MOORHEAD, Minn. -- The MSU Moorhead women's basketball team will head south to Claremore, Okla., to tip off the new basketball season. The first action of the season will come against the host of the Regional Challenge, Rogers State University, in a 6 p.m. start on Friday. MSUM's second test of the season will come against 10th-ranked Central Missouri in Saturday afternoon action with a 2 p.m. tip.

Live stats and video are available at msumdragons.com
 
Previewing the New Look Dragons

The Dragons finished last season one game above .500, with a record of 14-13. This season, with a young team led by a few very talented leaders, the Dragons were picked to finish ninth in the NSIC's preseason coaches' poll. 

Starting with one of the team leaders and recipient of MSUM's player to watch, junior guard Natalie Jens. Jens was MSUM's best shooter from beyond the three-point arc last season, making 50 three pointers at a 34.5 percent clip. She scored the second-most points for the Dragons last season with 361, an average of 13.4 each game. She fights on the glass as well, managing to find 4.6 rebounds per game from her guard position. Jens was also the team leader in assists, finding her teammates for 90 buckets during the course of the season. She also has some of the best ball handles in the NSIC, as well as being a top tier defender. Dragon head coach Karla Nelson commended Jens' leadership ability as well saying that, "She is a tremendous leader for the Dragons on and off the court".

Graduate student Olivia Skibiel looks to build on a fantastic 2022-23 campaign. She averaged 7.1 points per game, made 38 three pointers, as well as being the best free throw shooter on the team, making 81.3 percent of her free throw attempts. Sophomore center Terryn Johnson is also a key returning piece for the Dragons. She shot 54 percent from the field and averaged five points per game. She was second on the team in blocks with eight, and she also snagged 3.7 rebounds per game. Sophomore guard Bailey Keske played significant minutes in her freshman season for the Dragons, tallying 224 minutes played for her squad. Keske shot 41.4 percent from the field, and also assisted on 20 baskets. Sophomore guard Kaila Youngs was second on the team in blocks last season, rejecting 9 shot attempts. Youngs played 315 minutes for the Dragons and had 35 rebounds for the Dragons in 2022-23.

The Dragons added a transfer in the offseason in grad transfer guard Ashley Gustavson from Wayne State College. She was second on the Wildcats in three-point percentage, making 21 threes at a 38.2 percent clip. She made 12 starts for the NSIC foe Wildcats last season down in Wayne, America.

The Dragons are coached by 24^th year head coach Karla Nelson. Nelson has 399 career wins as MSUM's head coach. 
 
Scouting Rogers State University

The Hillcats of Rogers State University had a disappointing 2022-23 season as they finished 5-23. They were picked 13^th out of 14 teams in the MIAA preseason coaches' poll. The Dragons beat them in the season opener last year with a score of 63-40. The Hillcats scored an average of 55.6 points per game, while their opponents scored 67.0 points per game. They shot 36 percent as a team from the floor and 28.2 percent from beyond the arc. They grabbed 33.4 rebounds per game and assisted on 11.3 baskets per game.

Key returners for the Hillcats are sophomore guard Kaya Goldsby, senior forward Kamryn Estell and senior forward Trinity Jackson.

The Hillcats are led by first year head coach Heather Davis.
 
Scouting University of Central Missouri

The 10th-ranked Jennies are the powerhouse of the MIAA conference, and they were picked to win it this season in the preseason coaches' poll. Last year they chalked up an impressive 25-5 record. The Jennies handed the Dragons their first loss of the season last year in a 69-58 victory. They are high powered on the offensive end, scoring 75.3 points per game, and they are also strong on defense, holding opponents to only 61.0 points per game. They shot 46.4 percent from the floor, and 32.6 percent from behind the three-point stripe. They are also very efficient from the charity strip, shooting at a 74.3 percent clip after being fouled. They are dominate at crashing the glass, grabbing 40.3 rebounds per game to their opponents 31.6. The Jennies also assist at a very high rate, on 14.8 buckets per game on average.

All five of their top scorers are back this season, making them a dangerous sight for any opponent. Redshirt junior Brooke Littrell is their leading scorer, accounting for 18.8 points per game in 2022-23. Add on redshirt junior guard Olivia Nelson, senior forward Ashley Tull, redshirt junior guard Lauren Frost and redshirt sophomore guard Graycen Holden, and thenJennies are certainly a team no one will want to face this season. 

The Jennies are coached by 19^th-year head coach Dave Slifer. Slifer coached the Jennies to a national championship in 2017-18.