Women's Basketball | 10/9/2025 10:09:00 AM
BURNSVILLE, Minn. - University of Minnesota Crookston women's basketball player Emma Miller (Sr., Albertville, Minn.) was selected as the NSIC North Preseason Player of the Year. Miller is the first Golden Eagle to be bestowed the prestigious preseason honor since Katrina Nordick earned NSIC North Preseason Player of the Year in 2015.
In addition, the Golden Eagles were selected to finish 11th overall, and sixth in the NSIC North with 85 points overall, and 22 in the North Division poll. Minnesota Crookston finished tied for 12th in 2024-25 with a 9-20 (7-15 NSIC) mark. The Golden Eagles return Miller, a two-time All-NSIC First Team selection and three-time All-NSIC honoree. In addition, Riley Jenkins returns after a All-NSIC Second Team nod last season. Minnesota Crookston also returns Hope Dudycha (R-Jr., G, Austin, Minn.) as a starter after averaging 6.8 points per game. Halle Winjum (So., G, Crookston, Minn.), and Rayna Klejeski (Jr., F, Barnum, Minn.) each started games and played significant roles in 2024-25. Natalie Mikrot (Sr., G, Willow River, Minn.), and Brynlea Mahlen (So., G, Fosston, Minn.) each saw time off the bench last season.
The Golden Eagles have five newcomers joining the fray in transfers Caleigh Adams (So., F, Bakersfield, Calif.), and Tayden Hanks (Jr., F, Los Lunes, N.M.), and freshmen Taylor Dirkes (Fr., G, Osakis, Minn.), Emma Pierson (Fr., G, Cherry Valley, Ill.), and Anna Westby (Fr., F, Eveleth, Minn.).
"What excites me most about our team this year is our energy and potential!," said Head Coach Natalie Moynihan. "All our girls have shown up this pre-season focused and ready to achieve the goals we have set out in front of us. They are such a fun group to be around, are eager to learn and a joy to coach daily! I can't wait to see what our squad will accomplish this season!"
Miller averaged 22.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game as a junior. She shot 41.1 percent from the field, 33.2 percent from beyond the arc, and 79.5 percent from the stripe. Miller has 1,664 career points and is averaging 19.3 points per game in her career. Miller is 61 points from setting the school scoring record and surpassing Jamie Zelinsky (2007-11). She is also just 18 three-pointers away from surpassing Alexa Thielman for most career three-pointers made. Miller has 1,275 career points in conference play ranking 10th all-time. He surpassed former Golden Eagle Nordick late in the 2024-25 season. She is six points from moving past Zelinsky in career NSIC points. Miller is 341 conference points from surpassing Brooke Olson of Minnesota Duluth for the career NSIC scoring mark.
"Emma has consistently been one of the best players in the league throughout her entire career," Moynihan stated. "Last season, she surpassed Brooke Olson for the most points score in the NSIC regular season with 501 points, our school single season record with 658 points, and was fourth in the nation in scoring. She enters her senior season at 10th all-time in league scoring history. I am so proud of the growth Emma has shown as both a player and a person and I am so excited to spend one more year together going for it all!"
Minnesota State University was selected to win the NSIC in 2025-26 with eight first-place points and 215 overall points. Concordia University-St. Paul and the University of Sioux Falls were picked in a tie for second. Minnesota State was picked to win the NSIC South, while MSU Moorhead was selected to win the North Division. Natalie Bremer of Minnesota State was named the NSIC South Preseason Player of the Year.
