Women's Basketball | 12/15/2025 2:51:00 PM

• THE MINNESOTA CROOKSTON women's basketball team comes into the weekend with a 1-9 (0-5 NSIC) mark. They are looking to end 2025 on a strong note with a pair of home games at Lysaker Gymnasium. Minnesota Crookston hosts new NSIC foe University of Jamestown Wednesday, December 17 at 7:30 p.m., and Northern State University Saturday, December 20 at 3:30 p.m. The Golden Eagles enter the weekend averaging 64.4 points per game, and are looking to improve defensively after allowing 79.4 points per game in their first 10 tilts. The Golden Eagles are shooting 39.2 percent from the field, 35.2 percent from beyond the arc, and 73.0 percent from the stripe. Their opponents are shooting 44.9 percent from the field. The Golden Eagles are being outrebounded 41.2-33.3, and are averaging 10.3 assists to 14.7 turnovers per tilt.

• IT'S EMMA. Miller, the 5-1 senior from Albertville, Minn., has made a name for herself in the NSIC, regionally, and nationally. The two-time All-NSIC First Team selection, and All-Region honoree, set the Minnesota Crookston scoring record against Black Hills State, surpassing Jamie Zelinsky. Miller currently has 1,837 career points. She is also moving up on the charts for all-time scoring in the NSIC. She is currently seventh all-time in the NSIC in conference scoring with 1,343 points. Brooke Olson of Minnesota Duluth currently holds the record. Miller is notching 17.3 points per game, 5.6 rebounds per tilt, and 3.7 assists per game. She comes in shooting 34.2 percent from the field, and 20.3 percent from distance. Miller is hitting at a 76.1 percent clip from the field.

• FIRE AND RAYNA. Rayna Klejeski, a six-foot junior from Barnum, Minn., has been a key piece for the Golden Eagles in the post as she has made substantial improvement in her third season in the program. Klejeski comes into the week averaging 10.9 points, and 5.8 boards per game. Klejeski is shooting 45.6 percent from the field, and 72.7 percent from distance on 11 shots. She is hitting free throws at an 82.9 percent clip. She has five games with 10 or more points this season. Klejeski had a season-high 17 points against Pittsburg State November 15. She has notched eight rebounds on four occasions. She also tallied 15 point tilts against Minnesota Duluth, and Bemidji State.

• EAST AND WESTBY. Anna Westby, a freshman from Eveleth, Minn., has jumped right on the scene as a freshman for the Golden Eagles. Westby is coming off her best game as a Golden Eagle with 20 points on 8-of-13 from the field, and 4-of-6 from beyond the arc against Minot State. Westby also had seven rebounds, and three blocked shots. She has been strong as a
defensive post, entering this week with 22 blocked shots. Westby is averaging 10.7 points, 5.5 boards, and 2.2 blocks per game. She is shooting 45.7 percent from the field, and 38.7 percent from beyond the arc.

• HOMETOWN GIRL. Minnesota Crookston sophomore Halle Winjum had a great week in North Dakota. Winjum earned her first start of the season against Minot State. In two games, she averaged 10.0 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game. She shot 6-of-13 from the field for 46.2 percent. Winjum had 11 points against Minot State on 4-of-11 from the field, and 3-of-7 from beyond the arc. The former Crookston Pirate is averaging 3.8 points, and 2.6 rebounds per game. She is shooting 46.2 percent from the field, and 50.0 percent from deep. She will look to have a strong impact this week at home against Jamestown and Northern State.

• T HANKS. Junior transfer Tayden Hanks is an important player off the bench so far for the Golden Eagles. Hanks had a strong two-game stretch against Bemidji State and UMary, averaging 8.5 points per game. Hanks had 11 points on 5-of-7 from the field against Bemidji State for a career high. She notched six points, including 4-of-4 from the stripe last Thursday against UMary. Hanks comes in averaging 2.6 points, and 1.4 boards per game.

BRYNLEA OFF THE BENCH. Brynlea Mahlen has played a more consistent role in recent games, averaging 15.0 minutes per game in the last three contests. Mahlen is coming off her best game with five points, and two rebounds in 15 minutes on 2-of-5 from the field Saturday against Minot State.

• CONFERENCE PLAY. Minnesota Crookston is looking for their first conference win after opening NSIC play with an 0-5 mark. They posted a 7-15 mark in conference games in 2024-25. The Golden Eagles were 2-3 in their first five games in 2025-26. They will look to end the 2025 portion of their schedule on a winning note.

• AT HOME. The Golden Eagles are 1-3 in home games this season, including a 75-68 non-conference victory over Black Hills State University. Minnesota Crookston has also played two games at home versus Northern Michigan University, and a
conference game versus Bemidji State. The Golden Eagles were 1-2 in home games prior to break in 2024-25.

• AGAINST JAMESTOWN. Minnesota Crookston is set to play Jamestown for the first time in NSIC play on Wednesday. Jamestown was added to the conference prior to the start of the 2025-26 season. The Golden Eagles have played the Jimmies four times in non-conference play with four wins. Minnesota Crookston defeated Jamestown 86-64 in St. Paul, Minn., November 21, 2015, the last time the two sides have faced off. In Crookston, Minnesota Crookston had an 81-74 victory in 2004, and a 70-60 win in 2002.

• AGAINST NORTHERN STATE. The Wolves hold the edge over Minnesota Crookston 36-14 all-time. Minnesota Crookston is 6-4 in their last 10 games against Northern State. The Golden Eagles won 79-74 over the Wolves at home February 6, 2025, and fell 69-60 in Aberdeen December 20, 2024. Minnesota Crookston is 4-2 in their last six games against Northern State dating back to January 15, 2021. 


JAMESTOWN. The University of Jamestown is in their first season in the NSIC. They come into the week with a 4-5 (2-3 NSIC) mark. The Jimmies lost a pair at home last weekend, falling 77-61 to Bemidji State, and 82-36 to Minnesota Duluth. They have conference wins over Northern State, and UMary. Jamestown went 19-11 as an NAIA team in 2024-25.  They come in averaging 62.8 points per game, and allowing 67.4 points per contest. They are shooting 39.3 percent from the field, 25.8 percent from beyond the arc, and 69.1 percent from the stripe. They are allowing teams to shoot 40.5 percent from the field. In addition, opponents have hit 31 more three pointers than Jamestown this season. The Jimmies are out rebounding foes 40.3-34.0 this season. They are committing 19.9 turnovers compared to 10.8 assists per game.

DON'T GET "BERNS"ED. Allie Berns, a freshman forward and a six-footer from Plymouth, Minn., has led the way for Jamestown. She enters the week averaging 13.7 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. She is going to take the majority of her looks inside the three-point arc, with only 11 attempts outside of it this season. Berns is shooting 54.8 percent from the field, and 72.0 percent at the stripe. Berns had a season-high 28 points against Dickinson State. She has scored over 20 points three times this season. She was held to just 5.5 points per game last week.

DAVINEY INTERVENTION. Sophomore guard Daviney Dreckman, a native of New Ulm, Minn., has been an important player for Jamestown in 2025-26. She comes into the week averaging 11.9 points, and 4.0 boards per game. Dreckman is shooting 42.2 percent from the field, and 37.5 percent from beyond the arc on 32 attempts. She is a 78.1 percent free-throw shooter on 32 attempts. Dreckman has six double-digit scoring games this season. She has notched a
season-high 15 points on three occasions. Dreckman had 15 points against Bemidji State, and nine versus Minnesota Duluth last week.

PAULSEN OFF THE BENCH. Samantha Paulsen, a 5-11 forward, has been an important player off the bench for the Jimmies. She had a season-high 22 points December 4 versus Minot State. Paulsen averaged six points last week. She comes in notching 8.0 points, and 4.4 rebounds per game in eight games off the bench. Paulsen is shooting 44.4 percent from the field.

NORTHERN STATE. Northern State enters the week with a 6-4 (2-3 NSIC) record. The Wolves went 1-1 last week with a 69-63 loss to Minnesota Duluth at home, and a 62-55 win over Bemidji State. Northern State has typically kept games close, just being outscored 64.8-64.0 this season. They are shooting 41.9 percent from the field, and 25.2 percent from distance, and 61.5 percent from the stripe. They are holding teams to just 26.8 percent from beyond the arc defensively.  They are out rebounding squads 38.6-32.9 this season. They are notching 11.3 assists to 15.2 turnovers per game.

MOORE OF THAT. Izzy Moore, a 5-10 senior guard, who began her career at Augustana, leads the way with 18.6 points and 6.1 rebounds per game. She is also averaging 2.7 assists per game. Moore is shooting 51.5 percent from the field, and 35.7 percent from beyond the arc. She has also shot 50 free throw shots for the team lead, and is hitting at a 72.0 percent clip. Moore has double-digit scoring games in all 10 contests this season. She has averaged 22.3 points per game in the last four including 30 points versus Minot State December 6.

WHEN IT COUNTS. Megan Counts, a six-foot transfer from Chadron State, comes in averaging 9.5 points and 4.7 boards per game. Counts is going to shoot the majority inside the three-point line, with only eight three-point attempts, she is hitting at a 44.9 percent clip from the field.

TOOL TIME. Taylor Tool, a 6-1 center from Delano, Minn., enters the week notching 8.5 points per game. She is shooting 40.5 percent from the field, and 40.0 percent from beyond the arc. Tool's best game came with 24 points on 8-of-16 from the field against Southwest Minnesota State. She averaged 5.5 points per game last week. 


MINNESOTA CROOKSTON GOLDEN EAGLES
Head Coach: Natalie Moynihan
Career Record: 19-48 (Third Season at Minnesota Crookston)

JAMESTOWN JIMMIES
Head Coach: Thad Sankey
Career Record: 113-77 (Seventh Season at Jamestown)

NORTHERN STATE WOLVES
Head Coach: Paula Krueger
Career Record: 105-105 (Eighth Season at Northern State)

GAMEDAY

JAMESTOWN AT MINNESOTA CROOKSTON
DATE: Wednesday, December 17
TIME: 7:30 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

NORTHERN STATE AT MINNESOTA CROOKSTON
DATE: Saturday, December 20
TIME: 3:30 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

WEEKLY SNAPSHOT

MINNESOTA CROOKSTON
Projected Starters
Sr. PG 1 Emma Miller (5-1, Albertville, Minn.) 17.3 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 3.7 APG
So. SG 10 Halle Winjum (5-6, Crookston, Minn.) 3.8 PPG, 2.6 RPG
R-Jr. 3G 30 Riley Jenkins (5-10, Galesburg, Ill.) 9.3 PPG, 3.9 RPG
Fr. SF 12 Anna Westby (5-11, Eveleth, Minn.) 10.7 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 2.2 BPG
Jr. PF 14 Rayna Klejeski (6-0, Barnum, Minn.) 10.9 PPG, 5.8 RPG
Top Bench Contributors
R-Jr. G 2 Hope Dudycha (5-5, Austin, Minn.) 4.9 PPG, 1.1 RPG
Jr. F 4 Tayden Hanks (5-11, Los Lunas, N.M.) 2.6 PPG, 1.4 RPG

JAMESTOWN
Projected Starters
Fr. PG 2 Haidyn Crockett (5-8, Reile's Acres, N.D.) 7.7 PPG, 2.6 RPG
So. SG 1 Daviney Dreckman (5-8, New Ulm, Minn.) 11.9 PPG, 4.0 RPG
So. 3G 3 Hali Savela (5-7, Mountain Iron, Minn.) 3.3 PPG, 3.2 RPG
Fr. SF 5 Allie Berns (6-0, Plymouth, Minn.) 13.7 PPG, 4.7 RPG
So. PF 20 Jessika Lofstrom (6-0, Grand Rapids, Minn.) 6.3 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 1.9 APG
Top Bench Contributors
Jr. F 14 Samantha Paulsen (5-11, Zimmerman, Minn.) 8.0 PPG, 4.4 RPG
Sr. G 4 Emily Kurkowski (5-7, Melbourne, Australia) 6.0 PPG, 2.5 RPG
Fr. C 33 Madelyn Malmgren (6-0, St. James, Minn.) 2.0 PPG, 3.6 RPG

NORTHERN STATE
Projected Starters
Sr. PG 4 Morgan Fiedler (5-8, Aberdeen, S.D.) 8.6 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 2.9 APG
Sr. SG 25 Izzy Moore (5-10, Sioux Falls, S.D.) 18.6 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 2.7 APG
R-Fr. 3G 10 Lily Klein (5-10, Flandreau, S.D.) 4.3 PPG, 5.5 RPG
Gr. SF 15 Megan Counts (6-0, Green River, Wyo.) 9.5 PPG, 4.7 RPG
So. PF 12 Taylor Tool (6-1, Delano, Minn.) 8.5 PPG, 2.5 RPG
Top Bench Contributors
Fr. G 1 Reagan Rus (5-8, Mount Vernon, S.D.) 6.2 PPG, 3.3 RPG
Jr. F 35 Telia Graham (5-11, St. Paul, Minn.) 3.1 PPG, 4.7 RPG
R-Fr. C/F 24 Carli Kuyper (6-2, Lennox, S.D.) 3.2 PPG, 2.0 RPG

KEYS TO THE WEEKEND

- Who will step up off the bench for the Golden Eagles?

- Can the Golden Eagles control the glass?

- Can Minnesota Crookston pick up important home wins going into the break?

- Can Minnesota Crookston slow down opposing offenses?

- Will Halle Winjum build off a strong two-game stretch?