Women's Basketball | 1/8/2025 3:50:00 PM

• THE MINNESOTA CROOKSTON women's basketball team hits the road for a four-game stand beginning at Winona State University Friday, January 10 at 5:30 p.m. Minnesota Crookston is set to face Minnesota State University Saturday, January 11 at 3:30 p.m. The Golden Eagles enter the week with a 5-9 (3-5 NSIC) mark. Minnesota Crookston has been strong on the road this season, posting a 4-3 record. The Golden Eagles is averaging 67.6 points per game, allowing 74.0 points per tilt. Minnesota Crookston is shooting 39.5 percent from the field, 29.2 percent from beyond the arc, and 76.5 percent from the foul line. The Golden Eagles are being outrebounded this season 40.8-35.9. Minnesota Crookston is averaging 10.8 assists per game, and is tallying 14.3 turnovers per tilt.

• SERIES HISTORY.  Minnesota Crookston is 2-1 in their last three games with Winona State. The Warriors won the last tilt between the pair, 70-62 in Winona, Minn. The Golden Eagles last won in Winona January 6, 2023 with a 63-58 victory.
Minnesota Crookston is 6-11 historically on the road. Minnesota State has won the last eight games in the series. The Golden Eagles last won in Mankato 91-90 January 16, 2016.

• BLOCK PARTY.  Nicole Hernandez (R-Sr., F/C, Oak Creek, Wis.) is second in the nation in blocked shots with 47. She is just three blocks behind Shaw's Mahogany Collins. Hernandez is leading the next player in the NSIC in blocked shots by 10 blocks. Hernandez is third in blocks per game with 3.36 blocks per tilt. Hernandez had a career-high eight blocks against MSU Moorhead December 21, tying the school record previously set by Jessica Forsline. Hernandez also had seven blocked shots versus Black Hills State. Hernandez has eight games with three or more blocked shots this season. She has 47 blocks this season. Hernandez has 132 blocked shots in her career. She needs 27 blocked shots to set the career mark previously set by Isieoma Odor. She also has 430 career rebounds. She is just 58 rebounds from breaking into the Top 10 all-time for rebounds.

• HALLE FROM CROOKSTON.  Minnesota Crookston guard Halle Winjum has made four-straight starts for the
Golden Eagles. The Crookston-native is averaging 2.2 points per game. Her best game came with 10 points against Northern State University December 20. She had eight points versus MSU Moorhead. Winjum is 6-of-12 from beyond the arc this season. She will continue to be a major factor for the Golden Eagles 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. Dudycha is coming off her best weekend as a Golden Eagle. Dudycha averaged 15.0 points per game, shooting 5-of-13 from beyond the arc for 38.5 percent. Dudycha is shooting 35.3 percent from behind the three-point line this season, and 72.2 percent from the foul line. Dudycha had a career-high 20 points against Southwest Minnesota State, and 10 points against Sioux Falls. Dudycha is averaging 7.9 points, and 2.4 rebounds per game. Look for her to be a major player moving forward.

• 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 weekend averaging 10.9 points, and 6.1 rebounds per game. Jenkins tallied 13 points, and eight boards against Sioux Falls last weekend. Jenkins has 10 double-digit scoring games this season. She had a pair of double-doubles against Minot State, and Bemidji State. Jenkins has been a great free throw shooter, hitting at an 81.8 percent clip this season.

• 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 weekend with 1,309 career points. Miller ranks sixth all-time in scoring at Minnesota Crookston, most recently passing Kari Score. She needs 151 points to move past Alexa Thielman for fifth all-time at U of M Crookston. Miller is still inching in on the school record for scoring, held with 1,724 points by Jamie Zelinsky. Miller needs 416 points to move past Zelinsky. She would need to average 29.7 points per game to break Zelinsky's record this season. Miller comes in averaging 21.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game. Miller is shooting 41.0 percent from the field, and 28.3 percent from beyond the arc. Miller had 22 points against Sioux Falls last Saturday. She has eight games with 20 or more points this season.

• "THIEL"ING IT. Willow Thiel (Fr., F, Perham, Minn.) came off the bench in the last two games and it worked well for her. The newcomer averaging 7.7 points, and 4.9 rebounds against Northern State, and MSU Moorhead. Thiel had a career-high 21 points against Michigan Tech. Thiel notched 16 points versus South Dakota Mines. She had a double-double with 10 boards versus Michigan Tech. Thiel has four double-digit scoring games this season.

WINONA STATE. Winona State enters the weekend with a 7-8 (3-6 NSIC) mark. They have lost three-consecutive games to Minnesota State, Minot State, and UMary. The Warriors last win was a 67-65 December 18 at Minnesota Duluth. Winona State is averaging 65.0 points per game, and allowing 68.6 points to their foes. The Warriors are shooting 40.9 percent from the field, 31.2 percent from beyond the arc, and 71.1 percent from the foul line. Winona State is being outrebounded 37.3-36.7. The Warriors are averaging 10.9 assists per game, and 14.8 turnovers per tilt.

LIV. Olivia Gamoke leads the way with 13.8 points per game. She comes in shooting 38.8 percent from the field, and 34.7 percent from beyond the arc. Gamoke had a season-high 20 points in two games, against Maryville, and Augustana. Gamoke has 12 double-digit scoring outings for Winona State.

ON YOUR MARKS. Hailey Markworth has been a key player for the Warriors. She comes into the weekend notching 12.1 points, and 4.5 rebounds per game. Markworth is shooting 47.3 percent from the field, and 26.7 percent from beyond the arc. She had a season-high 31 points versus Upper Iowa November 22. Markworth had 27 points December 18 against Minnesota Duluth. She has 10 games with double-digit scoring during the 2024-25 campaign.

SCHIMENZ ON THE DISH. Mattie Schimenz comes in averaging 9.4 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game. Schimenz has been the top player in assists for Winona State this season. She had 13 points against Minot State last weekend. Schimenz has three games with five or more assists this season, including seven assists versus Sioux Falls. She has seven games with double-digit scoring.

MINNESOTA STATE. The No. 8/11 Minnesota State Mavericks are the defending women's basketball National Champion. The Mavericks enter the weekend with a 13-2 (9-0 NSIC) mark. Their last loss came in non-conference play November 29 at Colorado School of Mines. Minnesota State controlled play in both of last season's games against the Golden Eagles. The Mavericks are a high-octane offense, averaging 87.9 points, and allowing 74.7 points per game. They are turning opponents over 25.1 times per game. Minnesota State is shooting 45.8 percent from the field, 27.1 percent from beyond the arc, and 68.8 percent from the foul line. They are outrebounding foes 43.0-37.8. Minnesota State has 15.3 assists per game, compared to 17,4 turnovers per game.

BIG TIME BREMER. Natalie Bremer leads the Minnesota State offense, averaging 20.9 points, and 6.3 rebounds per game. Bremer is shooting 49.8 percent from the field, 33.3 percent from beyond the arc, and 86.6 percent from the foul line. She has scored in double figures all 15 games, including a season-high 32 points against Augustana December 7. Bremer is coming off 19 points against UMary, and 18 versus Minot State. Bremer also has 46 steals, for a 3.3 average this season.

IT'S YOUR DESTINEE. Destinee Bursch has been a crucial player for the Mavericks. She is averaging 17.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game. Bursch also has 22 steals in 2024-25. Bursch is shooting 56.1 percent from the field. She has scored in double figures in all 15 games, including a season-high 27 points versus Northwestern-St. Paul. Destinee has 20 points against UMary, and 14 versus Minot State.
STIER DOWN LOW. Ava Stier comes into the weekend notching 7.8 points, and 6.1 rebounds in the post. Stier is also the best three-point shooter by percentage, hitting at a 36.4 percent clip on 22 shots. Stier is coming off a season-high 12 boards against UMary. She had a season-high 15 points December 21 against Winona State.

GAMEDAY
MINNESOTA CROOKSTON AT WINONA STATE
DATE: Friday, January 10
TIME: 5:30 p.m. C.T.
SITE: Winona, Minn.
ARENA: McCown Gymnasium
LIVE STATS: https://winonastatewarriors.com/sidearmstats/wbball/summary
LIVE VIDEO: https://nsicnetwork.com/winonastatewarriors/
X: @UMNCrookstonATH/@UMNCrookstonWBB
MINNESOTA CROOKSTON AT MINNESOTA STATE
DATE: Saturday, January 11
TIME: 3:30 p.m. C.T.
SITE: Mankato, Minn.
ARENA: Taylor Center
LIVE STATS: https://msumavericks.com/sidearmstats/wbball/summary
LIVE VIDEO: https://nsicnetwork.com/winonastatewarriors/
X: @UMNCrookstonATH/@UMNCrookstonWBB

WEEKLY SNAPSHOT
MINNESOTA CROOKSTON
Projected Starters
Jr. PG 1 Emma Miller (5-1, Albertville, Minn.) 21.6 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 2.6 APG
R-So. SG 2 Hope Dudycha (5-5, Austin, Minn.) 7.9 PPG, 2.4 RPG
Fr. 3G 10 Halle Winjum (5-6, Crookston, Minn.) 2.2 PPG, 0.5 RPG
R-So. SF 30 Riley Jenkins (5-10, Galesburg, Ill.) 10.9 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 2.8 APG
R-Sr. PF 4 Nicole Hernandez (6-2, Oak Creek, Wis.) 6.3 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 3.4 BPG
Bench
Fr. F 21 Willow Thiel (5-11, Perham, Minn.) 7.7 PPG, 4.9 RPG
So. F 14 Rayna Klejeski (6-0, Barnum, Minn.) 3.6 PPG, 1.1 RPG

WINONA STATE
Projected Starters
Gr. PG 5 Mattie Schimenz (5-7, Milwaukee, Wis.) 9.4 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 2.5 APG
Sr. SG 0 Olivia Gamoke (5-5, Onalaska, Wis.) 13.8 PPG, 3.7 RPG
Jr. 3G 11 Hailey Markworth (5-9, LaGrange, Ill.) 12.1 PPG, 4.5 RPG
So. SF 22 Vivica Bretton (5-10, Rochester, Minn.) 8.1 PPG, 5.5 RPG
R-Fr. PF 13 Megan Schuman (6-0, Brillion, Wis.) 5.2 PPG, 3.6 RPG
Bench
R-Fr. G 1 Sadie Jarmolowicz (5-9, Freedom, Wis.) 5.2 PPG, 4.3 RPG
Sr. G 3 Lindsey Hahn (5-8, Western Springs, Ill.) 2.9 PPG, 3.0 RPG
Jr. F 21 Paige Peaslee (6-0, North Branch, Minn.) 2.4 PPG, 1.9 RPG

KEYS TO THE WEEKEND
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 improve their three-point shooting?
Can the Golden Eagles have a strong showing on the road?