Minnesota State University Moorhead

MOORHEAD, Minn. - The highly anticipated 2009-10 Minnesota State University Moorhead Dragons women’s basketball season is underway with expectations that have been raised after returning the majority of the record setting squad from last season.

The season ushers in the 10th year of the Nelson Era, as Head Coach Karla Nelson has served on the women’s basketball staff for 16 seasons, 10 of which she has been at the helm of the program. Under her guidance the 2008-09 team chalked up another 20+ win season and made their third NCAA Tournament appearance in the past five years.

Four starters from last season return after the team started out the year with a record setting 11-0 start and finished the year 22-8 overall, ending the year as the No.31 ranked team in the nation. The Dragons season ended in the second round of the NCAA Tournament after capping off a tough conference season, finishing third with a 14-6 league record.

The 2009-10 season will be full of challenges as the team will face some of the top-ranked schools in the nation, including two that were ranked among last season’s top-15 and a conference that boasts the reigning national champions and very tough competitors. The Dragons were ranked No.4 in the NSIC Preseason Coaches Poll that was released mid-October.

The Dragons return first-team All-Conference players Alison Nash-Gerlach and Meghan Rettke , but will miss third-team All-Conference selection Katie Walden who ended her career at MSUM last season. The team also graduated Chris Falzon who played a critical role on the Dragons defense.

Walden finished her tenure as a Dragon leading the team her senior season in assists to turnover ratio (sixth in the league, 1.67) and was third in points per game (10.5).

Falzon averaged over 25 minutes last season for the Dragons, with 2.3 boards and 5.8 points per game.

“Losing both Chris and Katie will impact the leadership of the team,” Nelson said. “Anytime you lose two-four year players you have to replace the leadership with those that can fill their shoes.”

Filling the teams’ leadership roles as captains this season will be Nash-Gerlach, Rettke and junior Betsy Dickson.

“Nash-Gerlach’s work ethic and ability to communicate to our team made her a natural choice for captain,” Nelson said. “Rettke has proven herself through the years to be a great example to the younger athletes and Betsy has the greatest ability to motivate our team, that’s why all three were chosen.”

Among the 14 members on the team, five return from the record breaking 2008-09 team for the 2009-10 season. Four of the returnees played a vital role on the starting line-up and will continue to lead the team on the court.
Nash-Gerlach and Rettke return after filling the starting post roles for the past year while senior Krista Opheim and Dickson will lead the attack at the guard position.

The Dragons rebounding efforts last season ranked the team 13th in the nation for rebound margin, averaging 7.9 rebounds per game more than their opponents. This effort was led by conference leading rebounder in Rettke and Nash-Gerlach who combined for nearly 17 boards a game.

Rettke, a four-year letterwinner, returns as the reigning NSIC rebounds leader with 292 last season, averaging 9.7 a game, including 16 games where she had more than ten boards. The team’s second leading scorer with 13.5 points per game, returns for her senior season with a career total of 639 points and 571 rebounds. Rettke was also honored as a member of the second team Daktronics All-American team.

“Meghan is one of the most athletic players in our league,” Nelson said. “She has a lot of skills and is capable on both ends of the floor. If she ups her percentages this season and stays consistent she could contend to lead the nation in rebounding.”

Nash-Gerlach ranked first among the Dragons in scoring averaging with 14.2 points and third among all members of the league with an average of 15.8 points per game in conference play. Also the most consistent Dragon free-throw shooter, she was third among the NSIC in free-throw percentage knocking down 75 of her 87 attempts from the charity stripe (.862).

“Alison does everything,” Nelson said. “She rebounds, scores and plays defense all while working hard to make herself be a great athlete.”

Backing up the two returning post starters will be sophomore transfer Mara Paulson. She transferred from Jamestown College where she had four double-doubles in her rookie campaign, ranking second on the team in scoring (12.29) and rebounds (6.29) per game that led her to be selected as the Dakota Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year.

“Mara will bring a new dimension to the post position,” Nelson said. “She can play a low post and also be a threat from three-point range.”

On the perimeter, senior Krista Opheim and junior Betsy Dickson will return as the top two guards, after playing key roles in the Dragons starting line-up last season. Contending for the third starting spot will be sophomores Angie Jetvig and Brit Mayclin.

Opheim, the Dragons’ point guard, is the leading assists returner to the NSIC, averaged 4.63 assists per game last season leading the team in that category as well as steals with 35.

“Krista sees the court so well,” Nelson said. “She works hard on defense and when she’s on the way back down the court has the ability to see everyone and guide the ball where it needs to be.”

One of the top defenders on the team, Dickson returns after starting in half of MSUM’s contests last year. She had the fourth most rebounds on the team last season with 127.

“We are excited to see Betsy’s impact on the offensive end of the court,” Nelson said. “She’s a tremendous athlete and could be one of the best perimeter shooters in the NSIC this season.”

Jetvig comes off playing in all 30 contests during her rookie campaign, starting in two. She averaged the most time of any freshman in 2008-09 with 7.5 points and 4.3 points per game.

“Angie gained very important experience last year as a forward and post player,” Nelson said. “She could be one of our top players this year as long as she keeps pushing herself to continually improve.”

Mayclin, a transfer from North Dakota State College of Science, will likely be the first person off the bench, contributing mostly as the back-up point guard and the off guard. At NDSCS she averaged 11.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game as a freshman.

“Brittany brings a new level of intensity to our team,” Nelson said. “Her competitive nature as well as her excellent mid-range game will aid us tremendously.”

Also contending for playing time at the guard position will be freshman Marisa Yernatich and Kaycee Charette.

Yernatich closed the books on her prep career with 2,237 points, 675 rebounds, 498 assists and 452 assists for Duluth East High School. She was a four-time Minnesota Associated Press All-State honorable mention selection.

“Marisa will make a huge perimeter impact,” Nelson said. “She has a quick release and can match her offensive skills with her big presence on defense.”

As a senior, Charette averaged 17.3 points, 7.6 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 4 steals per game at Prescott High School (Wisc.). She ended her prep career by being honored as a WBCA All-State honorable mention selection.

“Kaycee is a tremendous athlete,” Nelson said. “She is quick, can score and defend. We will look to her to create chaos, especially on the defensive end of the court.”

The Dragons also added newcomers T-Yanna Devericks, Holly Riesselman and Maggie Evenson to the team’s line-up. The team will likely red-shirt Abby Reiter and Katey Wrobel.


SCHEDULE
The 2009-10 schedule boasts opponents from around the country as well as the tough members of the NSIC.

The Dragons will start their season with an exhibition game against cross-town rival North Dakota State in a game that will be highly competitive.

Non-conference opponents will continue with Minot State as the team opens the home 2009-10 season on Nov. 16.

The following weekend MSUM will face tough competitors in Hillsdale College and Truman State in Marshall, Minn., at the Southwest Minnesota State Basketball Classic. Hillsdale ended the 2008-09 season ranked as the No.15 team in the country.

During the week of Thanksgiving, the Dragons will host their Moorhead rival, Concordia and will end the week with Mayville State.

Conference action will begin the first weekend of December as the team will travel to both Bemidji State and Minnesota Duluth.

They will return home before 2009’s conference play is finished. They will host St. Cloud State on Dec. 11 and follow with Concordia, St. Paul. CU was voted to finish second in the NSIC Preseason Poll.

The team will wrap-up the first half of the season in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., as they will play in the Cruizin Classic. At the tournament they will face Barry (Fla.) and Nova Southeastern (Fla.).

The first weekend in 2010 will be one of the most challenging for the Dragons as action in the NSIC will begin with Southwest Minnesota State on Jan. 2. The following night the team will host the reigning National Champions in Minnesota State Mankato.  The Mavericks come into the season ranked No.1 in the nation and were picked to win the NSIC.

Before hosting three straight, the Dragons will travel to Augustana and Wayne State. Augustana was picked to finish third among the NSIC this season.

Minnesota-Crookston, Winona State and Upper Iowa will all make appearances in Alex Nemzek Fieldhouse in mid-January. Winona State was ranked No.5 in the NSIC Preseason poll, receiving one first place vote, they were two points behind the Dragons.

The Dragons will begin a four game NSIC road trip at the end of January, traveling to Northern State (S.D.), Mary (N.D.), SMSU and finish the trek in Mankato.

The third annual Coaches for the Cure “Go Pink” game will be played against Minnesota Duluth on Feb. 13, one night after the Dragons’ host Bemidji State.

The Dragons will wrap up the 2009-10 regular season with road games against Concordia St. Paul and Minnesota Crookston but will host Northern State in between road trips.

The opening round of the NSIC Tournament will begin on March 2 and will follow with the tournament at the highest remaining team. The NCAA Regional Tournament will begin on March 12.