For Immediate Release
Monday, Feb. 17, 2014
NSIC Media Relations
Full PDF Release
NSIC Player of the Week
#40 Carly Boag
F, 6-2, Sr.,
Tamworth, Australia
Abbotsleigh HS
Minot State
Carly Boag had a record-setting weekend as she averaged 33.5 points and 18 rebounds in a pair of wins over the University of Sioux Falls and Southwest Minnesota State. Boag set to school records in Saturday’s win, becoming Minot State’s all-time leading scorer with 1,718 career points and also set a single-game record, scoring 39 points. She finished with 15 offensive rebounds in two games and had nine steals, a block and an assist. This marks the second time this season Boag has been named NSIC Player of the Week (11/18/13).
2013-14 NSIC Women’s Basketball Notes
AUGUSTANA - #3 Shaunteva Ashley (G, 5-8, Jr., Sioux Falls, S.D. / Roosevelt HS) continued to all-around play this past weekend, helping guide the Vikings to a 1-1 record, with a win over No. 17 Northern State. On Friday, Ashley had a game-high 23 points in a loss to MSU Moorhead. The Sioux Falls, S.D. native also had six rebounds and five assists in the loss. Ashley had 19 points and six assists in the 79-62 victory over the Wolves. It was the junior’s 12th-straight game with at least 16 points. Ashley’s weekend averages were 21 points, 3.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 38.8 percent FG%, 50 percent 3PT (4 of 8), 90.9 percent FT% (10 of 11).
BEMIDJI STATE - The Beavers (9-15, 5-15 NSIC) snapped an eight-game losing streak Feb. 15 with a 52-49 victory to wrap the home season, as it defeated Concordia-St. Paul (who were receiving votes nationally). BSU fell the night before to No. 21 Minnesota State 73-54. The Beavers finished their home slate 7-6 to mark the first above .500 home record since 2007-08 (7-4). Entering the final weekend of the regular season, senior Kate Warmack is third in the NSIC in blocks (2.0 bpg), fourth in rebounding (9.9 rpg), fourth in field goal percentage (52.5%) and 14th in scoring (15.5 ppg). The Beavers finish the conference season on the road Feb. 21-22 at Minnesota Duluth and St. Cloud State. Bemidji State has lost 11 straight games to UMD, which includes a 70-63 home loss this season and a 65-50 road setback last season. BSU is 29-62 all-time against the Bulldogs. The Beavers downed SCSU earlier this season with a 99-82 home victory to end a four-game skid against the Huskies. BSU lost 81-53 last season at SCSU and are 15-33 all-time against St. Cloud State.
CONCORDIA-ST. PAUL - Anika Whiting (F, 6’2”, Jr., Ashland, Wis. / HS) led the Golden Bears with 18.5 points and 8.0 rebounds per game on the weekend. She also connected on 12-15 attempts from the charity stripe. Her best game of the weekend came in a 25 point, nine rebound performance on Saturday at Bemidji State. It was her fourth 20+ point game in six outings.
Concordia-St. Paul (19-8, 14-6 NSIC) had their eight game winning streak snapped in a trip north to take on Minnesota Crookston and Bemidji State. The Golden Bears dropped a heartbreaking 59-58 loss to the Golden Eagles on Friday. UMC’s Alexa Thielman hit a shot from the corner with 14 seconds to go to give Crookston the decisive advantage. On Saturday, the Golden Bears offense stalled out in a 52-49 loss. The 49 points were a season-low for CU as the Golden Bears were held to just 21 points in the second half and no points in the final 3:47 of the game.
UNIVERSITY OF MARY - The University of Mary finished its home schedule on a high note and send its seniors out on top with a pair of wins over Southwest Minnesota State and Sioux Falls that secured the Marauders a home playoff game. A first half lull by U-Mary allowed SMSU to stay in the game, but a balanced attack by Marauders enabled them to hold on for the win. With five different players in double figures, U-Mary won 73-65 on Friday night. Behind 4-of-4 shooting from deep in the first half, McKenzie Foster (G, 5-10, Sr., Big Timber, Mont. / Sweet Grass County HS) led the Marauders with 17 points. U-Mary extended its winning streak to four and secured a home playoff game with a win over Sioux Falls on Saturday. Behind 58 points from their seniors, the Marauders defeated the Cougars 78-75 on Senior Night. Foster finished with a team-high 22 points including a 9-of-9 performance from the free throw line. Linda Murray (C, 6-2, Sr., Fresno, Calif. / Edison HS / Merced CC) added 21 points and a career-high 16 rebounds. Murray also added four assists and three blocks.
Linda Murray (C, 6-2, Sr., Fresno, Calif. / Edison HS / Merced CC) Linda Murray continued her dominance inside leading the University of Mary two a pair of conference wins and securing the Marauders a home playoff game. Murray averaged 17.0 points and 15.0 rebounds, while also posting averages of 3.5 assists and 2.0 blocks. The 6-2 post finished the weekend with 14 offensive rebounds. After a strong night Friday, Murray was dominant on Saturday in a 78-75 win over Sioux Falls finishing with 21 points and a career-high 16 rebounds to go with three blocks and four assists. The Marauders post was especially active down the stretch scoring 14 points and grabbing 12 rebounds in the second half alone.
MINNESOTA CROOKSTON - Cienna Walker (Jr., G, Ajax, Ontario) continued her impressive play as of late for the Golden Eagles off of the bench. The junior made an impact scoring the ball, as well as on the glass, averaging 9.5 points and 6.5 rebounds in games against Concordia-St. Paul and Minnesota State. Walker played a major part in the upset win of the Golden Bears from Concordia with 12 points and five rebounds. Against Minnesota State, Walker added seven points and eight rebounds.
MINNESOTA DULUTH - UMD got back on the winning track with a pair of W’s this weekend and not surprisingly, its pair of senior stars led the way. Senior forward Katrina Newman had 23 points in Friday night’s 97-81 win at Upper Iowa, making good on 11 of 13 free throws while also hauling in eight rebounds, three steals, and a pair of assists. In Saturday’s 67-52 win at Winona State, Newman was a little quieter with 14 points but she again shot 46.2 percent, added four more rebounds and a pair of assists. Saturday night’s game saw Newman surpass Sara Belanger (‘96) for sixth in career scoring at UMD. Altogether, Newman shot 44.4 percent, and had 18.5 PPG, 6.0 rebounds/game, and a 1.3-1 assist-turnover ratio.
Center Hannah Rutten went point-for-point with Newman while coming off the bench for UMD, scoring 19 points in each of the Bulldogs’ pair of wins while shooting 54.5 percent from the field. She hauled in 9.5 rebounds per game, including 12 to collect her tenth double-double of the season on Saturday night vs. Winona State. Additionally, she had one assist, one block, and four steals. Junior guard Danielle Flood continued to be a hot hand with 14.5 points per game, shooting 50.0 percent with nine assists for the Bulldogs.
MINNESOTA STATE - The No. 21 Minnesota State women’s basketball team continued its hot streak as it downed Bemidji State and Minnesota Crookston by scores of 73-54 and 69-57, respectively. With the wins, the Mavericks stand 19-5 overall and 16-4 in NSIC action. The Mavericks had their shooting percentage bothered by the home-team’s defense, MSU only connecting on 28% of its shots from the field and 22% from behind the arc. The Mavericks were able to hold their opponents to a 34% showing from the field and 22% from behind the arc. MSU owned a +5 average turnover margin in its pair of road wins. The Mavericks finish the 2013-14 regular season on the road as they travel to Southwest Minnesota State and the University of Sioux Falls, Friday and Saturday, respectively.
Senior Karlee Gengenbacher continued her strong senior campaign as she averaged 18.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. The Quincy, Ill., native, started the weekend, matching a season-high 21 points against Bemidji State in addition to seven rebounds. Gengenbacher followed it up with a 16 point night against the Golden Eagles, marking her sixth straight game netting double-digit points. On the weekend, Gengenbacher connected on 56% (14-25) of her shots from the field, 33% (2-6) from behind the arc and a perfect 7-of-7 from the charity stripe. On the season, Gengenbacher is shooting 49% from the field, 31% from deep and 73% from the stripe and averages 11.7 points and three rebounds per game.
MSU MOORHEAD - Megan Strese (F, 6-0, Sr., Evansville, Minn. / Brandon HS) had a solid all-around week to help the Dragons to a pair of big road wins. Strese averaged 15.5 points and 12.5 rebounds for the weekend. During MSUM’s 78-76 win over Augustana on Friday, Strese had a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds and also had two assists. A night later in a 61-50 MSUM upset win over No. 8 Wayne State, Strese had her eighth double-double of the season with 19 points and 13 rebounds. She also had two steals. Strese is averaging 13.7 points and 8.9 rebounds per game this season for the Dragons, who have won six in a row.
Senior Morgan Zabel averaged 19 points for the week in helping MSUM to a 2-0 mark on the road. She hit the game-winning basket in a 78-76 win over Augustana on Friday. Zabel is averaging a team-best 16.1 points per game this season.
MINOT STATE - #40 Carly Boag (F, 6-2, Sr., Tamworth, Australia / Abbotsleigh) had a record-setting weekend as she averaged 33.5 points and 18 rebounds in a pair of wins over the University of Sioux Falls and Southwest Minnesota State. Boag set to school records in Saturday’s win, becoming Minot State’s all-time leading scorer with 1,718 career points and also set a single-game record, scoring 39 points. She finished with 15 offensive rebounds in two games and had nine steals, a block and an assist.
Minot State University clinched a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference home playoff game for the first time in school history with a pair of wins on the weekend, topping the University of Sioux Falls and Southwest Minnesota State. The Beavers continued tied for second in the NSIC North Division with one weekend remaining and can earn as high as the top spot in the North or as low as fourth depending on a weekend road swing to Minnesota State University Moorhead and Northern State. #40 Carly Boag (F, 6-2, Sr., Tamworth, Australia / Abbotsleigh) had a huge weekend as she averaged 33.5 points, 18.0 rebounds and 4.5 steals and broke both the all-time single game scoring mark with a 39-point effort against Southwest Minnesota and became the Beavers all-time leading scorer with 1,718 career points. While somewhat overshadowed by Boag’s year, #22 Katie Hardy (F, 6-0, Jr., Fairview, N.D. / Fairview) continued steady play for the Beavers as she combined for 35 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists and a block.
NORTHERN STATE - Northern State University was swept over the weekend by Wayne State College and Augustana College. The Wolves received their highest national ranking this past week, sitting in the 17th spot. After the loss Northern continues to lead the NSIC north by a two game split, however dropped to third in the conference overall standings. A big weekend sits ahead for NSU at home as they host University of Mary and Minot State. The Marauders and Beavers sit just behind the Wolves in the north division with conference records of 13-7 each. Northern has secured the home court advantage in the first round of the NSIC tournament but must play well this weekend to end the regular season on top of the north division.
SIOUX FALLS - The Cougar women’s came into the weekend looking to end a two game losing streak, but ended up dropping both games as they lost by a combined four points to Minot State and U-Mary. After this weekend the Cougars have lost five games by three-points or less this season. The Cougars struggled offensively as they shot a combined 51-of-137 (37.2%) from the field. USF also struggled on the boards as Minot State outrebounded USF by four rebounds while U-Mary grabbed thirteen more rebounds than the Cougars. USF was proficient from behind the arc as they shot a combined 16-of-45 (35.5%) from downtown. The Cougars will look to snap their four-game losing streak this weekend as they play host to two of the top teams in the NSIC in Minnesota State and Concordia-St. Paul.
Laura Johnson (Sr., F, 6-0, Cedar Falls, Iowa/Cedar Falls HS) had another solid weekend for the Cougars as she averaged 19.5 points, 10.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.5 blocks per game. In Friday nights loss to Minot State, Johnson was the lone Cougar player to hit double-digit scoring as she scored a game-high 28 points and 12 rebounds while recording her 7th double-double of the season.
SMSU - Alison Nagel (F, 6-3, Sr., Fort Dodge, Iowa / St. Edmond) came off the bench to score a combined 43 points, while grabbing 14 rebounds in Southwest Minnesota State’s road losses to the University of Mary and Minot State. Nagel finished the two games connecting on 16 of 29 field goal attempts and all nine free throws. Southwest Minnesota State (4-20, 2-18 NSIC) will conclude the 2013-14 regular season this weekend at home versus Concordia-St. Paul and Minnesota State.
ST. CLOUD STATE - The St. Cloud State University women’s basketball team matched-up against the Warriors of Winona State in Friday night NSIC action. Winona State held an 11-game losing streak heading into the contest, but was able to end that with a 69-59 victory over St. Cloud State. The Huskies made a late comeback, reaching within five with just three minutes to play. The Warriors were able to hold onto the lead, winning by ten in final scoring. Rachael Moen (Savage) led the Huskies with 15 points and five steals. Jessica Benson finished with 12 points and Chelsea Nooker (Green Bay, Wis.) posted 13 points and a team-high seven rebounds. The Huskies bounced back from Friday’s loss to Winona State with a nine-point victory over Upper Iowa University on Saturday. The Huskies held on to a first half lead to edge the Peacocks 88-79. Upper Iowa made a comeback, cutting the Huskies’ lead to four with 1:26 to play. Sam Price (Eau Claire, Wis.) knocked down four of four free throw attempts in the final minute to secure the win. Sam Price led the Huskies with 25 points on three of five shooting from beyond the arc. Price went a perfect six for six at the line and grabbed five rebounds. Lexy Petermann (Fond du Lac, Wis.) finished with a double-double, recording a career-high 12 rebounds and 11 points. Rachael Moen (Savage) hit four shots from three-point range and finished with 16 points. Moen dished out five assists. Jessica Benson (Grand Meadow) went five of 10 from the field to finish with 11 points. Benson grabbed eight rebounds and totaled four assists. St. Cloud State finished the weekend with an NSIC split and advanced to 14-10 overall and 10-10 in conference action. St. Cloud State will return to action next weekend as they host Minnesota Crookston and Bemidji State University in their final regular season NSIC games of the season.
UPPER IOWA - The Peacocks dropped a pair of games at home this weekend to Minnesota Duluth (97-81) and St. Cloud State (88-79). Offensively, Upper Iowa had their top two scoring nights of the season this past weekend as the team hit 43% of their field goals including 48.4% of their three-point attempts. The defense for UIU did not match the offenses success however. UMD and SCSU combined to shoot 46% from the floor and matched the home team’s shooting from deep with a 48.1% percentage. Whitney Kieffer led the Peacocks with a 25.5 average including 33 against St. Cloud State, while Lindsay Carroll scored 15 points each night. Both players knocked down 4 triples on the weekend. Sam Thrapp added 10.5 points and 5.5 assists per game. UIU will host the final weekend of the regular season as they welcome Augustana College on Friday and Wayne State on Saturday.
WAYNE STATE - Millie Niggeling, a 6-1 junior forward from Sioux City, Iowa (Massachusetts / Bishop Heelan HS), averaged a team-high 16.0 points and 2.5 rebounds per game as the Wildcats split NSIC home games over the weekend against #17 Northern State and MSU Moorhead. Niggeling had 13 points off the bench in Friday’s 67-63 win over #17 Northern State and had a team-high 19 points on 7 of 11 shooting in a 61-50 setback to the MSU Moorhead Dragons. For the weekend, Niggeling shot 52 percent from the field (13-25) and was 3 for 3 at the foul line. Niggeling has now scored double figures in 18 of 27 games this season, all off the bench, for the Wildcats and ranks second on the team in scoring at 11.3 points per game.
WINONA STATE - Abby Busch, Sr., F., 5-10, Fairfax, Minn. (G-F-W) continued her strong senior season, averaging 19.0 points and 7.0 rebounds as the Warriors beat St. Cloud State on Friday before falling to Minnesota Duluth on Saturday. Busch began the weekend by going 7-of-14 to score 22 points and grab eight rebounds in the win over SCSU. She turned around and scored 16 points while grabbing six rebounds the next night against UMD. The senior shot 50 percent (13-of-26) from the floor while also making 11 of her 14 free throws (78.6 percent). She also handed out four assists, made two steals and blocked a shot in the two games this weekend.
Past NSIC Players of the Week
11/11/13 - Jordan Spencer - WSC
11/18/13 - Carly Boag - MISU
11/25/13 - Hannah Rutten - UMD
12/2/13 - Jordan Spencer - WSC (2)
12/9/13 - Hannah Rutten - UMD (2)
12/16/13 - Anika Whiting - CU
12/23/13 - Kate Warmack - BSU
1/6/14 - Katrina Moenkedick - UMC
1/13/14 - Sadie Stotesbery - NSU
1/20/14 - Anika Whiting - CU (2)
1/27/14 - Christina Boag - MISU
2/3/14 - Laura Johnson - USF
1/20/14 - Anika Whiting - CU (3)
2/17/14 - Carly Boag - MISU (2)