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MOORHEAD, Minn. -- With an experienced nucleus leading the way, the Minnesota State University Moorhead women's basketball team opens the 2013-14 regular season on Saturday at home against Mayville State. Game time is 5 p.m. at Alex Nemzek Hall in Moorhead, Minn.

Mayville and MSUM will meet for a 40th time with the Dragons holding a 27-12 series lead.

The Dragons battled Division I foe Minnesota tough in an exhibition game last Saturday, trailing by just one point with 10 minutes left but the Gophers pulled away to a 69-54 win.

The Dragons graduated only two seniors  and return eight letterwinners -- including  six different players who started games a year ago -- for the 2013-14 campaign, which is their 14th under Head Coach Karla Nelson (224-148 record).

MSUM is led by three senior veterans. Senior  forward Megan Strese, who was first-team All-Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference in 2012-13, led the Dragons with 14.4 points and 9.9 rebounds per game. She had 10 double-doubles. Senior guard/forward Morgan Zabel, who was second-team All-NSIC last season, also returns after finishing second on the team in scoring at 12.9 points per game. Zabel also shot a team-best 89.4 percent from the free throw line. Senior guard Haley Thomforde is also back after leading the team with 93 assists last season.

Thomforde returns at the point guard spot but can also play the two guard position. Freshman Natalie Van Wyhe will also see time at the point with sophomore Jessy Noreen and freshman Hailey Wixo also looking to battle for time there.

Redshirt freshman Morgan Banasik is the early leader at the two-guard spot; she started in the Minnesota game. Thomforde and Noreen also could play at that spot.

At the three guard/forward spot, Zabel returns after averaging 29.3 minutes per game a year ago. Sophomore Meghan Roehrich, who had a solid game at Minnesota, also will see time there with redshirt freshman Anna Rynda looking to contribute.

Sophomore Savanna Handevidt started 21 games at the four position last year and returns. She had seven points in 19 minutes in the Minnesota game. Freshman Drew Sannes and sophomore Heather Strese also are pushing for time at the four position.

Megan Strese will man the five spot; she had 16 points and eight rebounds at Minnesota. Sophomore Leah Miller, who appeared in all 28 games a year ago, and Heather Strese will provide depth at that position.

Guard Ashley Bentz is expected to redshirt in 2013-14.

About Mayville State
The Comets are off to a 3-0 start in 2013-14.. They one wins over Canadian Mennonite (138-32), University of Winnipeg (94-82) and Brandon University (92-78). Marcisa McMillian leads the Comets at 20.7 points and 12.3 rebounds per game, while Liza Hoglo is averaging 20 points per game.  Kay Laforet averages nearly eight assists per game.  Mayville State averages 108 points per game and allows 64. Dennis Hutter is in his eighth season as Mayville State's head coach.