MOORHEAD, Minn. – The MSU Moorhead women's and men's basketball teams are taking their first road trip of the new year. They start on Friday, Jan. 7 against the University of Mary in Bismarck, N.D with the women at 2 p.m. and the men at 4 p.m. On Saturday, Jan. 8 the teams head to Aberdeen, S.D. to take on the Wolves of Northern State University. The women tip off at 2 p.m. with the Dragon men to follow.

DRAGON WOMEN
The Dragon women (4-7, 1-6 NSIC) hit the road after falling 57-64 in a hard fought NSIC battle to Southwest Minnesota State University on Jan. 3. The Mustangs came out with at 19-8 run sparked by hot three-point shooting.

After a 6-0 run by the Dragon's, all coming in free throws, four following a technical foul by Mustang Head Coach Allison Kruger, the team was able to pull within 14 to end the half 21-35.

The second half of play remained even during the first fifteen minutes. With only 5:41 remaining on the clock, the Mustangs sat ahead by 16 points. But after two made free throws by Morgan Zabel and a three pointer by Kaycee Charette the Dragons went on a 18-7 run to pull within five points with just over a minute to play.

The Dragons had no other option but to foul, however, the Mustangs who were already in a bonus kept up their hot shooting and hit important free throws to give them the seven point victory.

Leading the Dragons was freshman center Taylor Shepard. In her first start of the season, she posted her first double double of her Dragon career with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Senior forward Angie Jetvig was behind Shepard with nine points and 10 rebounds.

Other contributors were sophomore guard Morgan Zabel with nine points and nine rebounds and junior guard Kaycee Charette with nine points and three steals.

UMARY WOMEN
The University of Mary Marauders (9-3, 6-2 NSIC) are No. 3 in the NSIC. They are currently the only team to have beat No. 9 Wayne State.

On a five game win streak, they Marauders come into their battle against the Dragons after a 20 win over Upper Iowa. In this weeks ranking, U Mary received votes in the USA Today ESPN Top 25 poll.

In their victory over Upper Iowa, five players scored in double digits. Junior forward Shaunna Knife led the team with 14 points, junior guard Laura Peterson had 13, and sophomore forwards McKenzie Foster and Kaitlyn Haage chipped in 12 and junior guard Ali Collins contributed 10 total points.
Collins leads the team in scoring with 11.8 points per game, assists with 3.3 per game and steals with 2.6 per game. Junior forward Linda Murry leads the team in rebounds with 4.7 per game.

NSU WOMEN
The Wolves women (9-4, 5-3 NSIC) are on a two game win streak. Their last win came on Jan. 3 against Winona State, the wolves took the game 59-49.

In the game the Wolves were lead by junior forward Sarah Hinz who had 18 total points and nine rebounds. Senior center Jenna Higgins and sophomore guard Alison Kusler who added 13 and nine points, respectively. Kusler also pulled down eight rebounds.

Senior guard Emily Becken leads the team in scoring and assists with 11.4 points per game and 3.7 assists per game. Senior forward Mikayla Barondeau leads the team in rebounds and steals with 6.5 and 1.8 per game, respectively.

DRAGON MEN
The Dragon men (11-0, 7-0 NSIC) continue to remain undefeated after winning two more NSIC battles against Minnesota State University Mankato and Southwest Minnesota State University on Jan. 2 & 3.  The also moved up two spots in the polls this week as they currently sit No. 19 in the nation.

In their latest victory, 75-65, against SMSU on Jan. 3 the Dragons showed how good of a team they are by having a comeback victory of ten points.

The Dragons played from behind during most of the first half being down by as much as seven, but after two made free throws by Charlie Chapman time expired in the half with a score of 34-30 in favor of the Mustangs.

In the second half, the Dragons came out strong and pulled a 12-point swing on the mustangs as they lead them by eight with 12:42 left on the clock. But the Mustangs were able to bounce back and tied the game up yet again.

With three and half minutes left the play the score sat tied at 61. Then freshman guard Jordan Riewer to give the Dragons a lead they would never give back.

The Dragons were lead in scoring by senior guard Charlie Chapman who dropped 20 points on the night. Senior guard Jake Driscoll was behind Chapman with 14 points and junior forward Alex Novak added 11 points and 14 rebounds.

UMARY MEN
The University of Mary men (2-10, 1-7 NSIC) come into their battle with the Dragons on a six game losing streak with their most recent loss coming on Jan. 3 against Upper Iowa. The Maraduers feel to the Peacocks 72-76 in an overtime game.

U Mary led the game by six going into the half but the Peacocks easily tied up the score at the start of the second half. The score remained even and went back and fourth throughout the rest of the game.

In overtime, weighed down with fouls, the Marauders feel behind and sharp free throw shooting by the Peacocks gave them the four-point victory.

Junior guard Josh Turner led the Marauders with a double double of 23 points and 10 rebounds and seven assists.  Senior forward Damon Smith and sophomore guard Jalen Jaspers were behind Turner with 15 and 14 points, respectively.

Turner leads the team in scoring with 15.1 points per game and Jaspers lead the team in assists per game with 2.8 Junior forward Alex Dorr leads the team with 4.8 rebounds per game and senior guard Baley Johnson has 1.3 steals per game.

NSU MEN
The Northern State Men (8-4, 4-4 NSIC) also come into this weekends match-up on a two game win streak, last defeating Winona State in a close battle 60-58.

Junior forward Dustin Tatzlaff led the team with 16 points and eight rebounds. He went 6-6 from the free throw line, a big reason for the Wolves success. Junior forward Collin Pryor and junior guard Geoffrey Firmin followed behind Tatzlaff with 11 and 10 points, respectfully.

Tatzlaff leads the Wolves in scoring and rebounds with 15.5 points per game and 7.5 rebounds per game. Firmin leads the team in assists with 2.6 per game and senior guard Alex Thomas leads the team in steals per game with 1.3.