For Immediate Release
Monday, Feb. 24, 2014
NSIC Media Relations
Full PDF Release
NSIC Player of the Week
#32 Katrina Newman
F, 5-11, Sr.,
Barnum, Minn.
Barnum HS
Minnesota Duluth
Senior forward Katrina Newman led the way as UMD closed out the regular season with a sweep of Bemidji State and Minnesota Crookston. She had 16 points on 7-of-15 shooting in Friday’s 72-50 win over the Beavers, but truly shined with 25 points and 17 rebounds in a dominant 87-64 defeat of the Golden Eagles on Saturday night. She added a pair of steals and three assists to lift the Bulldogs to the win, and finished the weekend shooting 16-of-42 with 20 rebounds, seven assists, one block and a pair of steals while averaging 20 points per game and going a perfect 7-for-7 from the charity stripe.
NSIC/Sanford Health Basketball Tournament
The 2013-14 NSIC/Sanford Health Women's Basketball Tournament bracket has been released as the
22-game regular season ended Saturday night. Wayne State won the NSIC Overall and South Division Championships and will be the top seed in the south division. Northern State earned the No. 1 seed in the north division. The top four teams in each division will host the 5-8 teams from the opposite division on Wednesday, February 26. The quarterfinals, semifinals and championship will take place on March 1-4 at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D.
NSIC / Sanford Health Tournament Website
#NSICTourney
2013-14 NSIC Women’s Basketball Notes
AUGUSTANA - #3 Shaunteva Ashley (G, 5-8, Jr., Sioux Falls, S.D. / Roosevelt HS) made history this past weekend for the Vikings by becoming the ninth player in school history with at least 1,000 points, 300 rebounds, 300 assists in her career. Ashley scored a career-high 34 points in a win against Upper Iowa on Friday night. The Sioux Falls, S.D. native was the first player to score at least 30 points in a game since Molly Hayes back in 2011. Ashley also finished the game with four assists. On Saturday, Ashley put her passing skills on display by dishing out a season-high seven assists to go along with her 17 points in a loss at Winona State to close out the regular season. For the weekend, Ashley averaged 25.5 points, 2 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 57.5 percent shooting (19 of 33), 91.6 percent from the foul line (11 of 12).
BEMIDJI STATE - #10 Morgan Lee (G, 5-7, Sr., Hayward, Wis. / Hayward HS) recorded 18 points and 3.5 rebounds per game in an 0-2 NSIC road weekend. Lee shot 41.9 percent from the field, 41.7 percent (5-for-12) from long range and 83.3 percent (5-for-6) from the free throw line. She added six assists and two steals. Lee totaled 12 points Friday at Minnesota Duluth with three rebounds and two assists. Saturday at St. Cloud State, the senior recorded 24 points on 8-for-18 (44.4%) shooting from the field, a 3-for-7 (42.9%) effort from long range and a 5-of-6 (83.3%) mark from the free throw line. She also added four rebounds, four assists and two steals.
The Beavers went 0-2 on an NSIC road weekend Feb. 21-22 to close the regular season with a 9-17 overall and 5-17 NSIC record. Bemidji State finished eighth in the NSIC North and is the No. 8 seed in the NSIC/Sanford Health Tournament. The Beavers travel to No. 1 seed of the South and No. 11 nationally, Wayne State, Feb. 26 for a 7 p.m. first round meeting. Bemidji State is 13-26 all-time against the Wildcats. BSU has lost three straight to WSC, which includes a 87-41 road loss to the then-No. 11 Wildcats Jan. 11. Senior Kate Warmack finished with 18 points, eight rebounds and two blocks in the loss. She closed the 22-game conference season second in blocks (2.3 bpg), fourth in field goal percentage (52.6%), sixth in rebounding (9.3 rpg) and 15th in scoring (15.3 ppg). Senior Morgan Lee finished eighth in scoring with 16 points per game.
CONCORDIA-ST. PAUL - Ameshia Kearney (G, 5’9”, Jr., Minneapolis, Minn. / South HS / Johnson County CC) caught fire for the Golden Bears as she averaged 19.5 points on 56.5% (13-23) shooting and 58.3% (7-12) from beyond the arc. She also averaged 3.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.0 steals in the two wins. Kearney set a career high with 26 points on Saturday in Sioux Falls as she buried 9-12 from the floor and 4-6 from three in the game. Kearney, the team’s third leading scorer, is averaging 11.3 points per game on the season.
Concordia-St. Paul (21-8, 16-6 NSIC) closed out the regular season with a sweep of Southwest Minnesota State and Sioux Falls on the road. On Friday, defense proved to be the difference as CU held the Mustangs to a season-low 25.0% from the field for the game as they cruised to a 66-44 win. Concordia also dominated down low as they out-rebounded the Mustangs 51-36 and outscored them in the paint 30-16. The bench also proved to be a major factor as the Golden Bears received 20 points from the non-starters compared to 12 for SMSU. On Saturday, the Golden Bears finished off the regular season with an 87-67 win over Sioux Falls. The win was head coach Paul Fessler’s 400th of his career and 299th of his Concordia career. The Golden Bears have clinched the third seed in the South and will host Minnesota Duluth at 7 p.m. on Wednesday night in the NSIC Tournament first round. The winner will advance to the second round at the Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D. The Golden Bears dominated on the offensive end, shooting 48.5% from the floor. Their shooting percentage and point total both marked their second best on the season. They also connected on 10-18 (55.6%) from three. CU took care of business on the glass as well with a 45-34 advantage in the rebounding category.
UNIVERSITY OF MARY - Freshman Hannah Larson (F, 6-0, Bismarck, N.D. / Century HS) came out her shell for U-Mary, with her top-two offensive outputs of the season. The 6-0 forward scored a season-high 14 points on Friday. Larson finished 4-of-10 from deep for season-highs in both attempts and makes. Larson followed up on Saturday with 13 points and eight blocks. U-Mary struggled early offensively shooting just 8-of-36 in the first half and was never able to recover as it fell 73-59 to Northern State. For the game U-Mary shot just 29.9 percent to NSU’s 37.3. The Marauders hit a season-high 12 three-pointers, on season-high 30 attempts, to the Wolves 4-of-14. NSU held a distinct advantage at the free throw line going 25-of-28 to U-Mary’s 7-of-11. U-Mary finished the 2014 regular season on a high-note with a convincing win over MSU Moorhead. The Marauders led by double digits nearly the entire game en route to a 78-62 win over the Dragons Saturday night. Connecting at a .526 clip from the field, this is the fourth time the Marauders have shot better than .500 this season. In contrast, the Dragons shot their fourth worst percentage of the season at .317. The No. 3 seed in the NSIC North, U-Mary will host the No. 6 seed in the NSIC South, Winona State University, on Feb. 26 at 7 p.m. to open the 2014 NSIC / Sanford Health Women’s Basketball Tournament.
MINNESOTA CROOKSTON - Alexa Thielman (So., G, Buffalo, Minn.) averaged 15.5 points per game and three rebounds as the Golden Eagles fell in a pair of games against St. Cloud State University and University of Minnesota Duluth. Thielman tallied 23 points, including 17 in the first half against Minnesota Duluth Saturday, helping the Golden Eagles to a lead in the first half. Thielman was 7-of-12 from the field and 5-of-8 from beyond the arc against the Bulldogs. She added five boards. On Friday, the sophomore had eight points and one rebound. Thielman finishes the regular-season averaging 15.1 points per game.
The University of Minnesota Crookston will be the seventh seed in the NSIC/Sanford Health Tournament and will take on No. 2 seed Minnesota State University, Mankato Wed., Feb. 26 at 6 p.m. at the Taylor Center. The game will be a rematch of a contest played just two weeks ago in which the Mavericks won 69-57 at Lysaker Gymnasium in Crookston, Minn. The winner of the game will move on to face either Winona State University or University of Mary at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D. Sun., March 2
MINNESOTA DULUTH - Senior forward Katrina Newman led the way as UMD closed out the regular season with a sweep of Bemidji State and Minnesota Crookston. She had 16 points on 7-of-15 shooting in Friday’s 72-50 win over the Beavers, but truly shined with 25 points and 17 rebounds in a dominant 87-64 defeat of the Golden Eagles on Saturday night. She added a pair of steals and three assists to lift the Bulldogs to the win, and finished the weekend shooting 38.1 percent (16-of-42) with 20 rebounds, seven assists, one block and a pair of steals while averaging 20 points per game and going a perfect 7-for-7 from the charity stripe.
Sophomore forward Taylor Meyer and junior guard Jessica Newman combined for 33 points to help the Bulldogs get the win on Saturday night. UMD now has its sights set on Concordia-St. Paul in the opening round of the NSIC/Sanford Health Posteseason Tournament on Wednesday. The Golden Bears knocked off the Bulldogs on Jan. 3 in their lone meeting this season.
MINNESOTA STATE - No. 20 Minnesota State streaks into the playoffs riding a 10 game winning-streak as it downed the University of Sioux Falls and Southwest Minnesota State by scores of 82-72 and 89-58, respectively. With their pair of wins the Mavericks are 15-2 in their last 17 games and are averaging 82.2 points per game and own a +7.19 turnover margin on the season. MSU now turns its attention to Minnesota Crookston in the opening round of the NSIC tournament. Minnesota State downed Minnesota Crookston 69-57 in Crookston on Feb. 15.
The Mavericks were led by senior Ali Wilkinson who averaged 17 points and 3.5 rebounds per contest on an extremely efficient showing from the field, knocking down 77% (10-13) of her shots from the field, 75% (3-4) from behind the arc and 73% (11-15) from the charity stripe. The Blue Mounds, Wis., native also tallied four assists, four steals and a block. On the season, Wilkinson is averaging 17 points and 7.7 rebounds per game and is connecting on 53% of her shots from the field, 46% from behind the arc and 78% of her free throws.
MSU MOORHEAD - Megan Strese (F, 6-0, Sr., Evansville, Minn. / Brandon HS) had a solid week for the Dragons, who concluded the regular season at home. The senior forward averaged 12.0 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. Strese had 14 points in a loss to Minot State on Friday and followed with a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds in a loss to Mary on Saturday. Strese also shot 80 percent (8-of-10) from the foul line for the week.
Additional note: MSUM is back in action on Wednesday at Augustana to open the NSIC/Sanford Health Tournament. The Dragons edged the Vikings, 78-76 in the regular season in Sioux Falls, S.D.
MINOT STATE - After being picked 12th overall by the Northern Sun coaches and fifth in the NSIC North Division, Minot State University wrapped up the No. 2 seed Friday with a 79-56 win over Minnesota State University Moorhead. MSU finished the final road trip of the season with a tough 59-49 loss at NSIC North top seed and No. 22 ranked Northern State Saturday. #24 Alisha Jones (G, 5-7, Sr., Killeen, Texas / Ellison / Temple Junior College) had a strong weekend, netting 22 points in the win over MSUM and finished with 27 points, eight assists and six rebounds. #40 Carly Boag (F, 6-2, Sr., Tamworth, Australia / Abbotsleigh) averaged a double-double with 29 points, 21 rebounds and four steals, setting the single season scoring mark with 460 points. #50 Christina Boag (F, 6-2, Jr., Tamworth, Australia / Abbotsleigh) had a great all-around weekend with 24 points, 16 rebounds, four assists, four blocks and two steals. The No. 2 seeding will get the Beavers their first home NSIC playoff game as MISU plays host to No. 7 Upper Iowa Wednesday at 7 p.m.
NORTHERN STATE - Northern State clinched the NSIC north division title this weekend after their game one win over University of Mary. The Wolves defeated the Marauders 73-59 from their home arena in Aberdeen. The Wolves came out hot in night two, to capture another victory against Minot State 59-49. The two victories pushed the Wolves above the 20 win mark with an overall record of 21-5 and NSIC record of 17-5. Northern had previously lost to the Beavers and Marauders earlier this season on the road. NSU will know host Southwest Minnesota State University this Wednesday from Wachs Arena, with a 6 p.m. tip-off time.
#32 Alison Kusler (G, 5-9, Sr., Aberdeen, S.D./Aberdeen Central) averaged 15 points and 6.5 rebounds in the Wolves divisional victories over Minot State and U-Mary. Kusler, the leading scorer and free-throw shooter for the Wolves, was 10-14 from the line and connected for four long range buckets on the weekend. The senior notched three assists and two steals as she led the Wolves to their first ever north division crown. The home town standout will return to Wachs Arena for the final time this Wednesday as the Wolves match-up against the Mustangs of Southwest Minnesota State.
SIOUX FALLS - The USF women’s basketball team dropped both of their games this past weekend as they fell to two of the top teams in the NSIC in Minnesota State and Concordia-St. Paul. The USF women’s basketball team was on the verge of pulling an upset over No. 20 Minnesota State at the Stewart Center on Friday night as they held a ten-point lead at the end of the first half, but a second half where the Mavericks shot 54.5% erased the Cougars lead and gave Minnesota State an 82-72 victory. In Saturday’s matchup Concordia-St. Paul got out to an early lead and wouldn’t look back as they never trailed on their way to an 87-67 victory. The Cougars struggled offensively in the two matchups as they shot 36.2% from the field. However, a bright spot for the Cougars on that end of the court came from behind the arc as they went 35.8% from downtown making 19 total three-point shots. Taylor Varsho (G, 5-7, SO., Chili, Wis./Colorado State) led the charge for the Cougars offensively as she averaged 16.6 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.5 steals, 1.5 assists and 0.5 blocks in the two games. Varsho scored a game-high 21 points in the loss to Minnesota State also grabbing seven rebounding and swiping five steals. Next up the Cougars will travel to St. Cloud, Minn. to take on the Huskies in the first round of the NSIC/Sanford Health Tournament with tipoff slated for 6 p.m.
SMSU - Bree Holleman (G, 5-8, Sr., Hancock, Minn. / Hancock) ended her four-year career by shooting 9 of 22 from the floor in Southwest Minnesota State’s final two regular season home games at the R/A Facility. SMSU fell to a pair of NCAA Central Region ranked teams – 66-44 to Concordia-St. Paul and 89-58 to No. 20 Minnesota State. Holleman combined to score 26 points, while collecting seven rebounds, six assists and two steals in the losses. The senior guard knocked down 4 of her 7 3-point attempts. Holleman will look to lead the Mustangs to a first round upset over No. 1 seeded (North) Northern State in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference / Sanford Health Tournament on Wednesday.
ST. CLOUD STATE - The Huskies capped off their final regular season weekend of play with a sweep over Minnesota Crookston and Bemidji State. The Huskies took on the Golden Eagles on Friday in Halenbeck Hall and won 87 to 46 in final scoring. The Huskies were led by sophomore forward Lexy Petermann (Fond du Lac, Wis.) who finished the night with 17 points. Petermann went six of nine from the field and grabbed three steals. On Saturday night, seniors Jessica Benson (Grand Meadow) and Sam Price (Eau Claire, Wis.) led St. Cloud State with 20 points each. Benson grabbed 15 rebounds to secure her thirteenth double-double of the season. Price knocked down four shots from beyond the arc and six of six shots at the line. She finished with a team-high six assists.Three additional Huskies finished in double-digit scoring. Lexy Petermann went eight of 11 from the field to score 19 points. On the weekend, Petermann came off the bench to score 36 points, grab six steals and shoot a collective 14 of 20 from the field (70%). Rachael Moen (Savage) and Carley Jeffery (Cambridge, Wis.) each hit three shots from three-point range to finish with 11. With Saturday’s win and the University of Mary’s win over Minnesota State Moorhead, the Huskies moved into fourth place in the NSIC North and will host their first round game of the NSIC Sanford Health Basketball Tournament on Wednesday, Feb. 26 at 6 p.m. The Huskies will take on #5 South Division seed University of Sioux Falls. St. Cloud State improves to 16-10 overall and 12-10 in the NSIC heading into postseason play.
UPPER IOWA - Upper Iowa nearly pulled off a big upset on Friday night but foul trouble sparked a Viking rally as Augustana escaped Fayette with a 97-93 victory. Peacock leaders Sam Thrapp and Whitney Kieffer both had to sit major minutes in the second half of Friday night’s game. The team had a seven point lead when the pair sat, but Augie took advantage and took a lead in the final minutes. On Saturday, the #11 Wildcats of Wayne State used their shutdown defense to hold the Peacocks off the scoreboard for the first eight minutes while building a double-digit lead. WSC won the game 78-56 despite a second big game from Carly Pagel, who scored 20 points for the second straight night. For the weekend, UIU shot 43.9% for the field while averaging 74.5 points. Pagel led the team with her 20 point average and 6.5 rebounds per game, while Kieffer added 17 points a contest. Lauren Buck scored 12.5 and grabbed 8 rebounds per game. The team honored their lone senior, Sam Thrapp, after Saturday’s game; the Davenport, Iowa product averaged 11.5 points, 4 assists and 3 rebounds per game.
Upper Iowa will travel to Minot, N.D. for their first round game in the NSIC/Sanford Health Basketball Tournament. The seventh-seeded Peacocks will look to upset the second-seeded Beavers of Minot State on Wednesday night with tip-off scheduled for 7 p.m.
WAYNE STATE - Senior forward Ellen Hansen was the lone Wildcat player to score double figures in both games over the weekend at the #11 Wildcats clinched a third NSIC regular season title in the last four seasons with road wins at Winona State and Upper Iowa. Hansen, a 6-1 senior forward from Ames, Iowa, averaged 14 points and 8.0 rebounds per game, accounting for 16 points and nine rebounds in Friday’s 83-49 win at Winona State and then added 12 points and seven rebounds in Saturday’s 78-56 win at Upper Iowa. For the weekend, Hansen shot 9 of 13 from the field (69.2%), was 6 for 8 from the 3-point line (75%) and a perfect 4 of 4 at the free throw line. Wayne State will host Bemidji State Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. in a first round game of the NSIC Sanford Health Women’s Basketball Tournament.
WINONA STATE - Abby Busch, F, Sr., Fairfax, Minn. (G-F-W) set a Winona State record with 39 points in the Warriors’ win over Augustana Saturday in their regular season finale. Busch was absolutely superb, scoring her 39 points on 14-of-16 shooting while also going 11-of-12 from the free throw line. The senior, playing her final game in Winona, posted her third double-double of the season as well, grabbing 11 rebounds. Her total tops the previous WSU single-game scoring record of 36 set by Pat Neder against Bemidji State in 1989. Busch averaged 24.0 points and 8.0 rebounds per game on the weekend, having scored nine to go with five rebounds the previous night against No. 11 Wayne State. Busch shot 60 percent (18-of-30) from the floor on the weekend while also making 12 of her 14 free throws (85.7 percent).
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
2/10/14 - Anika Whiting - CU (3)
2/17/14 - Carly Boag - MISU (2)
2/24/14 - Katrina Newman - UMD