For Immediate Release
Monday, December 12, 2016
NSIC Media Relations
Media Packet (PDF)


NSIC North Division Player of the Week
#51 Miranda Ristau (C, 6-2, Jr., Warner, S.D. / Warner HS)
Northern State
- Tallied a career-high 27 points in a 81-72 win at Bemidji State
- Added 19 points in a 78-65 win at UMC
- Shot 61.1 % after going 13-20 versus the BSU and 9-16 against UMC
- Recorded 15 rebounds, two assists, two blocks and one steal against the two opponents
- Ranks second on her team with an average of 14.7 points per game and leads the team with 7.4 rebounds each game
- Within the NSIC, the junior is 13th in scoring, fifth in rebounds and sixth in blocked shots

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 with 18.0 points and 15.0 rebounds per game in two wins
- Posted her second 20-point game of the season, eighth of her career, with game-high 20 points in a 74-51 win over SCSU
- With her first points of the game, surpassed 1,000 points in her career, the 18th player at USF to achieve the milestone
- Added 12 rebounds against SCSU for her fourth double-double of the season
- Recorded a career-high 18 rebounds, the most in USF’s Division II history, in 66-47 win over UMD
- Scored 18 points for her fifth double-double of the season and 18th of her career
- With two more double-digit scoring games, has scored 10-or-more in eight of USF’s nine games this season
- Named NSIC Player of the Week for the second time this season (11/28/16)
 

Augustana University Vikings

Last Week	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W 85-64 at  Minot State W 88-54 at U-Mary	10-2, 5-0 NSIC	W9	3rd Overall, 2nd South
Team Notes
- Augustana went 2-0 vs NSIC teams for the second week in a row - The Vikings averaged 86 ppg this past weekend while allowing just 59 - Augustana shot 40 percent from the 3-point line for the weekend and 48 percent from the field - They averaged 38 rebounds per game but were out rebounded by five per game - As a team they had 12 blocked shots on the weekend
Top Performer(s)
- Logan O’Farrell led the team in scoring averaging 15.5 ppg while also leading the team in rebounds with 12, assists with seven and blocked shots with five - Four Vikings averaged double-digit points: Logan (15.5), Naomi Rust (12.5), Lynsey Prosser (11.5) and Presley O’Farrell (10) - Shelby Selland averaged nine points and two rebounds - Paige Peterson averaged six boards per game
Up Next
Saturday, Dec. 17 at Wayne State - 6 p.m.

Bemidji State University Beavers

Last Week	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
L 81-72 vs NSU L 102-50 vs MSUM	3-5, 0-4 NSIC	L4	14th Overall, 8th North
Team Notes
- Bemidji State was taken down by Northern State, 81-72, and MSU Moorhead, 102-50 - BSU outshot NSU in the second half, 42.4 percent to 32.3 percent, to pull within three points with two minutes left in the game - Senior guard Tatum Sheley led BSU in scoring for the third consecutive game with 17 points against MSU Moorhead
Top Performer(s)
- Sheley averaged 23.5 points per game and set a career high with 30 against Northern State - Sheley single-handedly led the Beavers on a 16-0 run to end the second quarter against the Wolves - Junior center Sierra Senske scored 9.0 points per game over the weekend while adding 4.0 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.0 assists per game
Up Next
Thursday, Dec. 15 at Minnesota Crookston – 5 p.m.

Concordia University, St. Paul Golden Bears

Last Week – 2-0	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W 60-57 vs UIU W 66-59 vs #12 WSU	7-3, 3-1 NSIC	W3	7th , 5th South
Team Notes
- Forced 17 turnovers and converted on 12 points off turnovers against Upper Iowa - Went 16-17 (94.1%) from the free-throw line against the Peacocks - Drained 10 3-pointers against Winona State - CSP bench combined for 23 points compared to WSU bench that scored six points - First win against Winona State since Jan. 25, 2014. Lost last five matchups
Top Performer(s)
- Anna Schmitt averaged 13.5 points per game, 6.5 rebounds, and 4.5 assists over the weekend - Went 9-10 from the free-throw line in the two games. Tallied 15 points, eight rebounds and six assists in the win against Upper Iowa - Lauren Shifflett scored 18 points while going 4-8 from beyond the arc against Upper Iowa
Up Next
Saturday, Dec. 17 vs Minnesota State  – 2 p.m.

University of Mary Marauders

Last Week	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
L 47-63 vs. WSC L 54-88 vs. Augie	6-7, 1-3 NSIC	L4	12th Overall, 4th North
Team Notes
- Scored 12 second chance points compared to WSC’s seven in Friday nights 63-47 loss to the Wildcats   - Went 25-of-35 from the free throw line in two games and 68 total rebounds    - Scored 36 points in the paint against the Wildcats and Vikings
Top Performer(s)
- Gabbie Bohl led the team in scoring both nights as she averaged 13 points per game, 5 rebounds per game and shot 46.6 percent from the floor as she hit 85.7 percent of her free throw shots   - Cassie Askvig has two solid games coming off the bench scoring 11 and hauling down nine rebounds against WSC and added seven points and five rebounds against the Vikings
Up Next
Saturday, Dec. 17 at Minot State - 4 p.m.

University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles

Last Week	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
L 87-60 MSUM L 78-65 NSU	0-8, 0-2 NSIC	L8	11th Overall, 6th North
Team Notes
- UMC shot just 21-of-61 for 34.4 percent from the field on Friday against MSUM - The Golden Eagles were 11-of-27 for 40.7 percent from beyond the arc against the Dragons - They had 11 assists to 16 turnovers against MSU Moorhead - UMC shot 24-of-64 for 38.1 percent from the field on Saturday - The Golden Eagles were 7-of-26 for 26.9 percent from beyond the arc against the Wolves - They had nine assists to 12 turnovers against NSU
Top Performer(s)
- Alison Hughes tallied 11.5 points per game on the weekend - Kelsey Stinson had a strong weekend with 11.5 points per game on the weekend. She shot 47.1 percent from the field and 46.7 percent from beyond the arc
Up Next
Thursday, Dec. 15 at Bemidji State - 5 p.m.

University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs

Last Week	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W 61-48 at SMSU L 66-47 at USF	4-4, 3-2 NSIC	L1	10th Overall, 5th North
Team Notes
- UMD knocked off Southwest Minnesota State, extending its win streak to three games, the longest since February of 2014 - The Bulldogs committed a season-low five turnovers in the victory over SMSU - UMD made 16 of 19 from the free-throw line on the weekend, good for a 84.2 percentage - SMSU scored just 48 points against the Bulldogs, the lowest opponent output for UMD this season
Top Performer(s)
- Taylor Meyer averaged 14 points and 4.5 rebounds in two games and has scored more than 10 points in all but one game this year - Allyson Harris scored a season high 14 points against Sioux Falls while adding six rebounds - Emma Boehm picked up 14 points and five rebounds on the weekend
Up Next
Saturday, Dec. 17 vs. St. Cloud State – 2 p.m.

Minnesota State University, Mankato Mavericks

Last Week – 1-1	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
L, 79-64, vs. WSU W, 74-63, vs. UIU	5-2, 2-2 NSIC	W1	6th overall, 4th south
Team Notes
- Fell to No. 12 Winona State, 79-64 - Closed the weekend with a win over Upper Iowa, 74-63 - Outrebounded the Peacocks, 43-32 - Maverick bench netted a total of 52 points over the weekend - Shot 80.0% from the free throw line against Upper Iowa (16-20)
Top Performer(s)
- Junior Claire Ziegler posted a season-high 24 points and added nine rebounds against Upper Iowa - Sophomore Monica Muth netted a career-best 19 points and created three steals vs the Peacocks - Freshman Taylor Drost also notched a career-high 14 points against Upper Iowa
Up Next
Saturday, Dec. 17 at Concordia-St. Paul – 2 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 19 vs. Waldorf – 2 p.m.

Minnesota State University Moorhead Dragons

Last Week	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W, 87-60 at UMC W 102-50 at BSU	8-1, 5-0 NSIC	W8	5th Overall, 2nd NSIC North
Team Notes
- Dragons upped their winning streak to eight with two convincing road wins - MSUM beat Minnesota Crookston 87-60 on Friday thanks to 21 points from Cassidy Thorson - MSUM outscored its opponents 189-110 on the weekend, which is an average of 94.5-55.0 - Dragons shot 55.1 percent (70-for-127) for the weekend, including a torrid 58.1 percent (18-of-31) from three-point range. - MSUM outrebounded its foes 43.0-31.5 (average) for the weekend - Winning streak is longest since 2009-10 season for Dragons
Top Performer(s)
- Junior G Cassidy Thorson averaged 20.5 points per game for the week and shot 61.9 percent (13-of-21) from the field for the week, including 72.7 percent (8-of-11) from three-point range - Junior F Drew Sannes averaged 18.5 points and 7.5 rebounds for the week while shooting 63.6 percent from the field - Sophomore G Jacky Volkert averaged 14.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists for the week - Freshman F Megan Hintz averaged 10.0 points and 6.0 rebounds for the weekend
Up Next
Saturday, Dec. 17 vs. Northern State - 4 p.m.

Minot State University Beavers

Last Week	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
L 64-85 vs. AUGIE L 45-75 vs. WSC	2-9, 0-5 NSIC	L5	13th Overall, 7th North
Team Notes
- Had a scoring lull late in the first quarter and early in the second quarter in both contests over the weekend, falling 85-64 Friday against Augustana University and 75-46 Saturday against Wayne State College - Pulled down a season-best 24 offensive rebounds to hold a huge 52-24 advantage on total rebounds against Augie - Finished with 17 more offensive rebounds – good for a 17-2 advantage on the offensive glass – Saturday against the Wildcats - Shot 75 percent of their free throws against Augustana University
Top Performer(s)
- Madison Wald returned to form after fighting off a couple injuries to score in double figures off the bench in both contests, finishing with 11 and 12 points respectively on 5 of 7 shooting from beyond the arc - Kristal Flowers finished in double figures in rebounds on Friday with 11 to go along with seven points and hit for double figures in points Saturday with 10 to go with four rebounds - Kari Clements knocked down four 3-pointers on her way to 21 points against the Vikings, adding 11 rebounds, eight assists and three steals on the weekend
Up Next
Saturday, Dec. 17 vs. University of Mary – 4 p.m.

Northern State University Wolves

Last Week	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W 81-72 at BSU W 78-65 at UMC	8-1, 4-1 NSIC	W4	2nd Overall, 1st North
Team Notes
- Defeated both Bemidji State and Minnesota Crookston on the road for their fourth-consecutive NSIC victory - As a unit, NSU shot 47.1 percent from the floor, 39.6 percent from the three point arc and 70.0 percent from the foul line against the two opponents - Northern State hit the boards for more rebounds, collected more steals and tallied a better field goal percentage than both the Beavers and the Golden Eagles
Top Performer(s)
- Miranda Ristau propelled the Wolves offensively against Bemidji State, recording a career-high 27 points, shooting 13-of-20 from the floor and picking up 10 rebounds - Paige Waytashek led NSU in night two against Minnesota Crookston, notching a season-high 22 points, shooting 66.7 percent from the floor with two three-pointers and two assists
Up Next
Saturday, December 17th at MSU Moorhead - 6 p.m.

University of Sioux Falls Cougars

Last Week	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W 74-51 vs SCSU W 66-47 vs UMD	8-1, 4-1 NSIC	W3	9th Overall, 6th South
Team Notes
- Stretched winning streak to three games with double-digit victories over St. Cloud State and Minnesota Duluth - Sam Knecht scored 20 points to lead USF to a 74-51 win over St. Cloud State - USF’s defense held SCSU to 25.4 percent shooting and forced 19 turnovers - Brooke Smith scored 26 points off the bench as USF held a 13-point lead at halftime and rolled to a 66-47 win over Minnesota Duluth - USF held a plus-10 rebounding margin and shot 45.0 percent from the field, their second best mark in NSIC games this season
Top Performer(s)
- Sam Knecht recorded two double-doubles and her second 20-point game of the season - Knecht had 20 points and 12 rebounds against SCSU then 18 points and a career-high 18 rebounds against UMD - Brooke Smith posted 12 points off the bench against SCSU then erupted for a career-high 26 points, hitting three 3-pointers
Up Next
Saturday, Dec. 17 vs. Southwest Minnesota State – 4 p.m.

Southwest Minnesota State University

Last Week	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
L 61-48 vs UMD L 90-77 vs SCSU	1-8, 1-4 NSIC	L1	15th Overall, 8th South
Team Notes
- Outrebounded opponents by a combined 77-68 and outscored opponents 66-54 in points in the paint - Got to the free throw line 27 times against St. Cloud State and shot 70 percent as a team (19-of-27) - Grabbed 13 offensive rebounds against UMD with 18 second chance points - Had 43 total rebounds as a team against Minnesota Duluth - Pulled in 12 offensive rebounds in win at Upper Iowa, averaging 34.0 rpg as a team - Shot 43 percent from the field in two games and went 7-for-12 (58 percent) from the field in the final quarter vs SCSU
Top Performer(s)
- Sarah Buysse averaged 11 points and five rebounds per game over the weekend with four assists - Caleigh Rodning averaged 10.5 ppg and eight rebounds per game shooting 56 percent from the field - Lauren Hedlund averaged a double-double at 18 points and 10.5 rebounds per game over the weekend
Up Next
Friday, Dec. 9 vs Minnesota Duluth - 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10 vs St. Cloud State - 5 p.m.

St. Cloud State University Huskies

Last Week – 1-1	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
L USF 51-74 W SMSU 90-77	6-3, 4-1 NSIC	W1	8th, 3rd North
Team Notes
- The Huskies shot 17-67 (25.4%) from inside the arch, 7-25 (28%) from the field, and 10-17 (58.8%) from the line vs USF - Three Huskies scored 20 or more points in win vs SMSU - The Huskies went 34-68 (50%) from inside the arch, 15-27 (55.6%) from the field, and 7-9 (77.8%) from the line - The Huskies scored 38 points off turnovers vs SMSU - Huskies also outscored the Mustangs 21-2 on fast breaks
Top Performer(s)
- Chelsea Nooker: 35 points, 14-22 from inside, 3-5 from field, 4-8 at line, double-double vs SMSU: 22 points, 10 rebounds - Betsy MacDonald: 32 points, 12-30 from inside, 8-14 from field - Mallie Doucette: vs SMSU-22 points, 7-14 from inside, 6-10 from field, 2-3 at line - Andrea Thomas: 10 assists at SMSU
Up Next
Saturday, Dec. 17 at Minnesota Duluth - 2 p.m.

Upper Iowa University Peacocks

Last Week	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
L 60-57 at CSP L 74-63 at MSU	0-9, 0-5 NSIC	L9	16th Overall, 7th South
Team Notes
- UIU lost a pair of hard-fought, NSIC games on the road this weekend at Concordia-St. Paul and Minnesota State - The team held their opponents to just 35% shooting from the floor and 30% from behind the three-point line for an average of 67 points per game - While the defense was clicking for the Peacocks, the offense struggled averaging just 60 points a game while converting on only 11 of their 44 three-point attempts
Top Performer(s)
- Blair Klostermann and Sam Ofstad led the team in scoring with 17 and 16.5 point averages and Klostermann added a team-high 8 rebounds a game as well - Carly Pagel averaged 7 points and 4 rebounds a game, and Ashley Rosenstiel netted 5 points a game
Up Next
Saturday, Dec. 17 vs. Winona State at 4 p.m.

Wayne State College Wildcats

Last Week	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W 63-47 at MARY W 75-45 at MISU	7-3, 2-3 NSIC	W2	4th Overall, 3rd South
Team Notes
- Wildcat bench scored 45.6% of team’s points (63 of 138) in weekend road wins - WSC now 5-0 all-time vs. Minot State - WSC shot season-high 62.2 percent (28 of 45) in 75-45 win at Minot State
Top Performer(s)
- Junior center Paige Ballinger scored game-high 17 points vs. Minot State - Sophomore Maggie Lowe and freshman Evelyn Knox scored 12 and 10 respectively off the bench in Friday’s 63-47 win at Mary - Ballinger averaged 12.5 points and 2.0 rebounds per game with senior Anna Martensen adding 10.5 points and 5.5 rebounds a contest
Up Next
Saturday, December 17 vs. Augustana - 4 p.m.

Winona State University Warriors

Last Week	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W 79-64 at MSU L 66-59 at CSP	9-2, 4-1 NSIC	L1	1st Overall, 1st South
Team Notes
- Team carried a nine game winnings streak in to the game against Concordia St. Paul - Scored a combined 50 points in the paint on the weekend - Warriors were 14-17 from the foul line vs the Mavericks - Defense held MSU to just 5-20 shooting from three and gave up just seven free throw attempts
Top Performer(s)
- Jenny Tuttle had a career high 23 points against MSU-Mankato - Kayla Timmerman shot 7-11 from the field vs the Mavericks - Four Warriors scored in double figures vs MSU - Liz Evenocheck had 17 points, a career high vs Concordia-St. Paul - Hannah McGlone had a double-double with ten points and ten rebounds vs the Golden Bears
Up Next
Friday, Dec. 16 at Minnesota State-Mankato – 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17 at Concordia-St. Paul – 6 p.m.