For Immediate Release
Monday, November 28, 2016
NSIC Media Relations
Media Packet (PDF)


NSIC Women's Basketball Players of the Week

NSIC North Division Player of the Week
#2 Cassidy Thorson
(G, 5-11, Jr., West Fargo, N.D./West Fargo HS)
MSU Moorhead
- Averaged 16.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game to help MSUM to 2-0 mark
- Shot 50 percent (10-of-20) from the field, including 42.9 percent (6-of-14) from three-point range
- Had 15 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals in 65-51 win over VCSU on Wednesday
- Followed up with a season-high 18 points and seven rebounds in 51-44 win at Northern State
- Has scored in double figures in all five games this season

NSIC South Division Player of the Week
#50 Sam Knecht
(C, 6-2, Sr., Platte, S.D. / Aberdeen Central HS)
Sioux Falls
- Averaged a double-double while leading USF to two double-digit victories
- Averaged 16.0 points, 11.0 rebounds and 5.0 blocked shots in two games
- Posted third double-double of the season with 16 points and 13 rebounds against Dakota State
- Blocked five shots and recorded four steals in the win over DSU
- Scored 16 points and grabbed 9 rebounds, narrowly missing a double-double, in win over SMSU
- Again, blocked five shots and recorded two steals
- Has scored 16 or more points in four of USF’s five games this season
- Averaging a double-double for the season with 16.0 points and 10.6 rebounds per game

Augustana University Vikings

Last Week	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W 79-73 vs WSC W 92-45 vs Peru State W83-57 vs CSM	6-2, 1-0 South	W5	3rd Overall, 2nd South
Team Notes
- Augustana is on a 5-game win streak after beating College of Saint Mary and Peru State over the weekend - The Vikings opened NSIC play last Tuesday with a 79-73 win over Wayne State - Augustana has completed their non-conference schedule and will play CSP and MSU this weekend
Top Performer(s)
- Logan O’Farrell averaged 15 points and 5 rebounds - Sydney Rome set a career-high against Wayne State with 23 points - Emily Wimmer recorded her first three career blocks against Peru State - Paige Peterson led the Vikings in rebounds twice with 7
Up Next
Friday, Dec. 2 vs Concordia-St. Paul - 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3 vs Minnesota State - 4 p.m.

Bemidji State University Beavers

Last Week	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W 85-31 vs Crown	3-1, 0-0 NSIC	W1	14th Overall, 8th North
Team Notes
- Bemidji State closed its non-conference schedule with an 85-31 win versus Crown College - The Beavers set season highs with 51.5 percent shooting from the field and 45 rebounds - BSU turned 29 Crown turnovers into 41 points
Top Performer(s)
- Junior center Sierra Senske neared a double-double with 22 points and nine rebounds to lead the team in each category - Senior guard Tatum Sheley followed as the only other player in double figure scoring with 13 points
Up Next
Friday, Dec. 2 at Minnesota Duluth – 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3 at St. Cloud State – 4 p.m.

Concordia University, St. Paul Golden Bears

Last Week – 2-0	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W 55-52 vs Concordia-Portland W 82-61 vs Jamestown	4-2, 0-0 NSIC	W1	7th Overall, 5th South
Team Notes
- Hosted the Radisson Hotel MSP North Classic over the weekend and went 2-0 - Struggled shooting against Concordia-Portland but forced 25 turnovers and went 20-27 from the free-throw line - Four players reached double-digits in win against CUP - Outscored Jamestown 25-7 in the second quarter to take an 18 point lead into halftime - Five players reached double figures and the team went 18-22 from the free-throw line - Out rebounded UJ 43-28
Top Performer(s)
- Anna Schmitt averaged 14.5 points per game (10 vs CUP ; 19 vs UJ), 5 assists per game (3 vs CUP ; 7 vs UJ) over the weekend. Went 10-11 from the free-throw line against Jamestown - Mishayla Jones scored 12 points in each game while averaging 4 assists per game in the Golden Bears’ two wins. Both players named All-Tournament Team
Up Next
Friday, Dec. 2 at Augustana – 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3 at Wayne State – 4 p.m.

University of Mary Marauders

Last Week	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W 62-36 vs. YCC W 67-54 vs. Minot State	6-3, 1-0 NSIC	W5	12th Overall, 4th North
Team Notes
-Outscored Yellowstone Christian College 27-2 in the first quarter en route to a 62-36 victory - Scored 14 second chance points to YCC’s zero and won the bench points category, 22-9 -Shot 42 percent from the field and held Minot State to 29 percent from the floor and 26 percent from the free throw line - Scored 44 points in the paint against the Beavers and 30 points in the paint against YCC - The Marauders have now won five straight games and haven’t lost since Nov. 11
Top Performer(s)
- Gabbie Bohl scored a career-high 29 points in 24 minutes against Minot State and averaged 20.5 points per game for the week. She also went 17-of-23 from the floor in those two games  - Hannah Larson averaged 10.5 points per game, 11 rebounds per game, 4.5 assists per game and 5.5 blocks per game for the week
Up Next
Friday, Dec. 2 at MSU Moorhead – 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3 at Northern State - 4 p.m.

University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles

Last Week	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
L 86-67 ASU, L 70-57 at SMU	0-4, 0-0 NSIC	L4	11th Overall, 6th North
Team Notes
- Minnesota Crookston struggled from the field going 32.8 percent on the weekend and 22.4 percent from beyond the arc - The Golden Eagles made a fourth quarter comeback against St. Mary’s Saturday but would ultimately fall short - UMC shot 38.3 percent from the field and 29.2 percent from beyond the arc against No. 15 Angelo State - The Golden Eagles shot 27.1 percent from the field and 17.6 percent from beyond the arc versus Saint Mary’s - UMC out-scored Saint Mary’s 25-23 in the fourth quarter
Top Performer(s)
- Alison Hughes averaged 18.5 points on 11-of-25 from the field for 44.0 percent. She 6-of-15 for 40.0 percent from beyond the arc and 9-of-9 from the charity stripe - Isieoma Odor averaged 13.5 points and 8.5 rebounds over the weekend
Up Next
Friday, Dec. 2  at St. Cloud State – 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3  at Minnesota Duluth – 4 p.m.

University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs

Last Week	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
L 55-69 at NMU, W 65-57 at LSSU, L 65-84 at SCSU	1-3, 0-1 NSIC	L1	10th Overall, 5th North
Team Notes
- Defeated Lake Superior State for the first win of the season - Committed just 35 turnovers while forcing opponents to 51 in three games - Blocked 11 shots and grabbed 29 steals on the week
Top Performer(s)
- Sammy Kozlowski averaged 13.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game - Taylor Meyer netted 32 points while shooting 42.3% from the field - Kenzie Kane shot 50% from the three point line (4-8)
Up Next
Frdiay, Dec. 2 vs Bemidji State – 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3 vs Minnesota Crookston - 4 p.m.

Minnesota State University, Mankato Mavericks

Last Week – 1-0	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W71-67 vs. Black Hills State	3-0, 0-0 NSIC	W3	6th Overall, 4th South
Team Notes
- Picked up a 71-67 road win at Black Hills State - The Mavericks posted a 60.0 three point percentage (9-15) - Minnesota State is pulling down 44.0 rebounds per game in comparison to their opponents 31.7 - The Mavericks are averaging 16.0 assists per game - First 3-0 Start since the 2014-15 season
Top Performer(s)
- Senior Sammie Delzotto led the Mavericks posting a game-high 19 points - Sophomore Monica Muth contributed a team-best eight rebounds and added 10 points - Senior Britney Scherber added a team-leading five assists and netted 13 points
Up Next Friday, Dec. 2 at Wayne State – 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3 at Augustana – 4 p.m.

Minnesota State University Moorhead Dragons

Last Week	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W, 65-51 vs. VCSU W 51-44 vs. NSU	4-1, 1-0 NSIC	W4	5th Overall, 2nd NSIC North
Team Notes
- Dragons opened week with 65-51 nonconference win over Valley City State on Wednesday - Junior G Jacky Volkert led the way with 16 points - Dragons followed with 51-44 NSIC-opening win at Northern State on Saturday - Cassidy Thorson had 18 points to lead Dragons, who won in Aberdeen for the first time since Dec. 1, 2012 - Junior F Drew Sannes has recorded four straight double-doubles -- MSUM has held four straight opponents to 51 points or less, including three opponents to 44 points or less
Top Performer(s)
- Junior G Cassidy Thorson averaged 16.5 points and 6.0 rebounds for the week while shooting 50 percent (10-for-20) from the field - Junior F Drew Sannes averaged a double-double for the week at 14.0 points and 10.5 rebounds per game - Freshman F Megan Hintz scored a career-high 13 points in win over Northern and averaged 7.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game - Sophomore G Jacky Volkert had a season-high 16 points in win over Valley City State - Senior G Natalie Van Wyhe averaged 4.0 assists per game for the week
Up Next
Friday, Dec. 2 vs. UMary - 6 p.m.

Minot State University Beavers

Last Week	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W 82-62 vs. Mayville L 54-67 at UMary	2-5, 0-1 NSIC	L1	13th Overall, 7th North
Team Notes
- Finished the nonconference schedule with a big win over Mayville State at home, outscoring the Comets 31-16 in the third quarter to take a 82-62 win - Had four players in double figures and two more hit for at least eight points in the win - Dropped a 67-54 decision at the University of Mary to open Northern Sun play Saturday - Struggled shooting throughout the game, but hit just 23.5 percent in the first half and 28.8 for the game
Top Performer(s)
- Kari Clements had a solid offensive game at the University of Mary, scoring a team-high 20 points on 6-of-10 shooting and added three steals and two rebounds - Kori Eurich was steady all week, finished with 27 points, 10 rebounds, three steals and an assist in two games, hitting 4 of 9 3-pointers - Diondra Denton scored a combined 29 points with 20 coming against Mayville State along with 13 rebounds, three assists, two steals and a blocked shot
Up Next
Friday, Dec. 2 at Northern State – 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3 at MSU Moorhead – 4 p.m.

Northern State University Wolves

Last Week	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W 71-45 at UNK L 51-44 vs. MSUM	4-1, 0-1 NSIC	L1	2nd Overall, 1st North
Team Notes
- Defeated Nebraska Kearney on the road in their largest scoring margin of the season with a 26 points advantage - As a unit, NSU shot 56.9 percent from the floor, 50.0 percent from the three point arc and 70.0 percent from the foul line versus the Lopers - Northern State was outrebounded by MSUM in the NSIC opener for the first time this season
Top Performer(s)
- The Wolves had nine different players score against UNK, led by junior Gabby Laimer with 16 points - Senior Paige Waytashek recorded a season-high 13 points and a career-high eight rebounds against MSU Moorhead
Up Next
Friday, November 2nd vs. Minot State - 6 p.m. Saturday, November 3rd vs. U-Mary - 4 p.m.

University of Sioux Falls Cougars

Last Week	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W 70-56 vs DSU W 75-40 vs SMSU	5-0, 1-0 NSIC	W5	9th Overall, 6th South
Team Notes
- Pushed winning streak to five games with two double-digit victories, including an NSIC opening win - Four Cougars scored in double figures in 70-56 win over Dakota State - USF handed out 19 assists and turned 18 turnovers into 20 points - Sioux Falls opened NSIC play with a 75-40 win over SMSU - Seven different Cougars scored six points or more and USF handed out a season-high 22 assists
Top Performer(s)
- Sam Knecht averaged a double-double for the second straight week, scoring 32 total points and grabbing 22 total rebounds - Madi Robson recorded her first career double-double with 11 points and 10 assists against DSU - Robson finished the week with 17 points and 18 assists - Andi Mataloni scored a career-high 16 points in win at SMSU, hitting 5-of-6 threes
Up Next
Friday, Dec. 4 at Winona State – 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5 at Upper Iowa – 4 p.m.

Southwest Minnesota State University

Last Week	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
L 75-40 vs USF	0-5, 0-1 NSIC	L5	15th Overall, 8th South
Team Notes
- Averaging 32.8 total rebounds per game through first five games - Put up 22 points in the paint in loss to USF - All 12 players on the roster saw the floor against Sioux Falls
Top Performer(s)
- Sarah Buysse led the team in scoring in her season debut with 14 points, hitting 8-of-11 free throws - Caleigh Rodning went 4-of-7 from the field with 12 points and three rebounds versus USF - Taylor Holicky led SMSU with 10 rebounds
Up Next
Friday, Dec. 2 at Upper Iowa - 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3 at Winona State - 4 p.m.

St. Cloud State University Huskies

Last Week – 1-0	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W 84-65 vs UMD	3-2, 1-0 NSIC	W2	8th Overall, 3rd North
Team Notes
- Third straight season that SCSU has opened NSIC play with win over Duluth - Huskies haven’t lost to Duluth since 12/20/14 - Nov. 26th marked the most points that SCSU has put up against Duluth since the 2007-08 season when they scored 86 - The Huskies shot 32-69 (46.4%) from inside the arch, 10-26 (38.5%) from the field, and 10-12 (83.3%) from the line - Scored 22 in the paint, 17 on second chances, and 16 off turnovers - Had 42 rebounds compared to the Bulldogs’ 33
Top Performer(s)
- Chelsea Nooker: 24 points, 10-17 from inside, 2-3 from field, 2-2 at line - Betsey MacDonald: 22 points, 9-20 from inside, 4-10 from field - Amanda Christianson: 16 points, 5-10 from inside, 2-5 from field, 4-4 at line
Up Next
Frdiay, Dec. 2 vs Minnesota Crookston - 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3 vs Bemidji State - 4 p.m.

Upper Iowa University Peacocks

Last Week	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
L 78-61 at #16 WSU	0-5, 0-1 NSIC	L5	16th Overall, 7th South
Team Notes
- Upper Iowa held a two-point lead at halftime, 32-30, but the team was outscored by the #16 Winona State Warriors 48-29 in the second half - WSU converted nearly 70% from the field in the final two quarters to pull away for the win - Trailing 26-20 with 7:00 remaining in the half, UIU closed the half with a 12-4 run, highlighted by eight points from Blair Klostermann in that span, to grab their halftime lead
Top Performer(s)
- Klostermann led the way with 19 points on 6-15 shooting, and 7 of those points came from the free throw line - Eight different Peacocks scored on the day, including Kari Fitzpatrick's 9 points and 3 rebounds - Ashley Ray and Karlee Grabau chipped in with 7 points apiece, while Sam Ofstad totaled 6 points and 2 assists
Up Next
Friday, Dec. 2 vs. Southwest Minnesota State - 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3  vs. Sioux Falls -  4 p.m.

Wayne State College Wildcats

Last Week 2-1	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
L 79-73 at AUGIE W 65-56 vs. UJ W 79-62 vs. CUP	5-1, 0-1 NSIC	W2	4th Overall, 3rd South
Team Notes
- WSC has had better shooting percentage than opponent in all six games this season - WSC is 102-9 at home over the last eight seasons-
Top Performer(s)
- Senior forward Anna Martensen scored double figures in all three games, averaging team-high 15.7 points, 8.7 rebounds and 4.3 steals per game - Junior center Paige Ballinger scored season-high 22 points vs. Augustana - Sophomore reserve forward Andrea Larson scored career-high 16 points vs. Jamestown
Up Next
Friday, December 2 vs. Minnesota State - 6 p.m. Saturday, December 3 vs. Concordia-St. Paul - 4 p.m.

Winona State University Warriors

Last Week	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W 68-40 vs CUW W 78-61 vs UIU	6-1, 1-0 NSIC	W6	1st Overall, 1st South
Team Notes
- Won their sixth straight game - Three players averaged in double figures on the week - Shot 49.6% from the field - 11-22 as a team from three - Forced 31 turnovers
Top Performer(s)
- Tara Roelofs averaged 15.5 points per game - Jenny Tuttle averaged 10.5 points per game - Hannah McGlone averaged 10 points per game - Roelofs led the team with 7 assists - Kayla Timmerman had nine blocks on the weekend
Up Next
Friday, Dec. 2 vs Sioux Falls - 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3 vs SMSU - 4 p.m.