For Immediate Release
Monday, January 22, 2018
NSIC Media Relations
Media Packet (PDF)

NSIC Women's Basketball Players of the Week

NSIC North  Division Player of the Week
#23 Holly Johnson (F, 6-0, Sr., Minot, N.D. / Minot HS)
Minot State
- Averaged 23.5 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals over two games
- Had 23 points, four assists and three steals in a 81-70 win at BSU
- Scored 24 points and grabbed a season-high 12 rebounds in 77-67 win at UMC
- Led Minot State to their first NSIC weekend sweep on the road since January 10-11, 2014
- Ranks fifth in the NSIC in scoring with 16.5 ppg

NSIC South Division Player of the Week
#22 Mariah Szymanski (G, 5-6, So., Pulaski, Wis. / Pulaski HS)
Sioux Falls
- Scored a USF record 43 points in a 84-56  win at CSP
- Shot 14-for-20 from the field with a USF record nine three pointers
- Made her final six 3-pointers of the game after scoring 17 points in the first quarter alone
- Finished game 9-for-10 from three, setting USF record for three-point field goal percentage
- Szymanski’s 43 points is tied for the most in a single game this season across NCAA Division II Women’s Basketball
- Owns the top single-game scoring mark in the NSIC this season by six points
- Was one point shy of tying the NSIC single-game scoring record set by MSUM's Dina Kangas in 1989-90 & NSU's Renee Ruesink in 1986-87
- Added three rebounds, three assists and three steals in the victory over CSP
 

Augustana University Vikings

Last Week 2-0	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W 102-55 vs. UIU W 91-71 vs. WSU	17-1, 13-1 South	W3	3rd Overall, 1st South
Team Notes
- After picking up two more home wins over the weekend, Augustana is now 9-0 at home this season - With 594 wins, head coach Dave Kruath is six wins away from reaching 600 in his career - Augustana scored a season-high 102 points on Friday night in a win over Upper Iowa inside the Sioux Falls Arena - The Vikings recorded a season-low five turnovers in the win over Upper Iowa on Friday night - Friday’s 47 point victory over Upper Iowa was Augustana’s largest margin of victory this season - Augustana had five players in double figures on Friday night and four on Saturday night
Top Performer(s)
- Presley O’Farrell scored a team-high 15 points vs. Upper Iowa - With 10 points and 10 rebounds, Logan O’Farrell recorded her third double-double of the season - On Saturday, Naomi Rust finished with a career-high 20 points on 9-of-10 shooting and seven rebounds - In Saturday’s victory Shelby Selland finished with 16 points, 6 rebounds and four assists. Her four assists matched a career-high.   - Lynsey Prosser poured in a season-high 15 points vs. Winona State
Up Next
Friday, Jan. 26 vs. Minnesota Duluth - 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27 vs. St. Cloud State - 4 p.m.

 

Bemidji State University Beavers

Last Week 0-2	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
L 70-81 vs. MINOT L 58-68 vs. MARY	4-13, 3-10 North	L7	14th Overall, 6th North
Team Notes
- Bemidji State was swept by Minot State, 81-70, and U-Mary, 68-58, in its only home games during the month of January - Bemidji State trailed Minot State by just six points at halftime before the visitors pulled away in the third quarter to take the first game of the season-series - BSU shot 43.6 percent from the floor, 42.3 percent from beyond the arc and 52.4 percent from the free throw line and scored 24 points off the bench - The Beavers went into halftime with a 29-29 tie against the Marauders and fell behind by two points heading into the fourth quarter before U-Mary went 5-for-6 from the free throw line over the final 24 seconds to seal the game - Bemidji State shot 35.7 percent from the floor, 41.7 percent from long range and 61.9 percent from the charity stripe but allowed U-Mary to go 28-for-34 from the free throw line - On the weekend, BSU shot 39.6 percent from the floor, 42.1 percent from 3-point range and 57.1 percent from the free throw line while also averaging 34.0 rebounds per game
Top Performer(s)
- Freshman guard Brooklyn Bachmann led BSU in scoring during both games while averaging 20.5 points per contest and also led with 7.0 rebounds per game - Bachmann finished the weekend with 22 points against Minot State and 19 against U-Mary while shooting 44.8 percent from the field - Senior center Sierra Senske recorded 7.5 points per game on 39.6 percent shooting off the bench
Up Next
Friday, Jan. 26 at Concordia-St. Paul - 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27 at Minnesota State - 4 p.m.

 

Concordia University, St. Paul Golden Bears

Last Week 1-1	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W 97-94 OT vs SMSU L 56-84 vs USF	5-14, 2-11 South	L1	6th overall, t-4th South
Team Notes
-The Golden Bears came out with a split on the conference weekend, defeating Southwest Minnesota State with a buzzer beater in overtime on Friday night, before falling to Sioux Falls on Saturday afternoon -The Bears were efficient on Friday, connecting on 48.6% of shots from the field, including hitting 47.6% from beyond the arc. Concordia also posted a season-high 21 assists in the win -Their 97-point effort was the most points that CSP has scored since January 17th, 2015, when they scored 103 points in a win over Bemidji State
Top Performer(s)
- Junior Anna Schmitt averaged 27.0 points per game over the weekend, including scoring a season-high 37 points against SMSU when she hit a buzzer beater three in overtime to lift the Bears to victory - Junior Lindsay Dorr had back-to-back double-doubles for the Bears, as she averaged 16.0 points and 14.5 rebounds on the weekend - Junior Hanna Vidlund dished out a career-high seven assists in the win over SMSU
Up Next
Tuesday, Jan. 23 vs Minnesota State - 6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 26 vs Bemidji State - 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan.27 vs Minnesota Crookston - 4 p.m.

 

University of Mary Marauders

Last Week 1-1	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
L 74-85 at UMC W 68-58 at BSU	9-11, 5-9 North	W1	9th Overall, 3rd North
Team Notes
- The Marauders gained their first road weekend split of the season with a 68-58 win over Bemidji State after an 85-74 loss the night before at UMC - Scored 23 of the first 30 points in the UMC game - Went 28-of-34 at the free throw line to secure the win at Bemidji State. Both figures are season highs. - Sr. G Dani Williams is the 24th UMary player to score over 900 points in her Marauders career. Her current total is 955 points.
Top Performer(s)
- So. C Gabbie Bohl averaged 19 ppg, 7.5 rpg and 3.5 blocks, making 16-of-21 free throws. She had 20 points and six rebounds with three blocks at UMC. Followed with 18 points, eight rebounds and four blocks against BSU, making 10-of-12 free throws.   - So. F Cassie Askvig averaged 20 ppg, 6.5 rpg and 2.5 apg in the Marauders weekend split while also making 15-of-20 free throws and 12-of-21 field goals. Askvig scored 18 points and had five rebounds and three assists against UMC, making 5-of-6 free throws. She has 22 points and eight rebounds at BSU, making 6-of-9 field goals and 10-of-14 free throws. - So. G Lauren Rotunda averaged 12 ppg and 4.5 rpg. She made all nine free throws. Against UMC she had 10 points on 2-of-3 shooting while making all five free throws. She also had six rebounds. Rotunda followed with 14 points and three rebounds against BSU.
Up Next
Friday, Jan. 26 vs. Upper Iowa - 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27 vs. Winona State - 4 p.m.

 

University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles

Last Week 2-1	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W 73-48 vs. BSU  W 85-74 vs. MARY  L 67-77 vs. MINOT	5-13, 5-9 North	L1	13th, 7th North
Team Notes
- Micaela Noga became the 11th player in school history to eclipse 1,000 points in a career. She need just three points to surpass Bri Zabel for 10th all-time in program history. - Emily Gruber needs 118 points this season to join the 1,000 point club, where she would most likely become the 12th player in school history to do so - The Golden Eagles won 2-of-3 games this week as they upended Bemidji State and U-Mary this week. Minnesota Crookston is tied for sixth in the NSIC North with a 5-9 conference mark. The Golden Eagles have won 3-of-5 games as they are playing some of their best basketball of the 2017-18 season. - The Golden Eagles lead the NSIC in free throw percentage at 81.5 percent this season. Minnesota Crookston is sixth in the NSIC in blocked shots with 4.1 per game.
Top Performer(s)
- Abby Guidinger tallied 17.3 points and 5.0 rebounds per game - Isieoma Odor averaged 17.0 points and 7.0 rebounds for the week - Caitlin Michaelis tallied 13.3 points per game for the week
Up Next
Friday, Jan. 26  at Minnesota State – 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27  at Concordia-St. Paul – 4 p.m.

 

University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs

Last Week 0-2	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
L 45-81 vs. MSUM L 83-84 OT vs. NSU	11-6, 8-5 North	L2	8th Overall, 4th North
Team Notes
- UMD dropped both games this past weekend ending its undefeated home record - The Bulldogs scored (45) and shot a season-low (28.1) Friday against the Dragons - Had a much better perfromance Saturday but fell in OT. UMD is 0-2 in overtime games - UMD has heavily out-rebounded over the weekend 97-58 and is 0-5 when losing the rebounding battle - The 11 made three-pointers made against the Wolves tied a season high - Six players including all five starters got into double figure scoring versus Northern State
Top Performer(s)
- Ann Simonet recorded a career high 18 points, six rebounds and six assists in the OT loss Saturday - Katie Stark led the team with 14.0 points and 1.5 blocks and tied her collegiate high mark of 16 points against the Dragons - Taylor Schneider also tied her career high 13 points in the outings against the #22 Wolves
Up Next
Friday, Jan. 26 at Augustana - 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27 at Wayne State - 4 p.m.

Minnesota State University, Mankato Mavericks

Last Week 1-1	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
L 71-74 vs. USF W 81-53 vs. SMSU	6-13, 4-9 South	W1	7th overall, 4th south
Team Notes
- Comeback bid came up short against Sioux Falls, 71-74 - Cruised past Southwest Minnesota State, 81-53
Top Performer(s)
- Senior Claire Jordan led Minnesota State averaging 23.5 points. The guard posted a career-high 30 points against SMSU on 12-of-17 shooting from the field and 3-of-5 from three. Jordan also netted 17 points against Sioux Falls. - Senior Claire Ziegler posted back-to-back double-doubles with 20 points and 10 rebounds against Sioux Falls and closed the weekend registering 13 rebounds and 12 points against SMSU - Junior Monica Muth tallied 9.0 points and 3.5 rebounds per game with five assists
Up Next
Tuesday, Jan. 23 at Concordia-St. Paul – 6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 26 vs. Minnesota Crookston – 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27 vs. Bemidji State – 4 p.m.

 

Minnesota State University Moorhead Dragons

Last Week 2-0	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W 81-45 at UMD W 78-54 at SCSU	15-3, 12-2 North	W9	1st Overall, 1st North
Team Notes
- MSUM’s winning streak is now at a season-best nine games after big road wins at Minnesota Duluth and St. Cloud State - Dragons 6-1 on the road this season - Sophomore F Megan Hintz leads NSIC in field goal percentage at .580 - Junior G Jacky Volkert leads NSIC at 5.8 assists per game and is second in assist to turnover ratio - Senior G Cassidy Thorson leads NSIC at 2.9 threes per game - Senior F Drew Sannes is four blocks away from tying school record
Top Performer(s)
- Junior G Jacky Volkert averaged 12.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists for the week - Senior G Cassidy Thorson averaged 13.0 points, 3.0 assists and 2.0 rebounds per game - Senior F Drew Sannes averaged 12.0 points and 5.5 rebounds per game - Sophomore F Megan Hintz averaged 12.0 points and 6.5 rebounds per game
Up Next
Friday, Jan. 26 vs. SMSU - 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27 vs. Sioux Falls - 4 p.m.

 

Minot State University Beavers

Last Week 2-0	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W 81-70 at BSU W 77-67 at UMC	9-9, 6-8 North	W3	16th Overall, 8th North
Team Notes
- Minot State recorded their first NSIC weekend sweep on the road since January 10-11, 2014 - The Beavers scored over 80 points for the second time this season in an 81-70 win at Bemidji State - MISU improved to 6-1 on the season when scoring 70 or more points - Minot shot 47.9 percent from the field and 74.2 percent from the free throw line on the weekend while posting a dominant 80-55 rebounding advantage
Top Performer(s)
- Holly Johnson averaged 23.5 points 7.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.0 steals, including scoring 24 points and grabbing season-high 12 rebounds in 77-67 win at Minnesota Crookston -Diondra Denton averaged 12.5 points and 8.5 rebounds per game while notching her first double-double of the season with 10 points and 11 rebounds in 81-70 win at Bemidji State
Up Next
Friday, Jan. 26 vs. Winona State – 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27 vs. Upper Iowa – 4 p.m.

 

Northern State University Wolves

Last Week 2-1	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W 94-54 vs. PC L 57-61 at SCSU W 84-83 at UMD	16-4, 12-3 North	W1	2nd Overall, 2nd North
Team Notes
- The Northern State University women’s basketball moved down two spot to No. 22 in last week’s WBCA Top-25 Poll - They opened the week with a 40-point victory over Presentation and spilt with St. Cloud State and Minnesota Duluth on the road - Northern shot 46.2 percent from the floor, 39.5 percent from the arc, and 75.4 percent from the foul line - NSU averaged 78.3 points, 47.0 rebounds, 21.3 assists, 13.7 turnovers, 5.0 steals, and 5.0 blocks per game - The Wolves out-scored their opponents by 12.3 points and out-rebounded their opponents by 19.3 boards per game - A total of five Wolves finished the week averaging double figures, and four shot 50.0 percent or better from the floor
Top Performer(s)
- Miranda Ristau led the team averaging 19.7 points after notching a new career high of 31 against the Bulldogs - Gabby Laimer and Jill Conrad averaged 15.0 and 12.0 points, while Jessi Marti and Haley Rithmiller each averaged 11.0 points - Marti and Conrad averaged a team leading 7.5 and 7.0 rebounds per game respectively - Ristau shot a team leading 66.7 percent from the floor, while Marti shot a team leading 57.1 percent from the arc
Up Next
Friday, Jan. 26 vs. Sioux Falls – 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27 vs. Southwest Minnesota State – 4 p.m.

 

University of Sioux Falls Cougars

Last Week 2-0	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W 74-71 at MSU W 85-56 at CSP	13-5, 10-4 South	W4	10th Overall, 6th South
Team Notes
- Opened four-game road trip with two victories to push winning streak to four games - USF outscored Minnesota State, 40- 20, and Concordia-St. Paul, 37-15, in the second and third quarters - Held both opponents below 40 percent shooting while USF shot better than 50 percent in each game - Shot better than 40 percent from three in each game, including a 50-percent effort on 3-pointers - USF’s win over Minnesota State was their sixth straight and they took a 7-4 lead in their series
Top Performer(s)
- Mariah Szymanski broke the USF single-game scoring record with 43 points at Concordia-St. Paul - Szymanski was 14-20 from the field and a USF record 9-10 from behind the arc, setting both USF records for threes made and three-point percentage - Szymanski’s 43 points ties for the most in NCAA Division II women’s basketball this season and she is the NSIC season leader for points in a game - Kaely Hummel averaged 16.5 points, leading the Cougars with 18 points against Minnesota State - Jacey Huinker recorded her second career double-double with 15 points and 13 rebounds against Minnesota State - Lauren Sanders averaged 10.5 points off the bench, scoring 12 against Minnesota State - Moira Duffy had seven blocked shots against Minnesota State and three more at Concordia-St. Paul
Up Next
Friday, Jan. 26 at Northern State - 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27 at MSU Moorhead - 4 p.m.

Southwest Minnesota State University Mustangs

Last Week 0-2	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
L  94-97 OT at CSP L 53-81 at MSU	4-13, 2-8 South	L2	12th Overall, 7th South
Team Notes
- SMSU suffered a heartbreaking overtime loss at Concordia-St. Paul on Friday night to begin the weekend - The Mustangs evened the game at 82-82 in the final seconds and appeared to have sent the game into a second overtime at 94-94 before the Golden Bears knocked down a buzzer-beating three pointer to earn a 97-94 win - SMSU struggled on both ends of the court in an 81-53 loss at Minnesota State on Saturday - The Mustangs had just nine made three pointers on the weekend and shot just 35 percent overall as a team on the weekend - SMSU still outscored its opponents in the fourth quarter, 49-48 over the weekend but were outrebounded 90-79
Top Performer(s)
- Caleigh Rodning knocked down a game-tying three in the final seconds of regulation at Concordia-St. Paul while Sadie Stelter hit a three to tie the game down the stretch in overtime - Rodning finished Friday night’s game with 22 points and seven rebounds - Erin Baxter led SMSU in scoring with 25 points on Friday night at CSP - Stelter poured in 15 points in Friday’s loss at CSP
Up Next
Friday, Jan. 26 at MSU Moorhead - 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27 at Northern State - 4 p.m.

 

St. Cloud State University Huskies

Last Week 1-1	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W 61-57 vs. NSU L 54-78 vs. MSUM	12-5, 9-4 North	L1	11th Overall, 5th North
Team Notes
- The Huskies’ six-game winning streak was snapped Saturday night against MSU Moorhead - The Huskies’ upset-won over nationally-ranked Northern State is the Huskies’ first win against a nationally ranked opponent in the 2017-18 season - SCSU is the shooting 38.6 percent as a team from three-point range (1st in NSIC) - SCSU is holding opponents to 26.7 percent from three-point range (1st in NSIC) - SCSU is the highest scoring defensive team in the NSIC
Top Performers
- Tori Wortz recorded 11 points, four rebounds, two steals and five assists against Northern State - Three players (Wortz, Madelin Dammann and Amanda Christianson) each scored in double figures against Northern State - Andrea Thomas and Amanda Christianson each scored in double-figures against MSU Moorhead - Nikki Kilboten totaled four blocks against the Dragons on Saturday night
Up Next
Friday, Jan. 26 at Wayne State - 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27 at Augustana - 4 p.m.

 

Upper Iowa University Peacocks

Last Week 0-2	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
L 55-102 at AUGIE L 55-89 at WSC	2-18, 0-14 South	L16	15th Overall, 8th South
Team Notes
- The Peacocks lost a pair of road games at No. 11 Augustana and Wayne State sending their losing skid to 16 straight - Upper Iowa averaged 55 points per game due to cold shooting; the Peacocks shot 27.3% from the floor - UIU outrebounded their opponents 45.5-41.5 over the weekend led by Angelica De Paulo's 6 rebounds per game
Top Performer(s)
- Natalie Dinius averaged 15.5 points per game for the Peacocks and shot the ball well over the weekend. Dinius hit 12 of her 21 shots including 5 of 11 from three-point range. The freshman added 4.5 rebounds per game as well - Bekka Pierson, Emma Gaber and Ashley Rosenstiel all averaged 7 points per game, while Savannah Domeyer scored 6.5 per game
Up Next
Friday, Jan. 26 - at U-Mary - 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27 - at Minot State - 4 p.m.

 

Wayne State College Wildcats

Last Week 2-0	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W 74-37 WSU W 89-55 UIU	16-6, 10-4 South	W2	4th Overall, 2nd South
Team Notes
- Wayne State swept NSIC home games vs. Winona State and Upper Iowa - WSC held both opponents to 25 percent or less shooting in wins – 25 percent (16-64) vs. Winona State and 24.6 percent (16-65) vs. Upper Iowa - WSC made 10 3-pointers in both home wins - WSC is now 120-13 at home in Rice Auditorium over last nine seasons
Top Performer(s)
- Freshman forward Erin Norling scored game-high 17 points in 74-37 win over Winona State - Freshman guard Halley Busse scored 14 points without missing a shot  (4 of 4 from 3-point line and 2 for 2 at free throw line) in win over Upper Iowa - Norling averages team-high 13.0 points per game in two wins with Busse averaging 11.5
Up Next
Friday, January 26 vs. St. Cloud State - 6 p.m. Saturday, January 27 vs. Minnesota Duluth - 4 p.m.

 

Winona State University Warriors

Last Week 0-2	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
L 37-74 at WSC  L 71-91 at AUGIE	13-5, 7-3 South	L4	5th Overall, 3rd South
Team Notes
- First four-game losing streak since 2013-14 season - Warriors have shot below 40% in each of their last four losses - Despite recent shooting woes, still rank fourth in the NSIC in field goal percentage (44%)
Top Performer(s)
- Freshman Allie Pickrain scored a season-high 22 points at Augustana
Up Next
Friday, Jan. 26 at Minot – 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27 at U-Mary – 4 p.m.