Women's Basketball | 11/6/2024 3:21:00 PM

• THE MINNESOTA CROOKSTON women's basketball team is set to commence the 2024-25 season, Head Coach Natalie Moynihan's second season in Crookston. The Golden Eagles have a strong core returning with four starters and eight players returning from the 2023-24 squad. Minnesota Crookston returns Emma Miller (Jr., G, Albertville, Minn.), Hope Dudycha (R-So., G, Austin, Minn.), Nicole Hernandez (R-Sr., F/C, Oak Creek, Wis.), and Olivia Walsh (So., G/F, Austin, Minn.) from last season's starting lineup. The Golden Eagles will be a mix of returning players and newcomers in 2024-25. Last season, Minnesota Crookston averaged 64.1 points per game, and allowed 75.3 points from their foes. The Golden Eagles shot 38.3 percent from the field, 33.1 percent from beyond the arc, and 69.3 percent from the stripe.

• SERIES HISTORY. Minnesota Crookston has played Nebraska Kearney five times in the last six years. The Lopers lead the series 4-1, with the Golden Eagles win coming November 9, 2018 with a 71-59 victory in Wayne, Neb. Minnesota Crookston will play their first-ever game with Pittsburg State this weekend.

• COACH MOYNIHAN. Natalie Moynihan is in her second season at Minnesota Crookston. The Golden Eagle coach tied for second all-time for most wins in her first season at Minnesota Crookston, tying Lori Ulferts wih nine wins. Janna Hjelseth has the record with 16 wins in 1989-90. Lori Ulferts has the most victories in her second season, notching 19 wins during the 1986-87 season.

• LOCAL FLAVOR. The Golden Eagles have strong connections to the local area in their incoming class. Minnesota Crookston has a pair of Crookston-natives in their newcomers with Halle Winjum (Fr., G, Crookston, Minn.), and Emma Osborn (Jr., G, Crookston, Minn.). In addition, Brynlea Mahlen (Fr., G, Fosston, Minn.), comes down the road from 45 minutes away in Fosston. She has deep connections to the program as her father Nate Mahlen was a long-time women's basketball assistant coach and is currently an Assistant Athletic Director for the Golden Eagles. Willow Thiel (Fr., F, Perham, Minn.) is from the region in Perham, but her mother Lacey Thiel is originally from Crookston.

• MILLER TIME. Minnesota Crookston junior guard Emma Miller had a strong first two seasons for Minnesota Crookston. Miller is a two-time All-NSIC selection, earning All-NSIC First Team as a freshman, and All-NSIC Second Team as a sophomore. She is the first player since Katrina Nordick and Alexa Thielman in 2014-15 and 2015-16 to earn back-to-back All-NSIC accolades. She became the 13th player to score 1,000 points in Minnesota Crookston history. She is just 55 points from breaking into the Top 10 and surpassing Cathy Behr. Miller needs 719 points to move past Jamie Zelinsky as the top scorer of all-time for the Golden Eagle program. Her best season was 524 points as a freshman. Miller averaged 17.2 points per game last season, 6.4 rebounds per tilt, and 3.1 assists per game. Miller shot 36.8 percent from the field, and 34.3 percent from beyond the arc as a sophomore. She will be a crucial player moving forward.

• A LITTLE HOPE. Redshirt sophomore guard Hope Dudycha, a native of Austin, Minn., had a good first year on the court for the Golden Eagles, and will be looked to have even more of an impact in 2024-25. Dudycha started 23 games as a redshirt freshman, averaging 7.7 points and 2.9 rebounds per game. Dudycha is shooting 37.2 percent from the field, and 34.4 percent from beyond the arc. Dudycha is shooting 81.0 percent from the charity stripe. Her season high came with 20 points February 16, 2024 against Augustana. Dudycha will be a key piece for the Golden Eagles heading into the start of the season.

• NIKKI DOWN LOW. Redshirt senior Nicole Hernandez will be a crucial player in the post for the Golden Eagles. Hernandez returns after averaging 6.6 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. Hernandez will be vital on the glass for Minnesota Crookston. In addition, she led the squad with 58 blocks as a junior. Hernandez started 23 games last season and will become even more important with the graduation of Janie Tormanen. Hernandez also shot 32.7 percent from beyond the arc last season.

• SOPHOMORE SEASON. As a freshman, Olivia Walsh played a crucial role for the Golden Eagles, starting 21 games and averaging 6.9 points and 4.2 rebounds per game. Walsh enters her sophomore season in 2024-25 and should be a big factor for Minnesota Crookston. Walsh shot 38.2 percent from the field as a freshman. She scored a season-high 15 points December 7 against UMary. Walsh had eight double-digit scoring games in her debut season in the Maroon and Gold.

• BACK IN THE FRAY. In addition to the returning starters, the Golden Eagles bring back Riley Jenkins (R-So., G/F, Galesburg, Ill.), who started 11 games and averaged 4.0 points and 3.9 rebounds per game. Taryn Frazer (Jr., G, Cass Lake, Minn.) returns after starting two games and playing in 13, tallying 4.9 points per tilt. Rayna Klejeski (So., F, Barnum, Minn.) saw action in 27 games as a freshman last season, notching 4.3 points and 2.9 boards per game. Natalie Mikrot (Jr., G, Willow River, Minn.) averaged 3.5 points per tilt, and shot 32.4 percent from beyond the arc. All four players will be called upon this season.

• LIMITING TURNOVERS. The Golden Eagles moved to a fast-paced offense last season under Head Coach Natalie Moynihan. A key moving forward will be limiting turnovers. The Golden Eagles notched 308 assists to 491 turnovers last season. They had 148 more turnovers than their opponents in 2023-24.

NEBRASKA KEARNEY. The University of Nebraska Kearney Lopers are coming off a 19-11 (12-10 NSIC) record in their first season under Drew Johnson. The Lopers have a strong core of players back from the 2023-24 roster. Last season, they tallied 72.4 points per game and allowed 64.2 points per tilt. Nebraska Kearney shot 42.8 percent from the field, and 32.9 percent from beyond the arc. The Lopers hit at a 73.9 percent clip from the foul line. Nebraska Kearney outrebounded teams last season 42.9-32.9. Nebraska Kearney had a 1.0 assist/turnover ratio last season.

MISS BURNS. Meg Burns is the leading scorer returning for the Lopers from last season. The 5-11 graduate student from Ankeny, Iowa will be a crucial piece for Nebraska Kearney. Burns averaged 10.7 points and 2.4 rebounds per game last season. She shot 43.5 percent from the field, and was outstanding from deep hitting at a 44.9 percent clip. Burns was also an 86.4 percent free throw shooter. She had 16 games where she tallied double-figure scoring, including six of the last seven games.

JUST ABOUT JILLIAN. Jillian Aschoff, a 5-7 guard from Lincoln, Neb., is back for the Lopers after averaging 9.7 points and 6.5 rebounds per game in 2023-24. Aschoff shot 43.5 percent from the field last season. She started all 30 games for Nebraska Kearney. Aschoff notched 12 double-figure scoring games.

THE KEYS FOR KIA. Kia Wilson, a 6-1 graduate forward, will be a key part of the Lopers attack in 2024-25. Wilson notched 9.5 points and 4.7 rebounds per game a season ago for Nebraska Kearney. She shot 50.9 percent from the field for the Lopers.

PITT STATE. The Gorillas come into the weekend with a 1-1 mark after playing a pair of Top 25 teams at the D2CCA Tip-Off Classic in St. Joseph. Mo. Pittsburg State fell 74-64 to Ferris State University, but secured a 75-57 win over No. 22 Southern Nazarene University. The Gorillas are notching 69.5 points per game, while allowing 65.5. They are shooting 42.9 percent from the field, 37.5 percent from beyond the arc, and 81.5 percent from the foul line. Pittsburg State is controlling the boards 41.0-29.0 coming into the weekend.

GET IT TO GERBER. Karenna Gerber, a six-foot forward from Halstead, Kan., is leading the way for Pittsburg State. Gerber comes into the weekend notching a near double-double of 14.0 points and 9.5 rebounds per game. Gerber is shooting at a 52.4 percent clip from the field, and a 85.7 percent clip from the charity stripe. She had a double-double of 14 points and 10 boards against Ferris State.

HANNAH FOR THREE. Hannah Nilges has been an important piece off the bench thus far for Pitt State. Nilges is averaging 11.5 points per game after the first two games. She is shooting at an impressive 7-of-9 for 77.8 percent clip from distance. Nilges is hitting at 66.7 percent from the field. She had 20 points in 22 minutes in the win over Southern Nazarene.

M AND M. Macie Mays comes in averaging 9.5 points following the first two games for the Gorillas. Mays is a 5-11 wing from El Dorado Springs, Mo. She is shooting 47.1 percent from the field, and 33.3 percent from beyond the arc. Mays notched 11 points against Ferris State.

GAMEDAY
MINNESOTA CROOKSTON VS. NEBRASKA KEARNEY
DATE: Friday, November 8
TIME: 2 p.m.
SITE: Aberdeen, S.D.
ARENA: Wachs Arena
LIVE STATS: https://nsuwolves.com/sidearmstats/wbball/summary
LIVE VIDEO: https://nsicnetwork.com/nsuwolves/
X: @UMNCrookstonATH/@UMNCrookstonWBB
MINNESOTA CROOKSTON VS. PITTSBURG STATE
DATE: Saturday, November 9
TIME: 2 p.m.
SITE: Aberdeen, S.D.
ARENA: Wachs Arena
LIVE STATS: https://nsuwolves.com/sidearmstats/wball/
LIVE VIDEO: https://nsicnetwork.com/nsuwolves
X: @UMNCrookstonATH/@UMNCrookstonWBB

WEEKLY SNAPSHOT
MINNESOTA CROOKSTON
Top Returners
Jr. PG 1 Emma Miller (5-1, Albertville, Minn.) 17.2 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 3.1 APG
R-So. SG 2 Hope Dudycha (5-5, Austin, Minn.) 7.7 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 2.3 APG
R-So. 3G 30 Riley Jenkins (5-10, Galesburg, Ill.) 4.0 PPG, 3.9 RPG
So. SF 31 Olivia Walsh (5-10, Austin, Minn.) 6.9 PPG, 4.2 RPG
R-Sr. C 4 Nicole Hernandez (6-2, Oak Creek, Wis.) 6.6 PPG, 6.8 RPG
Top Bench Returners
Jr. G 3 Taryn Frazer (5-4, Cass Lake, Minn.) 4.9 PPG, 1.7 RPG
So. F/C 14 Rayna Klejeski (6-0, Barnum, Minn.) 4.3 PPG, 2.9 RPG
Jr. G 11 Natalie Mikrot (5-6, Willow River, Minn.) 3.5 PPG, 1.1 RPG

NEBRASKA KEARNEY
Top Returners
R-Jr. PG 22 Jillian Aschoff (5-7, Lincoln, Neb.) 9.7 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 5.6 APG
Sr. SG 12 Samantha Moore (6-0, Mullen, Neb.) 6.7 PPG, 4.1 RPG
Gr. 3G 33 Meg Burns (5-11, Ankeny, Iowa) 10.7 PPG, 2.4 RPG
Gr. SF 15 Kia Wilson (6-1, St. George, Kan.) 9.5 PPG, 4.7 RPG
R-So. PF 44 Bailee Sobczak (6-1, Rapid City, S.D.) 8.8 PPG, 6.4 RPG
Top Bench Returners
So. F 20 Brinly Christensen (6-0, Lincoln, Neb.) 5.2 PPG, 1.6 RPG
So. F 21 Jordan Sears (5-10, McPherson, Kan.) 2.6 PPG, 1.2 RPG

PITTSBURG STATE
Projected Starters
Jr. PG 10 Maycee James (5-7, Goddard, Kan.) 8.0 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 3.0 APG
Jr. SG 15 Harper Schreiner (5-8, Eudora, Kan.) 6.0 PPG, 5.5 RPG
Sr. 3G 24 Grace Pyle (5-11, McPherson, Kan.) 7.5 PPG, 2.5 RPG
So. SF 13 Macie Mays (5-11, El Dorado Springs, Mo.) 9.5 PPG, 1.0 RPG
Sr. PF 5 Karenna Gerber (6-0, Halstead, Kan.) 14.0 PPG, 9.5 RPG
Bench
Sr. G 11 Hannah Nilges (5-7, Jefferson City, Mo.) 11.5 PPG, 1.5 RPG
Sr. G 1 Sydney Holmes (5-9, Maize, Kan.) 6.0 PPG, 3.0 RPG
Jr. F 23 Savannah Campbell (6-2, Rolla, Mo.)

KEYS TO THE WEEKEND
Can Emma Miller have a great start to her junior season?
What newcomers will make instant impacts for the Golden Eagles?
Can Nicole Hernandez be a big factor on the glass and defensively for Minnesota Crookston?
Who can consistently knock down the triple?
Can Minnesota Crookston limit turnovers?