Women's Basketball | 1/28/2026 1:18:00 PM

• THE MINNESOTA CROOKSTON women's basketball team returns home after a three-game road stand to host No. 2 Minnesota State and St. Cloud State. The Golden Eagles are trying to make a push for the NSIC Tournament. They currently are 5-15 (4-10 NSIC) and are in a three-way tie with Wayne State and Augustana for 13th in the overall standings. The top 12 teams make it to the NSIC Tournament. They currently are within a game of Northern State, Bemidji State, and St. Cloud State. The Golden Eagles are looking to rebound off losses to Sioux Falls and Southwest Minnesota State. Minnesota Crookston is averaging 68.3 points per game, and allowing 77.5 to their foes. They come in shooting 40.3 percent from the field, 34.4 percent from beyond the arc, and 78.0 percent from the line. The Golden Eagles are being outrebounded 40.3-32.9. They are tallying 11.2 assists to 14.1 turnovers per game.

• NUMBER 2 ON THE CHARTS. 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 earlier this season. She is now moving up the charts in the NSIC record books. Miller moved her way to number two on the charts in the NSIC, surpassing Concordia-St. Paul's Anna Schmitt. Miller has 1,538 points in conference play. She needs 78 points to surpass UMD's Brooke Olson for the scoring record. Olson had 1,615 points in five seasons, including the COVID season. Miller needs to averaged 9.6 points per game or more in the final eight games of the 2025-26 regular season. In addition, Miller became the first player in school history to surpass the 2,000 point milestone, accomplishing the mark against Augustana. She has 2,056 points in her career. Miller comes in averaging 19.6 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game. Her assists number is the highest it has ever been. She is shooting 38.9 percent from the field, 26.8 percent from deep, and 82.8 percent from the line.

• HOPE OFF THE BENCH. Hope Dudycha has been a key player for the Golden Eagles over her time at Minnesota Crookston. She had a strong game off the bench against Sioux Falls last Friday. Dudycha notched 11 points on 4-of-6 from the field, and 2-of-4 from beyond the arc. She comes in averaging 4.7 points per game. Dudycha is shooting 36.4 percent from the field, and 39.1 percent from beyond the arc. Dudycha's best game came with 16 points versus Bemidji State.

• WATCH OUT FOR WESTBY. Anna Westby, a freshman from Eveleth, Minn., has been a key player for the Golden Eagles, and has really come into her own this season. Westby is a factor both offensively and defensively. She comes in tallying 10.8 points and 4.7 boards per game. Westby notched 13 games with double-digit scoring. Westby tallied 21 points against Jamestown, and had 20 versus Minot State. Westby is averaging 10.8 points and 4.7 boards per game. She comes in with 48 blocked shots in her first season with 2.4 blocks per game. Westby needs 33 blocked shots to surpass Nicole Hernandez's
single-season block record.

• 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 enters the week averaging 11.5 points and 5.9 boards per game. Klejeski is shooting 49.1 percent from the field, and 56.3 percent from beyond the arc. She is
coming off a weekend where she averaged 14.5 points and 6.0 boards per tilt. Klejeski had 17 points versus Southwest Minnesota State.

• JENKINS JOTTINGS. Riley Jenkins, a 5-10 wing from Galesburg, Ill., was a All-NSIC Second Team selection last season, and continues to be an important player for the Golden Eagles during the 2025-26 season. Jenkins is averaging 10.7 points and 4.3 points per game. She is tallying 2.6 assists per game. Jenkins is shooting 39.1 percent from the field, and 34.7 percent from beyond the arc.

• EARNING HER STARTS. Sophomore guard Halle Winjum, a Crookston-native, is a player who gives high effort every time she is on the court and does a lot of the little things. Winjum comes in averaging 3.7 points and 3.2 boards per game. Winjum is shooting 38.2 percent from the field, and 40.6 percent from beyond the arc. She has started 11 games, and played in all 20 for the Golden Eagles. Winjum is coming off a strong game against Southwest Minnesota State with 11 points on 5-of-7 from the field.

• AT HOME. Minnesota Crookston has a 4-5 mark in nine games at home this season. The Golden Eagles are 3-2 in their last five games at Lysaker Gymnasium. Minnesota Crookston has wins over Augustana, Jamestown, and Northern State.

• CONFERENCE PLAY. The Golden Eagles are 4-10 in conference play. Minnesota Crookston went 7-15 in NSIC play last season. The Golden Eagles have eight conference games remaining in the 2025-26 schedule.

• AGAINST MINNESOTA STATE.  Minnesota State has rattled off nine wins in a row in the series dating back to wins over the Mavericks in January and February 2016. The Mavericks won last season's game in Mankato 95-56. The closest game in recent history came with a 64-54 loss in Mankato January 26, 2018.

• AGAINST ST. CLOUD STATE. The Huskies have won nine-consecutive games in the series. Minnesota Crookston earned a 79-72 win over St. Cloud State February 22, 2020 in Crookston. The Golden Eagles have won six times in Crookston against the Huskies and have eight all-time wins in the series. 

MINNESOTA STATE. Minnesota State enters the week with a 20-0 (14-0 NSIC) mark. The Mavericks are currently ranked No. 2 in the country. The Mavericks are a high-scoring team, averaging 95.6 points per game. In addition, they are strong defensively as they force a lot of turnovers and limit teams to 65.9 points per tilt. Minnesota State forces 34.1 turnovers per game from their foes, including 21.5 steals per game. The Mavericks are scoring 37.3 points per game off turnovers. They shoot 46.9 percent from the field, 34.3 percent from beyond the arc, and 76.6 percent from the stripe. They are outrebounding foes 40.3-36.9 this season.

GIVE IT UP FOR BREMER! Natalie Bremer, a senior from Lake City, Minn., has been a stalwart both offensively and defensively in her career for the Mavericks. Bremer has 2,110 career points, with 1,383 in NSIC play. She currently ranks sixth in scoring all-time in the NSIC. Bremer is eight points away from surpassing her former teammate Joey Batt for fifth all-time. In addition, Bremer has 299 career steals. She comes into Friday notching 2.45 steals per game. As a senior, Bremer is averaging 21.9 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. She is hitting at an impressive 51.5 percent clip from the field, and 42.4 percent from beyond the arc. Bremer was a WBCA All-American Honorable Mention selection last season.

HERZIG ON THE STEAL. Hannah Herzig has been a defensive ace for the Mavericks this season. She leads the squad with 63 steals in 2025-26, averaging 3.15 steals per game. Herzig has started all 20 games, and is averaging 7.1 points per game. She is shooting 42.6 percent from the field, and 30.4 percent from beyond the arc. Her top performance defensively came with eight steals versus Colorado School of Mines. She is coming off 14 points against Jamestown January 24.

IT IS SCHWEIM. Mackenzie Schweim, a senior from Mankato, Minn., has been a big factor for the Mavericks this season. Schweim is tallying 11.0 points and 4.2 rebounds per game. In addition, she has 35 steals as senior. Schweim is shooting 46.0 percent from the field, and 37.7 percent from beyond the arc. Schweim has a pair of 17-point games this season, with 17 against St. Cloud State January 3 and 17 versus Minnesota Duluth January 16.

ST. CLOUD STATE. The Huskies come into the weekend with an 8-11 (5-9 NSIC) record. St. Cloud State is 1-7 away from Halenbeck Hall this season. The Huskies had wins over Jamestown and Northern State last weekend. St. Cloud State has a narrow scoring margin, averaging 71.2 points per game and allowing 70.1 to their foes. They are shooting 41.7 percent from the field, 33.0 percent from beyond the arc, and 77.5 percent from the stripe. St. Cloud State is outrebounding squads 39.9-35.2 this season. They are notching 18.1 assists per game to 17.8 turnovers per tilt.

GET IT TO JADA. Jada Eggebrecht is the top scorer for the Huskies, notching 14.1 points per game. She is a dangerous three-point threat at 36.5 percent from beyond the arc. Eggebrecht is shooting 43.4 percent from the field. Eggebrecht notched 29 points against Jamestown January 23.

A PAIR OF KOTTKES. Twins Rachel and Kristi Kottke from Buffalo Lake, Minn., both have a major impact for the Huskies. Rachel Kottke comes in averaging 8.2 points, and leads the team with 5.5 rebounds per game. Rachel is shooting 40.2 percent from the field, and 33.3 percent from beyond the arc and has started all 19 games. Krisi has come off the bench in all 19 games, notching 6.7 points per game. She is shooting 43.6 percent from the field, and 32.6 percent from distance.

O'REILLY OFF THE BENCH. Abigail O'Reilly has come mostly off the bench this season, starting only six games and playing in all 19 for St. Cloud State. She is averaging 8.6 points, and 5.2 boards per game. O'Reilly is shooting 45.0 percent from the field, and has not taken a single three-point shot. 


WEEKLY SNAPSHOT

MINNESOTA CROOKSTON
Projected Starters
Sr. PG 1 Emma Miller (5-1, Albertville, Minn.) 19.9 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 3.7 APG
So. SG 10 Halle Winjum (5-6, Crookston, Minn.) 3.5 PPG, 3.2 RPG
R-Jr. 3G 30 Riley Jenkins (5-10, Galesburg, Ill.) 11.3 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 2.4 APG
Fr. SF 12 Anna Westby (5-11, Eveleth, Minn.) 11.2 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 2.4 BPG
Jr. PF 14 Rayna Klejeski (6-0, Barnum, Minn.) 11.2 PPG, 5.8 RPG
Top Bench Contributors
R-Jr. G 2 Hope Dudycha (5-5, Austin, Minn.) 4.6 PPG, 1.2 RPG
Sr. G 11 Natalie Mikrot (5-6, Willow River, Minn.) 3.5 PPG, 1.0 RPG
Jr. F 4 Tayden Hanks (5-11, Los Lunas, N.M.) 2.1 PPG, 1.4 RPG
So. G/F 20 Brynlea Mahlen (5-9, Fosston, Minn.) 0.9 PPG, 1.5 RPG

MINNESOTA STATE
Projected Starters
Sr. PG 2 Adeline Kent (5-7, Becker, Minn.) 6.0 PPG, 2.4 APG
Sr. SG 5 Natalie Bremer (5-11, Lake City, Minn.) 21.9 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 2.5 SPG
Sr. 3G 20 Mackenzie Schweim (5-10, Mankato, Minn.) 11.0 PPG, 4.2 RPG
Sr. SF 20 Hannah Herzig (6-0, Lino Lakes, Minn.) 7.1 PPG, 3.9 APG, 3.2 SPG
Sr. PF 33 Ava Stier (5-11, Waconia, Minn.) 8.8 PPG, 5.4 RPG
Top Bench Contributors
So. G 10 Rhyan Holmgren5-9, St. Peter, Minn.) 8.7 PPG, 3.4 RPG
Fr. G 23 Haylee Stokes (5-6, Estherville, Iowa) 7.7 PPG, 2.2 SPG
So. F 13 Lucy Leininger (5-11, Germantown, Wis.) 5.5 PPG, 1.9 RPG
So. G/F 3 Shantell Harden (6-0, St. Louis Park, Minn.) 3.2 PPG, 2.1 RPG
So. F 35 Mallory Czinano (6-0, Watertown, Minn.) 3.1 PPG, 2.8 RPG

ST. CLOUD STATE
Projected Starters
So. G 1 Rachel Kottke (5-8, Buffalo Lake, Minn.) 8.2 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 3.6 APG
So. G 4 Reagan Briggs (5-8, Verona, Wis.) 7.0 PPG, 4.0 RPG
Sr. 3G 11 Jada Eggebrecht (5-9, Phillips, Wis.) 14.1 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 2.1 APG
Jr. SF 24 Alana Zarneke (6-1, Appleton, Wis.) 11.5 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 2.4 APG
Jr. PF 12 Paige Lambe (6-2, Verona, Wis.) 7.4 PPG, 2.6 RPG
Top Bench Contributors
Jr. F 2 Abigail O'Reilly (6-1, Elgin, Minn.) 8.6 PPG, 5.2 RPG
So. G 3 Kristi Kottke (5-8, Buffalo Lake, Minn.) 6.7 PPG, 6.1 RPG
R-Jr. F 23 Brynn Olson (5-11, Rice Lake, Wis.) 4.1 PPG, 2.1 RPG
Sr. G 21 C.J. Adamson (5-9, Rocheter, Minn.) 2.9 PPG, 2.5 RPG

GAMEDAY

#2 MINNESOTA STATE AT MINNESOTA CROOKSTON
DATE: Friday, January 30
TIME: 5:30 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

ST. CLOUD STATE AT MINNESOTA CROOKSTON
DATE: Saturday, January 31
TIME: 1:30 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

KEYS TO THE WEEKEND

- Can the Golden Eagles continue their strong play at home?

- Will Emma Miller continue to move up the charts in the NSIC?

- Who will step up off the bench?

- Can they break the press against
Minnesota State?

- Can the Golden Eagles turn over the opposition?