• THE MINNESOTA CROOKSTON women's basketball team enters the week with a 9-13 (6-10 NSIC) mark. The Golden Eagles are looking to stop a seven-game losing streak as they embark on another split week. The Golden Eagles host Bemidji State University Thursday, February 8 before going on the road to take on Northern State University in Aberdeen, S.D., Saturday, February 10. The Golden Eagles are currently in ninth place in the NSIC standings heading into this week. They are one game ahead of the University of Sioux Falls, Minot State University, and Augustana University. Minnesota Crookston is averaging 64.8 points per game, and allowing 71.5 points per tilt to their foes. The Golden Eagles are shooting 38.3 percent from the field, and 33.1 percent from beyond the arc. They are hitting at a 70.5 percent clip from the charity stripe. Minnesota Crookston is being outrebounded by the tune of 45.9-41.0 this season. 

• 70 OR UNDER. Minnesota Crookston has been a better team this season when they are keeping their opponents to 70 points or less. Defense has been crucial this season, and will continue to be the rest of the way for U of M Crookston. The Golden Eagles are 9-3 when they hold their foes to 70 or fewer points, and are 0-10 when they allow 70 or more points to their opponents. Minnesota Crookston is holding their opponents to 61.1 points per game in their wins, and they are allowing 78.7 points per tilt in their losses. The Golden Eagle defense has improved from last season. They are allowing 71.5 points per game, while last season's team allowed 73.1 points per tilt. 

• 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 0.79 with 116 assists to 147 turnovers. In their losses, they have 125 assists to 261 turnovers for a 0.48 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 nine wins, Miller has 36 assists to 32 turnovers, for a ratio of 1.13 In their 11 losses, she has 36 assists to 60 turnovers, for an assist/turnover ratio of 0.60. 

• 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 was named NSIC Player of the Week in December and continues to have a strong season for Minnesota Crookston. Miller comes into the week averaging 17.5 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game. Miller is shooting 36.7 percent from beyond the arc this season. She comes into the week with 910 points in her career. She needs 90 points to reach 1,000 points and become the 13th player in school history to score 1,000 points or more. She would need to score 15.0 points per game in Minnesota Crookston's eight remaining guaranteed games. She would become the fastest player to reach 1,000 points. Miller scored 35 points last week against Minnesota State University Moorhead, and St. Cloud State University. She is on pace to break the mark this season, or at the very latest early next season.

• AINSLEY TAKES AIM. Freshman Ainsley McLain, a native of Grafton, N.D., has been making a major impact for the Golden Eagles since returning from injury. McLain has shown grit and toughness for the Golden Eagles. This season she is averaging 4.4 points and 2.0 rebounds per game. McLain comes in shooting 47.1 percent from the field, and 50.0 percent from beyond the arc. She is coming off a career-high 13 points on 5-of-8 from the field, and 2-of-4 from beyond the arc against St. Cloud State. She should continue to be a major factor off the bench for the Golden Eagles.

• TRANSFER MAKING AN IMPACT. University of Illinois-Springfield transfer Riley Jenkins has made a continued impact for the Golden Eagles this season, especially in recent weeks. The Galesburg, Ill., native is doing a little bit of everything for U of M Crookston. Jenkins averaged 8.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 5.0 assists against MSU Moorhead and St. Cloud State last weekend. This season, she comes in notching 3.5 points and 3.7 rebounds per game. 

• NIKKI ON THE GLASS. Redshirt junior Nicole Hernandez has been key this season on the glass for the Golden Eagles. Hernandez comes into the weekend averaging a team-high 7.3 rebounds per game. She has six games this season with 10 or more rebounds for Minnesota Crookston, including 12 rebounds versus Wayne State, Minnesota State, and Minnesota Duluth. Hernandez has three double-doubles this season. In addition to her boards, she comes in averaging 6.1 points per game. Hernandez had 12 points against Wayne State. She also leads the team with 54 blocks, for an average of 2.6 blocks per tilt. 

• A LITTLE HOPE. Redshirt freshman guard Hope Dudycha, a native of Austin, Minn., has started 17-of-21 games this season. Hope Dudycha is notching 7.0 points and 2.7 rebounds per game. Dudycha comes in shooting 33.8 percent from beyond the arc this season. Dudycha tallied a career-high 16 points versus Winona State University January 12. She comes in with four double-figure scoring games. Dudycha is in her first season on the court after redshirting the 2022-23 season. She tallied 7.5 points per game last week for Minnesota Crookston. 

• FIRST START. Freshman Rayna Klejeski, a native of Barnum, Minn., continues to come into her own for the Golden Eagles. Klejeski made her first career start last week against St. Cloud State University. Klejeski comes into the week notching 4.1 points and 3.1 rebounds per game. Klejeski had 10 points and five boards against Southwest Minnesota State January 20. She had a career-high 13 points against Crown College November 18, and had nine points and 11 rebounds versus North Central University. 

BEMIDJI STATE. Coming into the week Bemidji State University is 5-16 on the 2023-24 season. As a team Bemidji State averages 56.6 points, 33.5 rebounds, 6.7 steals and 4.0 blocks. The Beavers are 2-1 in their last three games with wins over Minot State University, and Minnesota State University Moorhead. They were defeated Tuesday by Northern State University, 64-50. Some players to watch for on Bemidji State are Hill, Pogatchnik and Sheforgen. Hill leads Bemidji State in points with 248, Pogatchnik paces in minutes per game with 28.5 and Sheforgen has the most rebounds with 108, blocks with 18 and steals with 24 on Bemidji State. The Golden Eagles picked up a 73-70 win in Bemidji on 
December 2. 

RUNNING UP THE HILL.  Alyssa Hill leads the Beavers this season. Of the starters for Bemidji State, Hill has the best field goal percentage with 51.2% going 106 for 207 and has the highest free throw percentage with 81.1% going 30 for 37. Hill leads Bemidji State in points going into the week with 248 for an average of 12.4 per game while also averaging 4.4 rebounds, having nine assists, 11 steals and 14 blocks. She is coming off 13 points Tuesday against Northern State. 

I AM SAM. Pogatchnik averages the most minutes per game with 28.5 while being second on Bemidji State in points with 174 coming into the week for an average of 8.7 per game. Pogatchnik has an average of 4.4 rebounds as well with 40 assists, 19 steals and nine blocks. Pogatchnik is coming off 14 points last week against MSU Moorhead. 

ALL ABOUT AMME. Sheforgen is third on Bemidji State in points going into the week with 137 for an average of 6.9 per game. Sheforgen leads Bemidji State in rebounds with 108, assists with 45, steals with 24 and blocks with 18. She has been a key part of the offense the last two games for the Beavers. Sheforgen had 15 points in a win over MSU Moorhead, and notched 13 on Tuesday against Northern State. 

NORTHERN STATE. Northern State University comes into the week 16-7 on the 2023-24 season. As a team Northern State averages 66.1 points per game, 38.4 rebounds, 7.1 steals and 4.2 blocks. Northern States' Bragg, Fillipi and Benike are all players to watch for. Coming into the week Bragg leads Northern State in points with 423, Fillipi has 107 assists and 53 steals and Benike has the most 3-pointers made and attempted going 39 for 105. The Wolves are coming off a victory Tuesday over Bemidji State, 64-50. Prior to Tuesday, the Wolves had lost their last three games. 

AIN'T TOO PROUD TO BRAGG.  Madelyn Bragg comes into the weekend guiding the Wolves with 19.0 points per game. Bragg leads Northern State points going into the week with 423 while shooting field goals at 52.8%. Bragg also averages 6.8 rebounds for a total of 150 on the season and has 25 assists, 26 steals and 41 blocks. She is averaging 16.7 points per tilt in the last three games, including 20 points against UMary. 

RI RI. Fillipi is second on Northern State in points with 266 for an average of 12.1. Fillipi leads Northern State in assists and steals with 107 and 53 respectively while also having 15 blocks and an average of 6.8 rebounds per game. Rianna is coming off 18 points on Tuesday in the win over Bemidji State University. 

ALAYNA. Benike is third on Northern State in points with 199 while having the most 3-pointers made and attempted going 39 for 105 for a percentage of 37.1. To start the week Benike has 108 rebounds, 49 assists, 15 steals and two blocks. Benike averaged 14.5 points per game last weekend versus UMary and St. Cloud State. 

GAMEDAY

BEMIDJI STATE AT MINNESOTA CROOKSTON 
DATE: Thursday, February 8
TIME: 5:30 p.m.
SITE: Crookston, Minn.
ARENA: Gary Senske Court at Lysaker Gymnasium
LIVE STATS: https://goldeneaglesports.com/sidearmstats/wbball/summary
LIVE VIDEO: https://nsicnetwork.com/goldeneaglesports/
TWITTER: @UMNCrookstonATH/@UMNCrookstonWBB

MINNESOTA CROOKSTON AT NORTHERN STATE
DATE: Saturday, February 10
TIME: 3:30 p.m.
SITE: Aberdeen, S.D.
ARENA: Wachs Arena
LIVE STATS: https://nsuwolves.com/sidearmstats/wbball/summary
LIVE VIDEO: https://nsicnetwork.com/nsuwolves/
TWITTER: @UMNCrookstonATH/@UMNCrookstonWBB

WEEKLY SNAPSHOT

MINNESOTA CROOKSTON
Projected Starters
So. PG 1 Emma Miller (5-1, Albertville, Minn.) 17.5 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 3.3 APG
R-Fr. SG 2 Hope Dudycha (5-5, Austin, Minn.) 7.0 PPG, 2.7 RPG
R-Fr. SF 30 Riley Jenkins (5-10, Galesburg, Ill.) 3.5 PPG, 3.7 RPG
Fr. PF 31 Olivia Walsh (5-10, Austin, Minn.) 7.9 PPG, 4.6 RPG
Fr. C 14 Rayna Klejeski (6-0, Barnum, Minn.) 4.1 PPG, 3.1 RPG
Bench
R-Jr. C 4 Nicole Hernandez (6-2, Oak Creek, Wis.) 6.1 PPG, 7.3 RPG
So. PF 15 Janie Tormanen (6-0, Menahga, Minn.) 12.7 PPG, 5.7 RPG
So. G 11 Natalie Mikrot (5-6, Willow River, Minn.) 3.8 PPG, 1.0 RPG
Fr. G 13 Ainsley McLain (5-8, Grafton, N.D.) 4.4 PPG, 2.0 RPG

BEMIDJI STATE
Projected Starters
Sr. SF 1 Amme Sheforgen (5-8, St. Francis, Minn.) 6.9 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 2.3 APG
Jr. G 0 Erin Barrette (5-7, Menominee, Mich.) 4.1 PPG, 2.2 RPG
Sr. G 22 Sam Pogatchnik (5-9, Proctor, Minn.) 8.7 PPG, 4.4 RPG
Sr. SF 11 Isabel Majewski (5-9, Pulaski, Wis.) 4.4 PPG, 1.4 RPG
So. PF 42 Alyssa Hill (6-1, Negaunee, Mich.) 12.4 PPG, 4.4 RPG
Bench
R-So. G 12 Sydney White (5-8, Andover, Minn.) 5.6 PPG, 2.6 RPG
R-Fr. G 5 Alayna Suprenand (5-9, Fond du Lac, Wis.) 5.4 PPG, 2.7 RPG
Fr. G 10 Tieryn Plasch (5-7, Lake Nebagamon, Wis.) 2.7 PPG, 1.1 RPG
Fr. F 25 Ashlynne Guenther (5-11, Duluth, Minn.) 3.0 PPG, 2.2 RPG

NORTHERN STATE
Projected Starters
Sr. PG 3 Rianna Fillipi (5-8, Lennox, S.D.) 12.1 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 4.9 PG 
So. SG 4 Morgan Fiedler (5-8, Aberdeen, S.D.) 5.0 PPG, 2.4 RPG
Jr. 3G 23 Alayna Benike (5-11, Castlewood, S.D.) 9.0 PPG, 4.9 RPG
Sr. SF 25 Brynn Alfson (6-0, Hayti, S.D.) 7.0 PPG, 5.9 RPG
So. PF 2 Madelyn Bragg (6-3, Aberdeen, S.D.) 19.2 PPG, 6.8 RPG
Bench
Fr. G 5 Decontee Smith (5-8, Mapleton, N.D.) 6.0 PPG, 3.8 RPG
Fr. F/C 24 Brylie Schultz (6-2, Wheaton, Minn.) 3.5 PPG, 2.3 RPG

KEYS TO THE WEEKEND

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

- Can the Golden Eagles end their losing streak?

- Will Ainsley McLain follow up her strong performance last week?

- Can Minnesota Crookston's defense keep their foes under 70?

- Will the Golden Eagles limit turnovers this week?

- Can Nicole Hernandez continue to be strong on the glass for the Golden Eagles?

- Who will step up off the bench for Minnesota Crookston?