Women's Basketball | 1/28/2025 9:15:00 AM

• THE MINNESOTA CROOKSTON women's basketball team comes into the week with a 7-13 (5-9 NSIC) mark. The Golden Eagles are coming off a 1-1 mark, with a win over Wayne State and a close loss to Augustana. Minnesota Crookston is in a three-way tie with Minot State, and Minnesota Duluth for 10th place. The Golden Eagles are set to play Minot State at home Wednesday, and UMary on the road Saturday. Minnesota Crookston comes in averaging 67.7 points per game, and allowing 74.8 points per game to their foes. They are shooting 39.6 percent from the field, 30.3 percent from beyond the arc, and 76.8 percent from the foul line. The U of M Crookston is being outrebounded 40.6-35.9. They are notching 11.4 assists per game, and 14.7 turnovers per tilt. 

• SERIES HISTORY.  The Golden Eagles have won back-to-back games in the series with Minot State. In addition, they have captured 4-of-5 games against the Beavers. Their last loss came with an 86-68 defeat in Minot February 4, 2023. The last loss for the Golden Eagles in Crookston was 78-77 February 15, 2019. Minnesota Crookston has lost their last three games to UMary. Their last victory came with a 78-64 result December 31, 2022 in Crookston. The last win for Minnesota Crookston in Bismarck came February 17, 2018 with a 72-67 victory. 

• BLOCK PARTY.  Nicole Hernandez (R-Sr., F/C, Oak Creek, Wis.) comes into the weekend with 59 blocks during her senior campaign. Hernandez is third in the nation for blocks, and blocks per game. She trails just Mahogany Collins of Shaw, and Alisha Little of CSU-Pueblo. Hernandez is coming off three blocked shots versus Wayne State, and four against Wayne State. She tied Jessica Forsline's school record with eight blocks against MSU Moorhead. She also notched seven versus Black Hills State. Hernandez needs just 14 blocked shots away from surpassing Isieoma's school record for blocks in a career. Hernandez is also just six blocks away from setting the single-season blocks record, previously set in 2000-01 by Jessica Forsline. In addition, 
Hernandez has 471 career rebounds. She is just 18 boards away from breaking into the Top 10 all-time, surpassing Forsline. 

• HALLE FROM CROOKSTON.  Minnesota Crookston guard Halle Winjum has made nine starts this season. Winjum comes in averaging 2.6 points, and 1.6 rebounds per game. Winjum comes into the week shooting 39.5 percent from the field, and 39.1 percent from distance. Her best game came with 10 points December 20 against Northern State. She is coming off 4.0 points, and 2.5 rebounds per game last weekend for the Golden Eagles.

• 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. Dudycha comes in averaging 8.0 points per game. She had an outstanding weekend the last time out dishing out the ball, as she notched five assists per game against Wayne State, and Augustana. Dudycha tallied seven points, and five helpers against Wayne State. She comes in shooting 38.9 percent from the field, and 31.2 percent from beyond the arc. Dudycha had 21 points against Winona State, and 20 versus Southwest Minnesota State. 

• ROUND BALL RILEY. Riley Jenkins (R-So., G/F, Galesburg, Ill.) has been coming into her own on the court for the Golden Eagles. Jenkins first arrived in 2023-24, recovering from an injury and has continued to improve and become a bigger piece for the Golden Eagles. Jenkins comes into the week averaging 11.3 points, and 6.6 rebounds per game. Jenkins is coming off 13.0 points, and 12.5 rebounds per game against Wayne State and Augustana. She was 10-of-24 from the field. Jenkins has notched four double-doubles this season. It is the second two-game stretch in which she has averaged a double-double. Jenkins tallied 13.0 points, and 15.5 rebounds per game against Minot State, and Bemidji State. 

• LOCAL FLAVOR. The Golden Eagles have strong connections to the local area in their incoming class. Minnesota Crookston has Crookston-native Halle Winjum (Fr., G) on the roster. 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. Miller is in the Top 10 all-time for scoring for the Golden Eagles. She comes into the week with 1,445 career points. Miller ranks sixth all-time in scoring for Minnesota Crookston. She needs 15 points to move past Alexa Thielman for fifth all-time in scoring. Miller is 279 points away from Jamie Zelinsky's school record. With her current pace, depending on the length of the postseason, she would be on pace to set the record early in the 2025-26 season, her senior campaign. With her current averages, she could accomplish the mark in just over 12 games. 

• MORE PROMINENT ROLE. Junior guard Natalie Mikrot has played a more prominent role of late for the Golden Eagles. She had 11 points in 15 minutes on 4-of-8 from the field January 11 against Minnesota State, and tallied five points in 14 minutes last Saturday against Augustana. She comes in averaging 1.9 points per game for the Golden Eagles. 27 of 38 of her shots this season have come from distance. 

MINOT STATE. Minot State comes into Crookston with a 6-15 (5-9 NSIC) mark. The Beavers are currently tied for 10th with the Golden Eagles. The Beavers have gone 2-1 in their last three games, with wins over Augustana, and Minnesota Duluth. Minot State fell to nationally-ranked Concordia-St. Paul January 24. They are being outscored by an average of 11.7 points per game, while averaging 60.7 points per game. The Golden Eagles won the match-up November 26 70-63. The Beavers are shooting 38.7 percent from the field, and 30.9 percent from beyond the arc. They are being outrebounded by an average of 7.5 boards per game, and they have a -2.3 turnover margin. 

GIVE ME SOME MOGEN. Sisters Emma Mogen and Jessica Mogen are both starters for the Beavers and are both major factors for Minot State. Emma Mogen leads the way for the Beavers with 10.9 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game. She is shooting 40.6 percent from the field, and 33.3 percent from beyond the arc. Jessica Mogen comes in tallying 6.4 points, and 4.5 rebounds per game. Jessica Mogen is shooting 37.2 percent from the field. Emma Mogen has 11 double-figure scoring games for Minot State this season.

MORE ABOUT MAYA. Maya Aguilar is a major factor beyond the arc for the Beavers. The sophomore from Minot, N.D., has 108 three-point attempts this season, hitting at a 38.9 percent clip. She is shooting 42.9 percent from the field. Aguilar enters the week averaging 10.8 points, and 3.2 boards per game. Her best game came with 25 points versus Sioux Falls January 10. Aguilar was 5-of-9 from beyond the arc against the Cougars. 

SYDNEY STAT LINE. Sydney Gustavvson, a senior from Mandan, N.D., does a little bit of everything for Minot State this season. The guard is averaging 9.3 points, 4.2 boards, and 2.2 assists per tilt. Gustavsson's best games came with 19 points versus Winona State, and Sioux Falls. 

UMARY. The Marauders come into the weekend with a 10-8 (7-7 NSIC) record. UMary split last weekend, with a 71-59 win against Minnesota Duluth, and a 73-48 loss last Saturday at home against Concordia-St. Paul. The Marauders have outscored their opponents by an average of 1.8 per game. UMary is shooting 37.2 percent from the field, and 31.3 percent from beyond the arc. The Marauders are outrebounding teams 39.3-37.6 this season. They are tallying 13.9 assists per game, and have 15.8 turnovers per tilt. 

BERGAN WITH THE BUCKET. Bergan Kinnebrew leads the Marauders with 14.4 points, and 3.6 boards per game. Kinnebrew is shooting 38.4 percent from the field, and 33.9 percent from beyond the arc. She had a season-high 26 points in a win over Minnesota Duluth January 24. 

PFAU FACTS. Sophomore Chloe Pfau, a West Fargo, N.D. native, has started eight games this season for UMary. She enters the weekend notching 9.3 points, and 3.6 boards per game. Pfau leads the Marauders with 99 three-point attempts this season. She is shooting 32.3 percent from beyond the arc. Pfau has eight double-digit scoring games this season.

WACHA DOING. Ryleigh Wacha enters the week with 8.2 points, and 5.8 boards per tilt. Wacha is shooting 41.3 percent from the field, and 38.0 percent from distance. Wacha has six double-digit games this season, including 18 points against both Sioux Falls, and Minnesota State this season. 

MINNESOTA CROOKSTON
Projected Starters
Jr. PG 1 Emma Miller (5-1, Albertville, Minn.) 22.0 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 3.0 APG
R-So. SG 2 Hope Dudycha (5-5, Austin, Minn.) 8.0 PPG, 2.1 RPG
Fr. 3G 10 Halle Winjum (5-6, Crookston, Minn.) 2.6 PPG, 1.6 RPG
R-So. SF 30 Riley Jenkins (5-10, Galesburg, Ill.) 11.3 PPG, 6.6 RPG
R-Sr. PF 4 Nicole Hernandez (6-2, Oak Creek, Wis.) 7.2 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 3.0 BPG
Bench
Fr. F 21 Willow Thiel (5-11, Perham, Minn.) 6.5 PPG, 3.8 RPG
So. F 14 Rayna Klejeski (6-0, Barnum, Minn.) 3.8 PPG, 1.9 RPG


MINOT STATE
Projected Starters
Sr. PG 5 Emma Mogen (5-8, Watford City, N.D.) 10.9 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 2.3 APG
Fr. SG 3 Jessica Mogen (5-9, Watford City, N.D.) 6.4 PPG, 4.5 RPG
Sr. 3G 21 Sydney Gustavsson (5-7, Mandan, N.D.) 9.3 PPG, 4.2 RPG
So. SF 24 Maya Aguilar (5-9, Minot, N.D.) 10.8 PPG, 3.2 RPG
R-Jr. PF 23 Taylor Goss (5-10, Pekin, Ill.) 5.0 PPG, 2.5 RPG
Bench
Jr. G 10 Jaime Skeggs (5-10, Mandurah, Western Australia) 4.9 PPG, 2.1 RPG
Sr. G 0 Cassidy King (5-6, Chico, Calif.) 2.1 PPG, 1.5 RPG
Sr. F 12 Katie Aberle (5-11, Surrey, N.D.) 1.7 PPG, 1.3 RPG

UMARY
Projected Starters
Fr. PG 1 Eden Fridley (5-10, Bismarck, N.D.) 4.6 PPG, 1.9 RPG, 2.3 APG
So. SG 13 Bergan Kinnebrew (5-11, Bismarck, N.D.) 14.4 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 2.0 APG
So. G 11 Chloe Pfau (5-11, West Fargo, N.D.) 9.3 PPG, 3.6 RPG
Sr. SF 14 Ryleigh Wacha (5-10, Fargo, N.D.) 8.2 PPG, 5.8 RPG
Sr. F 33 Addison Rozell (6-2, Redfield, S.D.) 5.4 PPG, 5.7 RPG
Bench
So. G 23 Emily Jaenke (5-10, Appleton, Wis.) 7.6 PPG, 1.3 RPG
Sr. C 12 Moriku Hakim (6-0, Fargo, N.D.) 7.3 PPG, 6.5 RPG
So. G 21 Anna Lenzen (5-10, Chaska, Minn.) 4.6 PPG, 2.8 RPG
Gr. G 3 Ava Interrante (5-9, McHenry, Ill.) 4.3 PPG, 3.3 RPG

GAMEDAY

MINOT STATE AT MINNESOTA CROOKSTON
DATE: Friday, January 29
TIME: 7:30 p.m. C.T.
SITE: Crookston, Minn.
ARENA: Gary Senske Court at Lysaker Gymnasium
LIVE STATS: https://goldeneaglesports.com/sidearmstats/wbball/summary
LIVE VIDEO: https://nsicnetwork.com/goldeneaglesports/
X: @UMNCrookstonATH/@UMNCrookstonWBB

MINNESOTA CROOKSTON AT UMARY
DATE: Saturday, February 1
TIME: 5:30 p.m. C.T.
SITE: Bismarck, N.D.
ARENA: McDowell Gymnasium
LIVE STATS: https://goumary.com/sidearmstats/wbball/summary
LIVE VIDEO: https://nsicnetwork.com/goumary/
X: @UMNCrookstonATH/@UMNCrookstonWBB


KEYS TO THE WEEK

Will Emma Miller have a major impact for the Golden Eagles?

Can the Golden Eagles get strong production off the bench?

Will Nicole Hernandez continue to be a force defensively?

Can the Golden Eagles inch up in the conference standings, seeking a NSIC Tournament spot?

Will Jenkins be able to add to her double-double totals?

Who will knock down the three-point shot?