• THE MINNESOTA CROOKSTON women's basketball team heads into a crucial home weekend, as they are playing for a NSIC berth and seeding. The Golden Eagles will host Minnesota State University Moorhead Friday, 
February 10 at 7:30 p.m., and Northern State University Saturday, February 11 at 5:30 p.m. The Golden Eagles come into the weekend in fourth place in the NSIC North. The third and fourth place teams in each division host the opening round of the NSIC Tournament Wednesday, February 22. The Golden Eagles are currently one game ahead of both Northern State and MSU Moorhead. Minnesota Crookston can clinch a playoff berth as long as they win at least one game this weekend or if Minot State doesn't win either game against St. Cloud State University and University of Minnesota Duluth. The Golden Eagles have posted their winningest season since 2018-19. They are averaging 64.1 points per game, and allowing 71.7 points per tilt to their foes. The Golden Eagles come in shooting 39.2 percent from the field, 32.5 percent from beyond the arc, and 78.4 percent from the foul line.

• AGAINST THE OPPOSITION. MSU Moorhead took the last game in the series against the Golden Eagles with a 71-50 win December 10 in Moorhead, Minn. The Golden Eagles last win in the series came February 13, 2022 with a 68-60 victory in 
Moorhead. Their last win in Crookston against the Dragons came January 22, 2016 with a 71-60 win. UMN Crookston has back-to-back wins in the series over Northern State, both coming on the road. Minnesota Crookston's last win over the Wolves at Lysaker Gymnasium came January 16, 2021 with a 69-64 win. 

·   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 18.8 points per game. Miller currently has 451 points this season. She is 129 points from the single-season record for scoring set by Jessica Forsline during the 2001-02 season. Miller broke into the Top 10 for single-season scoring, surpassing Karna Plaine, Jamie Zelinsky, and Alexa Thielman. She is 11 points away from moving past Jessica Forsline's 2000-01 season for seventh all-time in a single-season. Miller has to average at least 32.3 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 25.8 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 11 games with 20 or more points this season. She had 30 points last Saturday against Minot State University.

·  DOUBLE-DOUBLE MACHINE. Bren Fox has already secured nine 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 January 30 after averaging 16.5 points, 12.0 rebounds, and 3.0 blocked shots per game. Fox has 13 games with double-digit rebounds this season. Fox has scored 819 points in her career, and has 736 career rebounds. Fox moved up to second all-time in career rebounds two weeks ago, surpassing Laurie Tyson and Katrina (Moenkedick) Nordick. She is 50 rebounds away from surpassing her former teammate Isieoma Odor for the career mark. Fox needs to average 12.5 rebounds per game over the last four 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 10.0 rebounds per game. Fox currently leads the NSIC in rebounding with 9.5 rebounds per tilt. 

• TURN THE PAGE. Minnesota Crookston sophomore Alex Page is having a strong sophomore season. Page comes into Friday notching 9.2 points and 3.5 rebounds per game. Page is second on the team in scoring. She comes in shooting 44.0 percent from the field, and 32.2 percent from beyond the arc. Page is also an 85.5 percent free throw shooter. She scored a career-high 29 points in a win over Upper Iowa January 7. Page has 10 double-figure scoring games this season. She had 12 points and six boards last Friday against UMary. Page will be pivotal down the stretch for the Golden Eagles. 

·  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., is averaging 8.5 points per game over the last four tilts for the 
Golden Eagles. Tormanen had 12 points last Friday, and notched 11 points versus Southwest Minnesota State University January 28.  She is a pivotal piece of the team this season, and is even more important heading into the future for the Golden Eagles. 

• 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 27.8 percent from beyond the arc this season. Teams are just averaging 6.1 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 during their last home weekend. 

• HITTING THE FREE ONES. Minnesota Crookston has made it count at the charity stripe this season. The Golden Eagles lead the conference with a 78.4 free throw percentage this season. They have made 258-of-329 shots this season. Erika Lane leads the team with a 90.0 percent clip this season. Bren Fox comes in shooting 87.5 percent. Alex Page is hitting at an 85.5 percent clip, while Emma Miller is connecting at a 79.7 percent rate this season. The Golden Eagles were 18-of-21 from the stripe last weekend for 85.7 percent. 

• SENIOR WEEKEND. Minnesota Crookston will host their last full weekend at home, and will honor their seniors Saturday. Bren Fox and Veronica Schwartz are headed into the home stretch as Golden Eagles. Fox has been a five-year member of the team, while Schwartz has played for UMN Crookston for four seasons. They have both been integral parts of the program over the last four seasons. The weekend is also Alumni Weekend, as they look to welcome back several alumni to Gary Senske Court at Lysaker Gymnasium. 

MSU MOORHEAD. MSU Moorhead comes into the weekend with an 11-11 (8-10 NSIC) mark. The Dragons are tied with Northern State for fifth place in the NSIC North. They are both a game behind the Golden Eagles, heading into a pivotal weekend. The Dragons won the match-up in Moorhead earlier this season, 71-50. MSU Moorhead is averaging 63.8 points per game, while allowing 61.3 points per tilt. The Dragons are shooting 40.6 percent from the field, 28.5 percent from beyond the arc, and 71.9 percent from the foul line.

HERE COMES THE BOOM. Peyton Boom has been a staple on the MSU Moorhead women's basketball team for the last six seasons. The senior leads the way for the Dragons with 14.9 points and 8.2 rebounds per tilt. She has nine 
double-doubles for MSU Moorhead this season. She is coming off an 18-point game last weekend against St. Cloud State. 

MARIAH MAKING IT.  Mariah McKeever comes into the weekend notching 14.9 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. She is shooting 31.3 percent from beyond the arc this season. McKeever has scored in double-digits 18 times this season. 

OUT WITH THE BOOM, IN WITH THE BANG.  Just as Peyton Boom is wrapping up her career for the Dragons, Payton Bang is starting it for MSU Moorhead. The 6-2 forward from Parker, Colo., has been an important piece off the bench this season. Bang is notching 3.8 points and 2.6 rebounds per tilt. Her best scoring performance came with 10 points against Rogers State. 

NORTHERN STATE. Northern State enters the weekend tied with MSU Moorhead for fifth place in the NSIC North, just one game back of the Golden Eagles in fourth. Northern State is 13-11 (8-10 NSIC). The Golden Eagles defeated the Wolves earlier this season, 61-50. Northern State split last weekend, with a win over St. Cloud State and a loss to 
Minnesota Duluth. Northern State is averaging 64.5 points per tilt, and allowing 61.4 points per game to their foes. They are shooting 39.8 percent from the field, 28.5 percent from beyond the arc, and 72.2 percent from the stripe.

KAILEE IN THE POST. Kailee Oliverson, a 6-4 forward for the Wolves, is an instrumental piece for Northern State. She leads the team averaging 14.5 points and 6.3 rebounds per tilt. Oliverson missed the game earlier this season against the Golden Eagles. Oliverson has scored 20 or more points seven times this season. 

DON'T FORGET ABOUT LAURIE. Laurie Rogers has been a major piece for the Northern State Wolves. The 6-2 
forward is notching 11.1 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. Rogers was limited to four points, but had 12 boards earlier this season against Minnesota Crookston.

RIANNA. Rianna Fillipi gets everything going in the Northern State offense. She leads the team with 3.5 assists per game. In addition, Fillipi is notching 10.8 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. Fillipi has scored in double-digits in 
four-consecutive games. She is averaging 13.8 points per tilt in the last four for the Wolves.


WEEKLY SNAPSHOT

MINNESOTA CROOKSTON
Projected Starters
Fr. PG 1 Emma Miller (5-1, Albertville, Minn.) 18.8 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 3.0 APG
Fr. SG 3 Taryn Frazer (5-4, Cass Lake, Minn.) 6.0 PPG, 2.3 RPG
So. 3G 5 Erika Lane (5-10, Breezy Point, Minn.) 5.3 PPG, 2.3 RPG
So. SF 20 Alex Page (6-0, Grand Forks, N.D.) 9.2 PPG, 3.5 RPG
R-Sr. PF 23 Bren Fox (6-3, Norwood Young America, Minn.) 9.1 PPG, 9.5 RPG
Top Bench Players
Jr. F/C 4 Nicole Hernandez (6-2, Oak Creek, Wis.) 4.1 PPG, 5.0 RPG
R-Jr. SF 21 Abigail Leach (6-0, Wyoming, Minn.) 2.2 PPG, 2.0 RPG
Fr. F/C 15 Janie Tormanen (6-0, Menahga, Minn.) 4.4 PPG, 2.5 RPG
Fr. G 11 Natalie Mikrot (5-6, Willow River, Minn.) 3.3 PPG, 0.8 RPG

MSU MOORHEAD
Projected Starters
So. PG 10 Natalie Jens (5-7, Beaver Dam, Wis.) 13.2 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 3.3 APG
Jr. SG 1 Mariah McKeever (5-8, Ada, Minn.) 14.9 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 2.5 APG
Jr. SF 23 Olivia Skibiel (6-0, Snohomish, Wash.) 7.3 PPG, 4.5 RPG
Fr. PF 22 Terryn Johnson (6-2, Kindred, N.D.) 3.9 PPG, 3.3 RPG
Sr. C 30 Peyton Boom (6-0, Barnesville, Minn.) 14.9 PPG, 8.2 RPG
Top Bench Players
Fr. F 24 Payton Bang (6-2, Parker, Colo.) 3.8 PPG, 2.6 RPG
Fr. F 31 Kaila Youngs (6-0, Independence, Minn.) 1.5 PPG, 1.5 RPG

 
NORTHERN STATE
Projected Starters
Jr. PG 3 Rianna Fillipi (5-8, Lennox, S.D.) 10.8 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 3.5 APG
So. SG 14 Jordyn Hilgemann (5-10, Marshall, Minn.) 7.1 PPG, 3.4 RPG
So. 3G 23 Alayna Benike (5-11, Castlewood, S.D.) 6.1 PPG, 4.3 RPG
Sr. SF 41 Laurie Rogers (6-2, Aberdeen, S.D.) 11.1 PPG, 7.5 RPG
R-Jr. PF 34 Kailee Oliverson (6-4, Cardwell, Mont.) 14.5 PPG, 6.3 RPG
Top Bench Players
Fr. F 2 Madelyn Bragg (6-2, Aberdeen, S.D.) 5.2 PPG, 3.1 RPG
Fr. G 4 Morgan Fiedler (5-8, Aberdeen, S.D.) 4.7 PPG, 1.9 RPG
Jr. F 25 Brynn Alfson (6-0, Hayti, S.D.) 3.0 PPG, 2.8 RPG
Jr. G 32 Rachel Garvey (5-8, Shakopee, Minn.) 1.9 PPG, 0.7 RPG

MSU Moorhead @ Minnesota Crookston
DATE: Friday, February 10
TIME: 7:30 p.m.
SITE: Crookston, Minn.
ARENA: Gary Senske Court at Lysaker Gymnasium
Watch Live: https://nsicnetwork.com/goldeneaglesports/
Live Stats: https://goldeneaglesports.com/sidearmstats/wbball/summary
TWITTER: @UMNCrookstonATH/@UMNCrookstonWBB

Northern State @ Minnesota Crookston
DATE: Saturday, February 11
TIME: 5:30 p.m.
SITE: Crookston, Minn.
ARENA: Gary Senske Court at Lysaker Gymnasium
Watch Live: https://nsicnetwork.com/goldeneaglesports/
Live Stats: https://goldeneaglesports.com/sidearmstats/wbball/summary
TWITTER: @UMNCrookstonATH/@UMNCrookstonWBB