSTON women's basketball team is coming off a weekend split at home. The Golden Eagles picked up their second-straight win in the series over the University of Sioux Falls with a 63-60 overtime victory Friday. Minnesota Crookston comes into the weekend with a 10-12 (9-7 NSIC) record. The Golden Eagles have reached 10 or more wins for the first time since the 2018-19 slate. The Golden Eagles have their most conference victories since picking up eight during the 2017-18 season. Minnesota Crookston comes in averaging 64.1 points per game, while allowing 70.9 points per tilt to opposition. The Golden Eagles shoot 39.1 percent from the field, and 33.0 percent from beyond the arc. Minnesota Crookston will take UMary Friday, February 3 at 7:30 p.m., and Minot State Saturday, February 4 at 5:30 p.m.

• AGAINST THE OPPOSITION. The Golden Eagles won their last game against UMary with a 78-64 win over the Marauders on December 31. They have not won at McDowell Gymnasium in Bismarck, N.D., since February 17, 2018. Minnesota Crookston defeated Minot State 70-53 at Lysaker Gymnasium December 30. They have not won at the Dome in Minot, N.D., since February 16, 2018. 

·   MILLER TIME. Emma Miller has been a major impact for the Golden Eagles as a freshman. Miller leads UMN Crookston averaging 18.6 points per game. She is second in the NSIC with 18.6 points per game. Miller currently has 409 points this season. She is 171 points from the single-season record for scoring set by Jessica Forsline during the 2001-02 season. Miller is only 14 points from breaking into the Top 10 for single-season scoring, surpassing Karna Plaine's 2004-05 season. Miller has to average at least 28.5 points per game to break the record during the regular-season. If Minnesota Crookston gets at least one playoff game in the NSIC, she would have to average 24.4 points. Miller had a school-record 37 points in a win over Bemidji State University February 17. She was just shy of her record, scoring 34 points on the road versus Augustana. Miller has 10 games with 20 or more points this season. She had 22 points on Saturday versus Southwest Minnesota State University.

·  DOUBLE-DOUBLE MACHINE. Bren Fox has already secured eight double-doubles during the 2022-23 season. Fox has been a rebounding machine for the Golden Eagles. Fox was named the NSIC North Division Player of the Week after averaging 16.5 points, 12.0 rebounds, and 3.0 blocked shots per game. She is coming off a career game in the win over Sioux Falls. Fox had 17 points, 15 rebounds, and six blocked shots, on top of hitting the game-winning three in overtime. Fox has 11 games with double-digit rebounds this season. Fox has scored 800 points in her career, and has 712 career rebounds. Fox moved up to second all-time in career rebounds last weekend, surpassing Laurie Tyson and Katrina (Moenkedick) Nordick. She is 74 rebounds away from surpassing her former teammate Isieoma Odor for the career mark. Fox needs to average 12.3 rebounds per game over the last six games of the regular-season to accomplish the goal. If the Golden Eagles play in at least one tournament game, she would need to only average 10.6 rebounds per game. Fox currently leads the NSIC in rebounding with 9.3 rebounds per tilt. 

• TURN THE PAGE. Minnesota Crookston sophomore Alex Page is having a strong sophomore season. Page comes into Friday notching 9.3 points and 3.5 rebounds per game. Page is second on the team in scoring. She comes in shooting 43.8 percent from the field, and 32.8 percent from beyond the arc. Page is also an 85.0 percent free throw shooter. She scored a career-high 29 points in a win over Upper Iowa January 7. Page has nine double-figure scoring games this season. She had 14 points and five rebounds in Friday's win over Sioux Falls.

·  JAZZED ABOUT JANIE. Minnesota Crookston freshman forward Janie Tormanen has continued to come into her own as a player throughout the season. The native of Menahga, Minn., averaged 10.0 points and 2.5 rebounds last weekend. She scored 11 points on Saturday versus Southwest Minnesota State. Tormanen is an important piece of the puzzle this season, and into the future. 

• 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 27.6 percent from beyond the arc this season. Teams are just averaging 6.2 three-pointers per game. Minnesota Crookston has held nine opponents under 30.0 percent this season. Their best performance defensively came when they limited Bemidji State to 20.0 percent from the field November 22. The Golden Eagles were able to limit Sioux Falls to 23.1 percent from three last Friday.

• HITTING THE FREE ONES. Minnesota Crookston has made it count at the charity stripe this season. The Golden Eagles lead the conference with a 77.9 free throw percentage this season. They have made 266-of-288 shots this season. Erika Lane leads the team with a 90.0 percent clip this season. Bren Fox comes in shooting 85.7 percent. Alex Page is hitting at an 85.0 percent clip, while Emma Miller is connecting at a 78.6 percent rate this season. The Golden Eagles shot 80.0 percent on 26 attempts against Wayne State, in what would play a crucial role in the narrow victory on the road over the Wildcats.

• ON THE ROAD AGAIN. The Golden Eagles have had success away from Lysaker Gymnasium this season. Minnesota Crookston is 6-6 in road and neutral-site tilts during the 2022-23 slate. Minnesota Crookston split with Augustana University and Wayne State College during their last road weekend. Earlier in January, UMN Crookston swept Winona State University and Upper Iowa University. They are 5-2 in conference games on the road this season.

• PLAYOFFS. Minnesota Crookston is in the home stretch of the 2022-23 season with six regular-season games to go. The Golden Eagles can clinch a spot in the NSIC/Sanford Health Tournament with two wins this weekend and two Minot State University losses. The Golden Eagles are currently in fourth place in the NSIC North. If things stay as is, they would host a game in the opening round Wednesday, February 22. The Golden Eagles are currently two games ahead of Northern State University and Minnesota State University Moorhead. Minnesota Crookston can clinch the No. 5 seed if they win both games this weekend and the Wolves and Dragons lose both, and if the Golden Eagles defeat Northern State at home February 11. Northern State and MSU Moorhead host St. Cloud State University and University of Minnesota Duluth this weekend. 

UMARY. The UMary Marauders come into the weekend with an 11-8 (10-6 NSIC) mark. UMary was swept last weekend on the road by Minnesota State University and Concordia University-St. Paul. The Marauders defeated the Golden Eagles 78-64 December 31. UMary is shooting 42.7 percent from the field, 32.2 percent from beyond the arc, and 72.7 percent from the charity stripe. The Marauders are outrebounding foes 37.8-35.5 this season. UMary is currently in third in the NSIC North. They are a game ahead of Minnesota Crookston in the standings. 

Z. Megan Zander leads the Marauders averaging 15.0 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. Zander has scored in double figures in 17 games this season. Her season-high 25 points came against Sioux Falls January 7. Zander is the main factor on the offensive end for the Marauders.

HAKIM IN THE POST.  Moriku Hakim, out of Fargo, N.D., has been a major factor off the bench for Marauders. Hakim is averaging 9.2 points and 4.8 rebounds per tilt. Hakim had 12 points last Friday against Minnesota State. She had 11 points the first time out against Minnesota Crookston.

SHOOTING IT.  Megan Voit is a great shooter for the Marauders. She comes in hitting three-pointers at a 37.9 percent clip. She is averaging 9.5 points and 3.8 rebounds per tilt. Voit had 13 points and hit three treys against UMary the first time out. 

MINOT STATE. Minot State has a 9-13 (5-11 NSIC) mark. The Beavers lost a pair on the road last weekend to Concordia-St. Paul and Minnesota State. Minot State is shooting 39.4 percent from the field, 29.6 percent from beyond the arc, and 76.0 percent from the stripe. The Beavers are being outrebounded 34.9-33.8 during the 2022-23 slate.  

HEAD OF THE CLASS. Kate Head leads Minot State averaging 16.0 points and dishing out 3.4 assists per tilt. Head is shooting 42.3 percent from the field, and 32.1 percent from beyond the arc. She is a 90.0 percent free throw shooter. She has seven games with 20 or more points this season.

FROM A LAND DOWN UNDER. Natasha Elliott is one of three Minot State players from Australia. Elliott comes in notching 8.0 points and 4.9 rebounds per tilt. Elliott had 12 points Friday against Concordia-St. Paul, and two versus Minnesota State. 

KENNEDY. Kennedy Harris comes in notching 8.1 points and 3.1 rebounds per game. Harris comes in shooting 39.3 percent from the field. Harris is coming off a 23-point performance last Saturday against Minnesota State. She was 9-of-15 from the field, and 4-of-9 from beyond the arc. 

GAMEDAY

Minnesota Crookston @ UMary
DATE: Friday, February 3
TIME: 7:30 p.m.
SITE: Bismarck, N.D.
ARENA: McDowell Activity Center
Watch Live: https://nsicnetwork.com/goumary/
Live Stats: https://goumary.com/sidearmstats/wbball/summary
TWITTER: @UMNCrookstonATH/@UMNCrookstonWBB

Minnesota Crookston @ Minot State
DATE: Saturday, February 4
TIME: 5:30 p.m.
SITE: Minot, N.D.
ARENA: MSU Dome
Watch Live: https://nsicnetwork.com/msubeavers/
Live Stats: https://msubeavers.com/sidearmstats/wbball/summary
TWITTER: @UMNCrookstonATH/@UMNCrookstonWBB


WEEKLY SNAPSHOT

MINNESOTA CROOKSTON
Projected Starters
Fr. PG 1 Emma Miller (5-1, Albertville, Minn.) 18.6 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 3.1 APG
So. SG 5 Erika Lane (5-10, Breezy Point, Minn.) 5.7 PPG, 2.4 RPG
R-Jr. SF 21 Abigail Leach (6-0, Wyoming, Minn.) 2.3 PPG, 2.0 RPG
So. PF 20 Alex Page (6-0, Grand Forks, N.D.) 9.3 PPG, 3.5 RPG
R-Sr. C 23 Bren Fox (6-3, Norwood Young America, Minn.) 9.0 PPG, 9.3 RPG
Top Bench Players
Jr. F/C 4 Nicole Hernandez (6-2, Oak Creek, Wis.) 4.1 PPG, 5.1 RPG
Fr. G 3 Taryn Frazer (5-4, Cass Lake, Minn.) 5.9 PPG, 2.4 RPG
Fr. F/C 15 Janie Tormanen (6-0, Menahga, Minn.) 4.2 PPG, 2.6 RPG
Fr. G 11 Natalie Mikrot (5-6, Willow River, Minn.) 3.3 PPG, 0.9 RPG

UMARY
Projected Starters
Gr. PG 13 Carly Kottsick (5-8, Fargo, N.D.) 3.7 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 2.7 APG
Sr. SG 23 Megan Voit (5-9, Sauk Rapids, Minn.) 9.5 PPG, 3.8 RPG
Sr. 3G 22 Megan Zander (5-10, Mandan, N.D.) 15.0 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 2.4 APG
So. SF 14 Ryleigh Wacha (5-10, Fargo, N.D.) 9.0 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 2.3 APG
So. PF 33 Addison Rozell (6-2, Redfield, S.D.) 8.2 PPG, 5.5 RPG
Top Bench Players
So. C 12 Moriku Hakim (6-0, Fargo, N.D.) 9.2 PPG, 4.8 RPG
Sr. F 21 Reece Wishart (5-10, Buffalo, Minn.) 6.5 PPG, 2.1 RPG
So. G 24 Julia Fitterer (5-9, Bismarck, N.D.) 3.4 PPG, 0.7 RPG
Jr. G 2 Zoe Velde (5-10, Pipestone, Minn.) 2.6 PPG, 2.3 RPG

 
MINOT STATE
Projected Starters
Sr. PG 11 Kate Head (5-5, Brisbane, Australia) 16.0 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 3.4 APG
Fr. SG 13 Viborg Jonsdottir (5-5, Njardvik, Iceland) 3.8 PPG, 3.2 RPG
Jr. 3G 14 Kennedy Harris (5-6, Mandan, N.D.) 8.1 PPG, 3.1 RPG
So. 4G 5 Emma Mogen (5-8, Watford City, N.D.) 6.2 PPG, 3.5 RPG
Jr. PF 4 Natasha Elliott (5-11, Brisbane, Australia) 8.0 PPG, 4.9 RPG
Top Bench Players
Fr. C 33 Emily Srejma (6-4, Fargo, N.D.) 6.1 PPG, 3.3 RPG
Fr. G 10 Jaime Skeggs (5-9, Mandurah, Western Australia) 4.5 PPG, 2.2 RPG
Fr. F 22 Lorelei McIver (6-0, Glenburn, N.D.) 4.1 PPG, 4.7 RPG
So. F/C 21 Alexandra Baker (6-3, West Sussex, England) 4.0 PPG, 0.9 RPG
Sr. G 23 Breianna Smestad (5-7, Plymouth, Minn.) 2.2 PPG, 1.6 RPG

KEYS TO THE WEEKEND

- Continue to play strong Defense, especially against the three

- Slow down the key players, UMary's Megan Zander and Minot State's Kate Head

- Continue to control the glass

- Bren Fox continues her roll of
double-doubles

- Players continue to step up off the bench
for UMN Crookston

- Continue to hit free throws

- Slow down UMary offensively

- Emma Miller continues her impressive freshman season