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MOORHEAD, Minn. -- The Minnesota State University Moorhead women's basketball team opens the 2012- 13 regular season on Friday at Valley City State. Game time is 7 p.m. in Valley City, N.D.
The game can be heard on the Eagle 106.9 FM with
Steve d'Eustachio on the call.
MSUM and Valley City State will meet for a 43rd time, with the Dragons leading the all-time series 26-16.
About MSUM
The Dragons battled tough in an exhibition loss to Division I foe North Dakota State on Nov. 5. MSUM had three players in double figures, led by senior
Marisa Yernatich with 12 points, while senior
Kaycee Charette and junior
Morgan Zabel each collected 10. The Dragons were within 61-55 with nine minutes left before the Bison pulled away.
MSUM returns just five players from last year's team and is welcoming nine freshmen to the roster. The Dragons' top returnees include junior forward
Megan Strese, who averaged 10.7 points per game; Yernatich, who averaged 8.3 points per game a year ago and is third all-time in three pointers made (134); and Charette, who averaged 6.5 points per game. Juniors
Haley Thomforde and Zabel both return after averaging 6.6 points per game each a year ago.
Karla Nelson is in her 13th season as MSUM's head coach with a record of 208-136. The Dragons have never had a losing season under Nelson.
About Valley City State
Valley City State is off to a 1-1 start in 2012-13. The Vikings lost to Northwestern (Iowa) 67-64 but beat Dordt, 71-63. They finished 19-15 a year ago. Brittany Lehner leads the scoring at 15.5 points per game while Sierra Even averages 11.5. The Vikings are coming off of back-to-back trips to the NAIA National Tournament.
Jill DeVries is in her 14th season as Valley City State's head coach with a record of 166-191 at the school.
Preseason Poll?
MSUM was picked to finish 11th in the NSIC in a polling of the league's coaches. The Dragons were picked to finish fourth in the NSIC's North Division.
Climbing the Charts?
Yernatich is at 134 three-pointers, just 17 behind the all-time record held by Kris Wilson of 151.
