Women's Basketball | 2/19/2025 4:06:00 PM

• THE MINNESOTA CROOKSTON women's basketball team enters the final weekend of the regular season with a record of 9-17 (7-13 NSIC). The Golden Eagles have an important weekend as they look to claim one of the final spots in the NSIC Tournament. Minnesota Crookston is currently tied for 11th in the standings with the top 12 teams moving on to the NSIC Tournament commencing Wednesday, February 26. Minnesota Crookston plays Minnesota Duluth in a crucial game in the 
standings Friday, February 21 at 7:30 p.m. They take on No. 9/12 Concordia-St. Paul Saturday, February 22 at 5:30 p.m., as the Golden Bears are battling for the regular-season NSIC Championship. Minnesota Crookston is shooting 39.5 percent from the field, 31.4 percent from beyond the arc, and 77.6 percent from the line. The Golden Eagles are being outrebounded 41.3-35.6. They are tallying 11.3 assists per game, and 14.2 turnovers per tilt. 

• SERIES HISTORY.  Minnesota Crookston has lost their last 11 games against Minnesota Duluth. Their last win against the Bulldogs came January 5, 2019 with a 66-61 victory at home in Lysaker Gymnasium. They have not won in Duluth since February 1, 2002. The Golden Eagles have lost their last seven games versus Concordia-St. Paul. Their last win came on the road January 27, 2018 with a 75-60 victory. Minnesota Crookston last won at home over the Golden Bears February 25, 2015 in a win that sent the Golden Eagles to Sioux Falls, S.D., for the NSIC Tournament. 

• BLOCK PARTY.  Nicole Hernandez (R-Sr., F/C, Oak Creek, Wis.) is the new career blocks record holder at Minnesota Crookston after accomplishing the record at Southwest Minnesota State. Hernandez has 159 career blocks, surpassing Isieoma Odor for the mark. She has 74 blocks during her senior season for an average of 2.8 blocks per game. Hernandez is fourth in the nation for blocks, and fifth for blocks per game. In addition, Hernandez has 517 career rebounds. Her 206 rebounds this season ranks eighth all-time in a single-season. Hernandez currently ranks ninth all-time in career boards, needing 32 rebounds to surpass Cathy Behr for eighth. Hernandez also holds the single-season blocks record, surpassing Jessica Forsline earlier this season.

• 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 1,595 career points, which ranks third in program history. She recently surpassed Katrina (Moenkedick) Nordick on the all-time scoring charts. She is just 48 points from moving past Karna Plaine for second all-time. Miller is 130 points from breaking Jamie Zelinsky's school record, which has been in place for 14 years. Miller just set the single-season scoring mark, surpassing Jessica Forsline. She currently has 589 points during her junior season. In addition, she just broke her own single-game scoring mark with 41 points against Southwest Minnesota State, which was just four points shy of the NSIC record. Miller is also moving up the NSIC's all-time scoring charts. She has 1,232 points in conference play in her career, which ranks 13th all-time in the NSIC history. She needs 12 points to surpass Kaely Hummel of Sioux Falls for 12th. Miller is just 34 points from setting the single-season NSIC scoring mark, currently held by Brooke Olson of Minnesota 
Duluth with 491 points in a season in conference play. Miller is averaging 22.9 points per game. She is third in the nation for 
scoring during the 2024-25 season.

• HALLE FROM CROOKSTON.  Minnesota Crookston guard Halle Winjum has started 11-of-26 games this season, and has played a prominent role as a freshman. Winjum, a Crookston-native, is tallying 2.8 points per game. She comes in shooting 41.1 percent from the field, and 40.0 percent from beyond the arc. Winjum scored a career-high 10 points twice, versus Northern State (December 20) and against UMary (February 1). 

• 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 has been especially helpful on the passing end lately. Dudycha is averaging 2.88 assists per game in the last eight tilts for the Golden Eagles. She is coming off three assists versus Southwest Minnesota State. Dudycha notched six assists versus Minot State, and five against Wayne State, and Augustana. She had 12 points last Friday against Sioux falls, and 10 in a win over Northern State. Dudycha is averaging 7.4 points per game. She is shooting 38.5 percent from the field, and 32.2 percent from beyond the arc.

• 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 is coming off a nod in the NSIC Shining Five two weeks ago after outstanding performances against Bemidji State, and Northern State. Jenkins had her best week against the Beavers, and Wolves averaging 24.0 points, and 5.5 rebounds per game. She enters the weekend averaging 11.2 points, and 6.2 boards per game. She is shooting 40.9 percent from the field. 

• 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.

• WILLOW. Freshman Willow Thiel has been a major factor in recent games for the Golden Eagles. Thiel has scored in double figures in three of the last four games. She is averaging 12.8 points, and 5.0 rebounds per game in those four tilts. Thiel had 19 points in a win over Northern State, and notched 14 versus Bemidji State. She is coming off 13 points last week versus Southwest Minnesota State. Thiel is shooting 42.4 percent from the field, and 35.3 percent from distance. 

MINNESOTA DULUTH. The Bulldogs come into the weekend with a 8-17 (6-14 NSIC) mark. Minnesota Duluth is 1-8 in their last nine games. They defeated the Golden Eagles 66-64 in Duluth earlier this season. The Bulldogs are currently tied for 12th in the conference standings. UMD is being outscored by a margin of -7.5 points per game. They come in averaging 13.9 turnovers per game, and 3.4 blocks per game. The Bulldogs are struggling at the charity stripe, hitting at a 68.4 percent clip. They are allowing 14.4 points off turnovers per game. Minnesota Duluth is shooting 
40.4 percent from the field, and 31.8 percent from beyond the arc. 


MAKING IT HAPPEN WITH MYRA. Myra Moorjani, a 5-8 guard from Eden Prairie, Minn., is a crucial player for the 
Bulldogs. She comes in averaging 11.2 points, and 4.5 boards per game. Moorjani is shooting 32.1 percent from the field, and is hitting at a 32.5 percent clip from beyond the arc. She has 120 three-pointers this season, out of her 299 overall shots. 

TRANSFER FROM AUGIE. Johanna Miller, a 6-2 transfer from Augustana, has been a key player in the middle for the Bulldogs. She is tallying 10.7 points, and 6.4 boards per game. Miller had a season-high 14 boards against Minot State. She is shooting an impressive 49.1 percent from the field. She had a season-high 22 points earlier this season against the Golden Eagles. 

KARGE IN CHARGE. Lexi Karge comes into the weekend notching 10.6 points, and 6.3 boards per game. Karge is a 52.6 percent shooter from the field. She averaged 18.0 points per game last weekend. She had a season-high 20 points versus Bemidji State. 

CONCORDIA-ST. PAUL The Golden Bears are tied for the lead in the NSIC with a No. 9/11 national ranking. They are 24-2 (18-2 NSIC). Concordia-St. Paul is outscoring foes by a margin of 15 points per game, and outrebounding teams by 4.7 boards per tilt. They are averaging 16.5 assists per game. The Golden Bears are shooting 43.4 percent from the field, and 35.0 percent from beyond the arc. They are a 75.8 free throw shooting squad. 

LEAVE IT TO LYDIA. Lydia Haack is leading the way for the Golden Bears with 17.2 points per game. She also comes in with 122 assists for 4.7 per game. Haack had a season-high 35 points against MSU Moorhead, and notched 10 assists against Maryville, and Winona State. She is shooting 44.9 percent from the field, and 35.1 percent from beyond the arc. 

YOU BECHER. Lindsey Becher, a 6-1 senior from Shoreview, Minn., comes in averaging 12.2 points, and 7.8 boards per game. She is slightly ahead of Hernandez in blocked shots with 77 this season. She had a season-high 15 boards against Michigan Tech, and had 22 points against Wayne State, and Minnesota Duluth.

DENGERUD ZONE. Leah Dengerud comes in tallying 10.2 points per game. She is a 43.7 percent shooter from the field, and a 42.2 percent shooter from beyond the arc. Dengerud is a three-point threat, as 128-of-199 shots have been from distance. 

GAMEDAY

MINNESOTA DULUTH AT MINNESOTA CROOKSTON
DATE: Friday, February 21
TIME: 7:30 p.m. C.T.
SITE: Crookston, Minn.
ARENA: Lysaker Gymnasium
LIVE STATS: https://goldeneaglesports.com/sidearmstats/wbball/summary
LIVE VIDEO: https://nsicnetwork.com/goldeneaglesports/
X: @UMNCrookstonATH/@UMNCrookstonWBB

CONCORDIA-ST. PAUL AT MINNESOTA CROOKSTON
DATE: Saturday, February 22
TIME: 5:30 p.m. C.T.
SITE: Crookston, Minn.
ARENA: Lysaker Gymnasium
LIVE STATS: https://goldeneaglesports.com/sidearmstats/wbball/summary
LIVE VIDEO: https://nsicnetwork.com/goldeneaglesports/
X: @UMNCrookstonATH/@UMNCrookstonWBB


WEEKLY SNAPSHOT

MINNESOTA CROOKSTON
Projected Starters
Jr. PG 1 Emma Miller (5-1, Albertville, Minn.) 22.7 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 3.0 APG
R-So. SG 2 Hope Dudycha (5-5, Austin, Minn.) 7.4 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 2.1 APG
R-So. 3G 30 Riley Jenkins (5-10, Galesburg, Ill.) 11.2 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 2.3 APG
Fr. SF 21 Willow Thiel (5-11, Perham, Minn.) 7.3 PPG, 4.1 RPG
R-Sr. PF 4 Nicole Hernandez (6-2, Oak Creek, Wis.) 7.5 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 2.8 BPG
Bench
Fr. G 10 Halle Winjum (5-6, Crookston, Minn.) 2.8 PPG, 1.5 RPG
So. F 14 Rayna Klejeski (6-0, Barnum, Minn.) 3.4 PPG, 2.0 RPG


MINNESOTA DULUTH
Projected Starters
Jr. PG 11 Myra Moorjani (5-8, Eden Prairie, Minn.) 11.2 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 3.5 APG
Jr. SG 4 Maria Counts (5-11, Crystal, Minn.) 7.1 PPG, 4.4 RPG
Sr. 3G 34 Haley Hawkinson (5-9, Hibbing, Minn.) 0.8 PPG, 0.6 RPG
Jr. SF 42 Lexi Karge (6-2, Mankato, Minn.) 10.6 PPG, 6.3 RPG
Gr. PF 45 Johanna Miller, 6-2, Brookings, S.D. 10.7 PPG, 6.4 RPG
Bench
Fr. G 23 Claire Bjorge (5-8, De Pere, Wis.) 9.1 PPG, 2.9 RPG
Fr. G 12 Vanessa Bickford (5-9, Grimes, Iowa) 5.5 PPG, 2.6 RPG
So. G/F 33 Lexi Karlen (6-0, Stillwater, Minn.) 4.7 PPG, 3.6 RPG
So. F 24 Grace Counts (6-1, Crystal, Minn.) 4.2 PPG, 1.8 RPG

CONCORDIA-ST. PAUL
Projected Starters
Jr. PG 23 Lydia Haack  (5-3, Elk River, Minn.) 17.2 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 4.7 APG
Jr. SG 1 Leah Dengerud (5-9, Lino Lakes, Minn.) 10.2 PPG, 2.9 RPG
Sr. 3G 21 Julia Bengtson (5-10, Becker, Minn.) 9.2 PPG, 2.6 RPG
Sr. SF 25 Megan Gamble (5-11, Clear Lake, Minn.) 5.0 PPG, 7.3 RPG
Sr. PF 11 Lindsey Becher (6-1, Shoreview, Minn.) 12.2 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 
Bench
So. G 15 Ashley Schuelke (5-9, Carver, Minn.) 7.3 PPG, 2.5 RPG
So. F 30 Lauren Wilson (6-0, Springville, Iowa) 5.5 PPG, 3.1 RPG
Sr. G 12 Mikayla Kanenwisher (5-6, Elk River, Minn.) 4.6 PPG, 1.2 RPG
So. C 22 Emma Mommsen (6-1, Menomonie, Wis.) 4.1 PPG, 3.5 RPG

KEYS TO THE WEEKEND

Will Emma Miller continue to break records?

Can the Golden Eagles get strong 
production off the bench?

Can Nicole Hernandez have a strong Senior Day performance?

Can the Golden Eagles get key wins in order to make the NSIC Tournament?

Who will step up this weekend?

Can Willow Thiel continue her strong string of games?