MOORHEAD, Minn. -- MSU Moorhead women's basketball looks to continue their strong momentum in NSIC play with a pair of home challenges this weekend. The Dragons host Minnesota Duluth at 5:30 p.m. on Friday before taking on Concordia, St. Paul on Saturday beginning at 3:30 p.m.
Live video and stats will be available at msumdragons.com. Note that this week's games are the beginning of the annual 'flip' in start times with women's games now being played prior to the men's contests.
Opening Tip
Quick Hits...Minnesota Duluth has won the last five games in the series with the Dragons. MSUM last defeated the Bulldogs on January 24, 2020. CSP has taken two of the last three games as the Dragons will look to avenge the 62-50 playoff loss doled out by the Golden Bears on February 22, 2023. Prior to that game, MSUM had won eight of the previous nine matchups.
Efficiency Is The Key...As MSUM has won six of its last eight games, much of this comes thanks to smart shot selection, primarily from their true freshmen group. In the last three games combined, freshmen Maya Metcalf, Abby Berge and Ashley Fritz have tallied an average of 28.3 points and 11.3 rebound per contest. This has come behind a 33 of 59 (55.9 percent) field goal mark in those three contests. The three fabulous freshman have also connected on 44.3 percent of their long range shots in that same stretch. Berge and Metcalf each set new career highs over the weekend with a pair of 15-point games between them.
Keep The Margins Wide...In MSUM's 75-42 domination of Sioux Falls last Saturday, the Dragons collected their largest margin of victory (33 points) since their 76-32 win over Upper Iowa on January 4, 2020. In the six games MSUM has won this season, they have bested their foe by an average of 18.5 points.
Earning It On Defense...The Dragons forced 16 Cougar turnovers on Saturday evening for a plus-six margin in the contest. Junior Natalie Jens led MSUM on defense, collecting five steals as Terryn Johnson would add another two takeaways. Jens is currently third in the NSIC in steals per game (2.5) and total steals (37). The junior enters the weekend 12 steals shy of 100 for her Dragon career.
Distributing The Rock...MSUM had four players score in double figures against Sioux Falls in Jens, Johnson, Metcalf and Berge. It is the first time in conference play where four Dragons have scored 10 or more. It is the third time this season that is has occurred, however, it is the first time MSUM won behind four double figure scorers. MSUM had four in double figures in losses to Simon Fraser (11/21) Central Washington (11/25).
Controlling The Glass...The Dragons once again won the rebounding battle over their two games last weekend, coming out with a plus-seven margin against Southwest Minnesota State and Sioux Falls combined. Entering the weekend, MSUM is third in the NSIC in rebounding average as they are one of three teams (Minnesota Crookston and Minnesota State) to average 40 or more team rebounds a game. Of MSUM's 600 total rebounds this season, 174 have been offensive rebounds, the fifth-highest total in the conference.
A Helping Hand...MSUM dished out 33 assists over the two games last weekend, the highest two-game total this season. Of those 33 assists, 21 of them came against Sioux Falls on Saturday, a single game season-best for the Dragons.
What They Do Well...The Bulldogs are efficient with the basketball, shooting an NSIC-best 44.4 percent from the floor as a team this season while holding opponents to a 38.1 percent clip. Concordia, St. Paul features one of the best players in the NSIC in Ally Gietzel, who is fourth in the league in scoring (17.8 PPG) and top ten in rebounding, field goal percentgage and free throw percentage.
Karla Nelson is in her 24th season as MSUM's head coach.
Scouting Report
Minnesota Duluth (9-5, 6-4 NSIC)
The Bulldogs have had a bit of a topsy-turvy NSIC journey to this point of the season. Minnesota Duluth lost their lone game last weekend, a 64-47 decision against St. Cloud State. Prior to that, the Bulldogs defeated Minot State on January 6, 54-50. However, the Bulldogs have dropped four of their last six games as Minnesota Duluth has struggled on the road, registering a 3-4 mark away from home compared to a 7-1 ledger inside Romano Gymnasium. Senior guard Taya Hakamaki leads the Bulldogs in scoring, putting in 13 points per game with a 45 percent field goal percentage. Taytum Rhoades (11.4) and Madelyn Granica (10.9) are the other Bulldogs who average in double figures with Rhoades leading the team in assists (52). Senior Ella Gilbertson leads the Bulldogs on the glass, grabbing 5.6 rebounds a game while also scoring 8.1 points per contest. The Bulldogs have shot a league-high 44.4 percent from the floor this season, but only convert on 32.2 pecent of their three-point shots.
Mandy Pearson is in her ninth season as head coach of the Bulldogs.
Concordia, St. Paul (11-4, 7-3 NSIC)
Concordia, St. Paul has had a stellar beginning to their season, working out to an 11-4 record with seven conference wins. The Golden Bears topped St. Cloud State in their last matchup, 64-55 with their three conference losses coming to some of the NSIC's best (Minnesota State, Southwest Minnesota State, Mary). They are led by one of the best overall players in the conference in senior Ally Gietzel. The senior averages a team-best 17.4 points per game and also leads the Golden Bears in rebounding with 7.1 per game. Gietzel's points per game mark is fourth-best in the NSIC while she also bolsters a top ten field goal and free throw percentage this season. Gietzel also leads CSP in total assists with 39 in 2023-24. Lindsey Becher (11.7) and Lauren Wilson (11.4) are the other double figure scorers for the Golden Bears. Like the Bulldogs, CSP shoots an efficient percentage of 43.3 percent, but struggle from long range, making just 29.6 percent of those attempts this season.
Amanda Johnson is in her ninth season leading the Golden Bears.
