Women's Basketball | 2/25/2025 4:17:00 PM

• THE MINNESOTA CROOKSTON women's basketball team enters the 2025 NSIC Tournament with a 9-19 (7-15 NSIC) mark. The Golden Eagles are looking to bounce back after four-consecutive losses. Minnesota Crookston is making their first NSIC Tournament appearance since 2022-23. They have made six NSIC Tournament apperances since 2010-11 where not every team made it to the field. Minnesota Crookston has made The Golden Eagles last won in the NSIC Tournament first round 
February 22, 2017 at Concordia University-St. Paul. Minnesota Crookston has made seven apperances overall. The Golden Eagles will look to make the NSIC quarterfinals for the first time since 2016-17. The winner of the game with Northern State University March 2 at 11 a.m., at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls.

• STATS. The Golden Eagles come into the weekend shooting 39.4 percent from the field. Minnesota Crookston comes in shooting 31.7 percent from the field, and 78.0 percent from the foul line. The Golden Eagles are allowing 67.2 points per game, and allowing 75.0 points per tilt. The Golden Eagles are being outrebounded 41.2-35.3 

• SERIES HISTORY.  Minnesota Crookston has lost their last three games in the series with the Cougars. They last picked up a win 63-60 in Crookston, January 27, 2023. The Golden Eagles have not won in the Stewart Center. The Golden Eagles are 0-7 at the Stewart Center. Their closest game was 64-55 February 5, 2016 in Sioux Falls, S.D. If Minnesota Crookston plays Northern State in the Pentagon, they are 14-40 all-time against the Wolves. They won their game February 6 against 
Northern State 79-74 in Crookston. They last played in the Sanford Pentagon February 25, 2017, defeating the Golden Eagles 83-60.

• 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 163 career blocks, and is also the single-season record holder with 78 blocks during her senior season. She tied the single-season mark with eight blocks in a game against MSU Moorhead. Hernandez has 534 career boards, which ranks ninth all-time. She needs just 15 rebounds to surpass Cathy Behr for eighth all-time. Hernandez comes into the weekend averaging 7.7 points, and 8.0 boards per game, and 2.8 blocks per game.  

• 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 1,638 career points, which ranks third in program history. She recently surpassed Katrina (Moenkedick) Nordick on the all-time scoring charts. She needs five points to surpass Karna Plaine for second all-time. In addition, Miller recently moved past Brooke Olson of Minnesota Duluth to set the regular-season single-season scoring mark in the NSIC with 501 points. Miller needs 87 points to surpass Jamie Zelinsky for the all-time scoring mark for the Golden Eagles. Miller has 1,275 career points in the NSIC, which ranks 10th all-time. She recently surpassed Katrina (Moenkedick) Nordick of Minnesota Crookston in NSIC scoring, and needs 21 points to surpass Minnesota Crookston's Jamie Zelinsky. Brooke Olson of Minnesota Duluth holds the NSIC mark with 1,615 points. 

• HALLE FROM CROOKSTON.  Minnesota Crookston guard Halle Winjum has started 11-of-28 games this season, and has played a prominent role as a freshman. Winjum, a Crookston-native, is tallying 2.7 points per game. She comes in shooting 40.0 percent from the field, and 37.5 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 2.0 assists per game coming into the week. She is also notching 7.0 points, and 2.3 boards per game. Dudycha comes in shooting 38.6 percent from the field, and 31.8 percent from beyond the arc. She had 10 points in a win over Northern State, and 12 on Debruary 16 against Sioux Falls. Dudycha's best performance was 21 points in a win over Winona State. She had 20 on January 3 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 in averaging 11.1 points, and 6.2 boards per game. She is shooting 41.3 percent from the field. Jenkins best games this season came against Bemidji State and Northern State. She had 23 points February 4 against Bemidji State, and 25 against Northern State February 6. Jenkins had 13 last Friday versus Minnesota Duluth.

• 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 four of the last six games. She is averaging 10.7 points, and 4.0 rebounds per game in the last six. She had 21 points earlier this season against Michigan Tech, and notched 19 against Northern State. Last Friday, Thiel notched 11 points, including 6-of-6 from the stripe. 

SIOUX FALLS. The Cougars enter the NSIC Tournament as the No. 5 seed. They are 16-13 (12-10 NSIC). Sioux Falls has beaten the Golden Eagles twice this season. They come in averaging 73.4 points per game, and allowing 67.2 points per tilt. USF is shooting 43.3 percent from the field, 38.6 percent from beyond the arc, and 76.3 percent from the stripe. The Cougars are averaging 36.7 boards per game, and allowing 33.6. They are notching 14.8 assists, and 15.3 turnovers per game. The Cougars lost both of their games last weekend to Northern State, and UMary. 

WHAT ABOUT WADWORTH?. Kami Wadsworth leads the way for Sioux Falls. The 5-11 Hayti, S.D., native comes in averaging 18.5 points, and 4.8 rebounds per game. She is shooting a strong 48.0 percent from the field, and 43.9 percent from beyond the arc. They are shooting 87.6 perent from the line. Wadsworth has had a strong run of games lately. She had 30 against Minnesota Crookston February 14, 24 versus Northern State, and 24 against UMary.  

EVERY ROSE HAS ITS THORN. Alexis Rose has started 11-of-29 from the games. She is shooting 41.7 percent from the field, and 41.8 percent from beyond the arc. The freshman from Becker, Minn., had 22 points against Northern State. She was 6-of-16 from the field, and 4-8 of beyond the arc. 

AYLA ON THE ASSIST. Ayla Brown comes in averaging 4.1 assists per game. Brown is shooting 44.7 percent from the field, and 44.9 percent from beyond the arc. She is averaging 8.9 points, and 3.4 boards per game. Brown had a run of four-straight double-digit scoring games February 6-14, including 18 against Augustana. Brown had 10 assists earlier this season against Minnesota Crookston, and Concordia-St. Paul. 

NORTHERN STATE. Northern State enters the week with an 18-10 (15-7 NSIC) record. The Wolves are coming off three-straight wins, including an upset of nationally-ranked Southwest Minnesota State. Northern State is averaging 73.5 points per game, and allowing 67.3 points per tilt. They are shooting 44.7 percent from the field, 29.2 percent from beyond the arc, and 75.5 percent from the stripe. Northern State is outrebounding teams 40.3-34.1. They are averaging 16.4 assists per game, and 13.2 turnovers per tilt. 

AINT TOO PROUD TO BRAGG. Madelyn Bragg guides Northern State with 17.1 points, and 6.9 boards per game. She is shooting 47.6 percent from the field. Bragg has scored 20 or more points in nine of her last 12 games. She had 27 points against both the Golden Eagles (Feb. 6) and Minnesota Duluth (Feb. 15). Last weekend, she had 25 versus Sioux Falls, and 19 against Southwest Minnesota State. 

LEAVE IT TO RIANNA. Rianna Fillipi is a big part of the attack for the Wolves with 5.4 assists per game. She also comes into the week averaging 13.6 points, and 5.7 boards per game. Fillipi is shooting 44.9 percent from the field, and 31.4 percent from beyond the arc.

IMPACT TRANSFER. Augustana transfer Michaela Jewett has been a big piece for Northern State, notching 13.0 points, and 8.9 boards per game. She is shooting 45.3 percent from the field. Jewett had 15 points last game against Southwest Minnesota State February 6 against Minnesota Crookston, she notched 16. 

GAMEDAY

MINNESOTA CROOKSTON AT SIOUX FALLS
DATE: Wednesday, February 26
TIME: 6 p.m. C.T.
SITE: Sioux Falls, S.D.
ARENA: Stewart Center
LIVE STATS: https://goldeneaglesports.com/sidearmstats/wbball/summary
LIVE VIDEO: https://www.nsicnetwork.com/usfcougars/
RADIO: 1260 KROX AM
X: @UMNCrookstonATH/@UMNCrookstonWBB

MINNESOTA CROOKSTON VS. NORTHERN STATE (IF WIN)
DATE: Sunday, March 2
TIME: 11 a.m. C.T.
SITE: Sioux Falls, S.D.
ARENA: Sanford Pentagon
LIVE STATS: https://northernsun.org/sidearmstats/wbball/summary
LIVE VIDEO: https://www.midcosportsplus.com/
X: @UMNCrookstonATH/@UMNCrookstonWBB

WEEKLY SNAPSHOT

MINNESOTA CROOKSTON
Projected Starters
Jr. PG 1 Emma Miller (5-1, Albertville, Minn.) 22.6 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 2.9 APG
R-So. SG 2 Hope Dudycha (5-5, Austin, Minn.) 7.0 PPG, 2.3 RPG
R-So. 3G 30 Riley Jenkins (5-10, Galesburg, Ill.) 11.1 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 2.4 APG
Fr. SF 21 Willow Thiel (5-11, Perham, Minn.) 7.3 PPG, 3.9 RPG
R-Sr. PF 4 Nicole Hernandez (6-2, Oak Creek, Wis.) 7.7 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 2.8 BPG
Bench
Fr. G 10 Halle Winjum (5-6, Crookston, Minn.) 2.7 PPG, 1.5 RPG
So. F 14 Rayna Klejeski (6-0, Barnum, Minn.) 3.4 PPG, 2.0 RPG

SIOUX FALLS
Projected Starters
So. PG 3 Ayla Brown (5-6, Becker, Minn.) 8.9 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 4.1 APG
SG 23 Megan Fannin (5-8, Watertown, S.D.) 6.7 PPG, 1.0 RPG
Fr. 3G 15 Alexis Rose (5-10, Becker, Minn.) 10.4 PPG, 4.0 RPG
Fr. SF 21 Anna Vaaler (5-10, Andover, Minn.) 8.5 PPG, 4.6 RPG
So. PF 30 Kami Wadsworth (5-11, Hayti, S.D.) 18.5 PPG, 4.8 RPG
Bench
Sr. F 24 Aby Phipps (6-0, Harrisburg, S.D.) 8.6 PPG, 7.2 RPG
So. G 14 Dani Minsaas (5-11, Chili, Wis.) 4.1 PPG, 2.7 RPG
So. F 2 Gracie Traphagen (5-10, Aberdeen, S.D.) 2.6 PPG, 2.1 RPG
Sr. G 12 Brecli Honner (5-9, Harrisburg, S.D.) 2.2 PPG, 1.6 RPG

NORTHERN STATE
Projected Starters
Gr. PG 3 Rianna Fillipi  (5-8, Lennox, S.D.) 13.6 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 5.4 APG
Jr. SG 4 Morgan Fiedler (5-8, Aberdeen, S.D.) 6.4 PPG, 2.1 RPG
Sr. 3G 23 Alayna Benike (5-11, Castlewood, S.D.) 8.0 PPG, 6.3 RPG
Gr. SF 34 Michaela Jewett (6-0, Brookings, S.D.) 13.0 PPG, 8.9 RPG
Jr. PF 2 Madelyn Bragg (6-3, Aberdeen, S.D.) 17.1 PPG, 6.9 RPG
Bench
Jr. G 25 Izzy Moore (5-10, Sioux Falls, S.D.) 8.3 PPG, 3.8 RPG
Fr. F 12 Taylor Tool (6-1, Delano, Minn.) 1.6 PPG, 1.0 RPG

KEYS TO THE WEEKEND

Can Emma Miller become the all-time leading scorer at Minnesota Crookston still this season?

Can the Golden Eagles get strong production off the bench?

Can Nicole Hernandez be a big piece defensively?

Can the Golden Eagles make the Sanford Pentagon?

Who will step up this weekend?

Can Willow Thiel continue her strong string of games?