Women's Basketball | 2/24/2026 3:46:00 PM

• THE MINNESOTA CROOKSTON women's basketball team is making their third appearance in the NSIC Tournament in four years. The Golden Eagles are looking to advance to the Sanford Pentagon for the first time since 2016-17. Minnesota Crookston made three-consecutive appearances at the Sanford Pentagon from 2015-17. The Golden Eagles begin the NSIC Tournament at Southwest Minnesota State University Wednesday, February 25 at 6 p.m. Minnesota Crookston played the Mustangs in the first round of the NSIC Tournament in Mike Roysland's final game as head coach before retirement, falling 83-66 at the R/A Facility. If the Golden Eagles win Wednesday, they advance to face UMary Sunday, March 1 at 11 a.m. Minnesota Crookston has an 8-20 mark (7-15 NSIC). The Golden Eagles are the No. 12 seed in the NSIC Tournament. Minnesota Crookston is averaging 68.1 points, and allowing 76.3 points per tilt. They are shooting 40.8 percent from the field, 33.3 percent from beyond the arc, and 78.7 percent from the line. They are being outrebounded 40.1-32.8. They average 11.0 assists and 14.7 turnovers per game.

• HISTORIC CAREER. 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. Miller also closed out her conference career as the league's all-time leading scorer with a final tally of 1,692 points, which surpassed Brooke Olson of Minnesota Duluth for the all-time mark. Miller became the first Golden Eagle to surpass 2,000 points earlier this season, and also moved past Jamie Zelinsky for the all-time scoring mark. Miller enters the week with 2,210 career points. She comes into the game Wednesday averaging 19.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game. Miller is shooting 38.4 percent from the field, and 27.9 percent from beyond the arc. They are hitting at an 84.9 percent clip from the stripe.

• 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 10.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per game. Westby's mark of 73 blocks in a season, is eight blocks from surpassing Nicole Hernandez's single-season blocks mark set last season. Westby is shooting 42.5 percent from the field, and 36.9 percent from beyond the arc. She had 20 points against Minot State December 13, and 21 versus Jamestown December 17 for her best stretch of games.

• 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 has been one of the most
consistent performers for Minnesota Crookston in 2025-26. She has 16 games with double-digit scoring. Klejeski has made a major impact at the end of the season. The junior has 10-consecutive double-digit scoring outings entering Wednesday. She is averaging 14.8 points per game in the last 10 tilts. Klejeski is coming off 17 points against Bemidji State. She notched 21 against Northern State February 5, and completed the double-double with 13 boards. Klejeski is notching 12.5 points, and 6.1 boards per game. She is shooting 51.3 percent from the field, and 50.0 percent from beyond the arc. He is hitting at an 83.1 percent clip from the line.

• 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 10.6 points and 3.7 boards per game. Jenkins is shooting 41.6 percent from the field, and 36.0 percent from beyond the arc. Jenkins has been held to an average of 5.3 points per game in the last three. Against Northern State and Jamestown, she averaged 18.0 points per game and shot 13-of-22 from the field.

• 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 3.9 points and 3.4 boards per game. She is shooting 36.8 percent from the field, and 36.2 percent from beyond the arc. Winjum also has 45 steals this season. She is coming off six points last Saturday at Bemidji State.

• A LITTLE HOPE. Guard Hope Dudycha has played mostly off the bench this season. The 5-5 native of Austin, Minn., is averaging 4.8 points per game. She is shooting 38.5 percent from the field, and 39.1 percent from beyond the arc. Dudycha had 10 points against Jamestown, and notched eight points versus UMary and seven against Minnesota Duluth. She was held scoreless last Saturday against Bemidji State.

• ON THE ROAD. Minnesota Crookston is 3-10 on the road this season and 3-11 away from Lysaker Gymnasium. The Golden Eagles are looking for their fourth road victory. They have defeated Wayne State, Northern State, and Jamestown on the road during the 2025-26 season.

• CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT. The Golden Eagles are seeking their first NSIC Tournament win since 2017 when they took down Concordia-St. Paul 77-73 in St. Paul, Minn. Minnesota Crookston also had wins in 2015 and 2016, against Concordia-St. Paul and Minnesota State respectively. Since 2017 they have lost in the first round to Wayne State (2018), Sioux Falls (2019), Minnesota State (2020), Southwest Minnesota State (2023), and Sioux Falls (2025).

• AGAINST SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA STATE.  Minnesota Crookston has lost their last seven games against the Mustangs. Their last victory came with a 64-53 result in Crookston January 31, 2020. The last win Minnesota Crookston had at the R/A Facility came with a 65-61 win January 12, 2018. The Golden Eagles are 13-23 all-time against the Mustangs. They had a three-game win streak from 2013-16 over SMSU.

• AGAINST UMARY. Minnesota Crookston is 10-27 all-time against UMary. The Marauders have captured the last six wins in the series. The Golden Eagles last win came at home over UMary December 31, 2022 with a 78-64 win.

SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA STATE. The Mustangs come into the week with a 16-11 (14-8 NSIC) mark. Southwest
Minnesota State ended the regular season with wins over Augustana and Wayne State. The Mustangs are averaging 72.0 points per game, and allowing 69.1 points per tilt. They are shooting 43.9 percent from beyond the arc, 34.9 percent from behind the three-point line, and 80.7 percent from the line. They are outrebounding squads 37.3-32.5. They are tallying 13.5 assists to 16.7 turnovers per game.

ALL ABOUT AUDREY.  Audrey Swanson, a 5-11 forward, comes in averaging 17.9 points and 7.9 rebounds per game. She has a team-high 70 assists, for 2.7 assists per game. Swanson is shooting 43.7 percent from the field, and 39.3 percent from beyond the arc. She has an 81.9 percentage from the line. Swanson has scored in double figures in 25-of-26 games this season. She has 12 games with 20 or more points, including 31 against St. Cloud State.

MAKE IT ABOUT MAENKE. Nicole Maenke comes into Wednesday averaging 14.0 points per game, and has 69 assists for 2.6 assists per game. Maenke is shooting 43.3 percent from the field, and 33.5 percent from beyond the arc. She is excellent from the stripe, hitting at a 92.4 percent clip this season. Maenke is coming off 11 points against Wayne State, and had 16 points February 12 versus Winona State.

GET IT TO GERADS. Kylan Gerads had 20 points against Augustana, and 10 versus Wayne State. Gerads is averaging 12.8 points and 6.3 boards per game. She is a 44.6 percent shooter, and 36.4 percent three-point shooter. She will be a key player this week.

UMARY. If the Golden Eagles win Wednesday, they will play UMary at the Sanford Pentagon. The Marauders enter the week with a 22-9 (15-7 NSIC) record. They lost last Saturday to Jamestown. Going into the loss, they had wins over Minnesota Crookston and Northern State. UMary is averaging 76.4 points per game, and allowing 68.9 points per tilt to their foes. They are shooting 43.7 percent from the field, 35.0 percent from beyond the arc, and 79.6 percent from the line. They are outrebounding teams 38.8-35.8, and averaging 16.0 assists to 14.7 turnovers per game.

WHAT IS KINNEBREWING. Bergan Kinnebrew leads the way for the Marauders, averaging 22.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game. Kinnebrew is shooting 45.3 percent from the field, and 32.1 percent from beyond the arc. She is shooting 88.8 percent from the stripe on an astonishing 258 free throws for 8.9 free throws per game.

UNDLIN UNDERNEATH. Allison Undlin, a 6-3 center, guides the post for UMary. She is averaging 15.8 points and 8.3 boards per game. Undlin is shooting an impressive 61.1 percent from the field, and is hitting 46.0 percent of three-point shots. Undlin has scored in double figures in all but two games this season.

JAENKE FROM TREY. Emily Jaenke has been amazing against the Golden Eagles this season. In two tilts against Minnesota Crookston, she is averaging 21.5 points per game, and shooting 13-of-20 from beyond the arc for 65.0 percent. She has been impressive and will be a key factor if the Golden Eagles match up with the Marauders again.  


WEEKLY SNAPSHOT

MINNESOTA CROOKSTON
Projected Starters
Sr. PG 1 Emma Miller (5-1, Albertville, Minn.) 19.5 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 3.1 APG
So. SG 10 Halle Winjum (5-6, Crookston, Minn.) 3.9 PPG, 3.4 RPG
R-Jr. 3G 30 Riley Jenkins (5-10, Galesburg, Ill.) 10.6 PPG, 3.7 RPG
Fr. SF 12 Anna Westby (5-11, Eveleth, Minn.) 10.1 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 2.6 BPG
Jr. PF 14 Rayna Klejeski (6-0, Barnum, Minn.) 12.5 PPG, 6.1 RPG
Top Bench Contributors
R-Jr. G 2 Hope Dudycha (5-5, Austin, Minn.) 4.8 PPG, 1.4 RPG
Sr. G 11 Natalie Mikrot (5-6, Willow River, Minn.) 3.3 PPG, 1.0 RPG
So. G/F 20 Brynlea Mahlen (5-9, Fosston, Minn.) 0.9 PPG, 1.7 RPG

SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA STATE
Projected Starters
So. PG 4 Nicole Maenke (5-10, Shakopee, Minn.) 14.0 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 2.6 APG
Sr. SG 22 Audrey Swanson (5-11, Waconia, Minn.) 17.9 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 2.7 APG
So. SF 33 Kylan Gerads (5-11, Albany, Minn.) 12.8 PPG, 6.3 RPG
Sr. PF 1 Maddie Thorfinnson (6-0, Glenwood, Minn.) 4.3 PPG, 2.4 RPG
Sr. C 35 Kennadi Buccholz (6-0, De Smet, S.D.) 1.5 PPG, 1.1 RPG
Top Bench Contributors
Jr. F 34 Natalie Nielsen (6-3, Akron, Iowa) 13.2 PPG, 8.7 RPG
Jr. G 10 Brynn Busse (5-6, Winthrop, Minn.) 4.7 PPG, 1.9 RPG
Fr. G 23 Allie Haabala (5-6, Alexandria, Minn. 3.3 PPG, 1.0 RPG
So. F 5 Elizabeth Wagner (6-0, Luverne, Minn.) 2.9 PPG, 3.1 RPG

UMARY
Projected Starters
Jr. PG 13 Bergan Kinnebrew (5-11, Bismarck, N.D.) 22.2 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 3.8 APG
So. SG 1 Eden Fridley (5-10, Bismarck, N.D.) 5.8 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 3.8 APG
Jr. 3G 11 Chloe Pfau (5-11, West Fargo, N.D.) 9.4 PPG, 5.4 RPG
Sr. SF 22 Cassie Erickson (6-1, Grafton, N.D.) 4.4 PPG, 2.1 RPG
R-So. PF 5 Allison Undlin (6-3, Mohall, N.D.) 15.8 PPG, 8.3 RPG
Top Bench Contributors
R-So. G 21 Anna Lenzen (5-10, Chaska, Minn.) 9.0 PPG, 4.6 RPG
R-So. G 23 Emily Jaenke (5-10, Appleton, Wis.) 7.5 PPG, 2.1 RPG



KEYS TO THE WEEKEND

- Can the Golden Eagles pick up their first NSIC Tournament win since 2017?

- Can the Golden Eagles slow down the Mustangs?

- Can Rayna Klejeski continue to have strong production in the post?

- Will Emma Miller have a strong game for Minnesota Crookston?

- Who will step up off the bench?

- Can the Golden Eagles stay out of foul trouble?

GAMEDAY

MINNESOTA CROOKSTON AT SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA STATE
DATE: Wednesday, February 25
TIME: 6:00 p.m.
SITE: Marshall, Minn.
ARENA: R/A Facility
LIVE STATS: https://smsumustangs.com/sidearmstats/wbball/summary
LIVE VIDEO: https://nsicnetwork.com/smsumustangs/
TWITTER: @UMNCrookstonATH/@UMNCrookstonWBB

MINNESOTA CROOKSTON AT UMARY
DATE: Sunday, March 1 (if win)
TIME: 11 a.m.
SITE: Sioux Falls, S.D.
ARENA: Sanford Pentagon
LIVE STATS: https://northernsun.org/sidearmstats/wbball/summary
LIVE VIDEO: https://midcosports.com/streaming/
TWITTER: @UMNCrookstonATH/@UMNCrookstonWBB