MOORHEAD, Minn. – The Minnesota State University Moorhead Dragon women's and men's basketball teams open the new year at home on Monday, Jan. 2 against Minnesota State University Mankato and Tuesday, Jan. 3 against Southwest Minnesota State University at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.

DRAGON WOMEN
The Dragon women (4-5, 1-4 NSIC) come into the New Year after suffering a 98-66 loss to the Augustana College Vikings on Dec. 18.

In the opening five minutes of the game, the Dragons were able to keep the score close. However, sparked by a layup and made free throw, the Vikings went on a 29-10 run to give them a 19 point lead with only five minutes left in the half. Augustana closed out the first period with a commanding 45-22 lead.

The second half seemed to be going the Dragons way, sparked by sophomore Angela Christianson's 15 total points, only being outscored by nine. But the first half deficit of 23 points was too much for the Dragons to over come.

Christianson led the Dragons with 15 points and two assists. Senior Brittany Mayclin also added nine points and two assists followed by junior Marisa Yernatich with eight points.

MANKATO WOMEN
The Mavericks (7-3, 3-3 NSIC) come into the bout against the Dragons on a three game win streak with their last win coming on Dec. 17 against fellow NSIC member Winona State. The Mavericks took the game 66-55.

After being down by 10 going in the half time, the Mavricks rallied and outscored Winona by 21 points in the second half to give them the 11 point victory.

Senior guard Jennie Noreen led the team 19 points, four steals, four assists and three rebounds. Other key contributors were freshman guard Aubrey Davis with 18 points and five steals and senior center Laura Weber with eight points and six rebounds.

Noreen leads the team in assists and steals with 2.4 and 1.9 per game, respectively. Weber leads the team in rebounds with 6.8 per game and junior forward Ali Wilkinson leads the team with an average of 12 points per game.

SMSU WOMEN
The Mustang women (3-7, 2-4 NSIC) are coming into their battle with the Dragons on a one game win streak. On Dec. 17 they defeated the Peacocks of Upper Iowa 75-59.

The Mustangs controlled the game throughout as they had a nine point lead at the half and outscored the Peacocks by seven in the second half, giving them the 16-point victory.

Senior center Abby Kenealy and senior guard Courtney McCarthy led the team with 18 points apiece and seven and five rebounds, respectively. Sophomore guard Bree Holleman was also in double digits for the Mustangs with 11 points and she added four steals.

Kenealy currently leads the team with 16.9 points per game and 4.9 rebounds per game. Holleman leads the team in assists with 2.5 per game and senior guard Taylor Voss leads the team in steals with 1.3 per game.

DRAGON MEN
The Dragon men (9-0, 5-0 NSIC) continue their undefeated streak after defeating No. 22 Augustana College 81-76 on Dec. 18.

After their win over the Vikings, the Dragon men became nationally ranked for the first time since the school joined Division II athletics. They currently sit No. 21 in the nation and No. 1 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, as they are the only unbeaten team.

In their game against the Vikings, the Dragon men sat scoreless after five minutes of play and an 11-0 run by Augustana. With six minutes left to play in the half the Dragons were still down 10 with a score of 27-17.  But strong defense, a couple three pointers and five made buckets from the charity stripe gave the Dragons a 18-8 run and tied the score at 35 as the final buzzer of the period rang.

The first 15 minutes of play in the second half went back and fourth. The final tie of the game came with eight minutes of play left in regulation and a score of 62 following a three pointer by the Vikings.

But that didn't shut down senior guard Charlie Chapman as he answered right back with a three pointer of his own. The Dragons kept a consistent five point lead for the remainder of the game and took the victory 81-76.

Leading the Dragons were senior guard Charlie Chapman and junior forward Jake Lindfors with 18 points apiece. Freshman Jordan Riewers and senior Jake Driscoll were close behind with 13 and 11 points, respectively.

MANKATO MEN
The Maverick men (4-6, 303 NSIC) dropped their most recent game 72-78 to Winona State on Dec. 17.

Mankato sat ahead by four with a score of 36-32 at the half. However, only three minutes into the second half, Winona regained the lead and never looked back. Outscoring the Mavericks by 10, Winona walked away with the six-point victory.

Freshman guard Miles Chamberlain led the team with 16 total points and five rebounds. Sophomore forward Connor O'Brien and sophomore guard Jimmy Whitehead followed closely behind Chamberlain with 14 points and seven rebounds and 13 points and five rebounds, respectively.

O'Brien leads the team in scoring with 11.1 points per game, rebounds with 8.5 per game and steals with 1.2 per game. Leading the team in assists is Whitehead with 2.5 per game.
 
SMSU MEN
The Mustang men sit .500 on the season with a record of (5-5, 4-2 NSIC) after defeating Upper Iowa 73-67 on Dec. 17.

At the end of the first half the Peacocks of Upper Iowa had the three-point advantage with a score of 35-32. But after the Mustangs outscored the Peacocks by nine in the second half, the Mustangs took the victory by six.

Junior guard Jordan Miller led the team with 23 points, three steals, two blocked shots, two assists and two rebounds. Other key contributors were senior guard Trent Carlson and sophomore guard Matt Zager with 14 and 11 points, respectively.

Miller leads the team in scoring with 15.1 points per game, sophomore center Nick Smith leads the team in rebounds with 5.4 per game, sophomore guard Vinard Birch leads the team with 4.3 assists per game and Zager is on top with 1.5 steals.