MOORHEAD, Minn. -- MSU Moorhead women's basketball is set for a split week as the Dragons host Minnesota Crookston on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. before traveling to Bemidji to take on BSU on Saturday at 1 p.m.
Live stats and video will be available at msumdragons.com.
Opening Tip
Quick Hits...Minnesota Crookston took the meeting between the two schools on December 14 by a 72-67 decision. The teams have split the last four games with one another. MSUM handled Bemidj State, 69-46, on December 8 as Karla Nelson collected her 400th career win in the process. The Dragons enter Saturday with a four-game winning strea over Chelsea Stoltenberg's club.
Century Trophy On The Line...Being as it is the second meeting between the Dragons and Beavers this season, the annual Century Trophy game will take place on Saturday. MSUM retained the trophy a season ago with a 68-60 overtime win over the Beavers inside BSU Gymnasium. It was the sixth win for the Dragons in the Century Trophy game in the last seven seasons. The lone Beaver win in that stretch came on January 16, 2021 in a 74-59 decision for Bemidji State on their home floor.
Three-Point Tempest...MSUM was able to pick up their seventh NSIC win of the season against Winona State on Friday. This came in large part thanks to 13 made three-pointers for the Dragons in the game, including six in the third period alone. The flurry was just three makes shy of equaling the single-game school record set on December 2, 2017 against Minot State. For the Dragons, it is their highest three-point total since MSUM hit 14 against Minnesota Crookston on December 6, 2019.
Pivot Foot Strong...Natalie Jens will enter Tuesday's contest with 882 points for her Dragon career following a pair of double figure outings last weekend. Jens also sits four steals shy of 100 for her Dragon career. Jens averaged 15.5 points per game for MSUM a week ago on 43.4 percent shooting.
'Goin' Down To The Berg'...Freshman forward Abby Berge has quietly dominated the box score for MSUM recently. Berge pulled down a gritty line of five points and 11 rebounds in the Dragon win over Winona State. This was coupled with three steals for Berge in the victory. Against Minnesota State on Saturday, Berge was one of two Dragons in double figures with 10 points and seven rebounds.
All Aboard The Gus Bus...Graduate student Ashley Gustavson sparked the Dragon offense against Winona State on Friday. Gustavson poured in eight points including two three-pointers in the first quarter to get MSUM going. The North Mankato, Minn., native would go on to tie her collegiate career high of 13 points in the win.
Spreading The Wealth...MSUM had success against Winona State thanks to the long range shot and a well-balanced attack. The Dragons had five players score in double figiures with four eclipsing double figures by the third quarter. Jens, Gustavson, Ashley Fritz, Terryn Johnson and Olivia Skibiel combined to score all but five of MSUM's points in the game.
What They Do Well...Minnesota Crookston is led by guard Emma Miller, who is fourth in the NSIC in scoring average. Miller dropped 27 on the Dragons in December. Alyssa Hill continues to lead this Beavers team with 12.4 points per game and a 49.5 percent field goal clip for the season.
Karla Nelson is in her 24th season as MSUM's head women's basketball coach.
Scouting Minnesota Crookston (9-11, 6-8 NSIC)
Minnesota Crookston will come through Nemzek Fieldhouse on Tuesday with a five-game losing streak following a loss to Concordia, St. Paul on Saturday. The Golden Eagles had previously dropped games to Minnesota Duluth, Southwest Minnesota State, Sioux Falls and Minnesota State prior to the loss to the Golden Bears. Minnesota Crookston is led by guard Emma Miller, who scores 17.6 points per game, which is the fourth-highest total in the NSIC this season. Miller also leads the team in assists with 66 on the year for a 3.3 per game average. Nicole Hernandez leads a strong Golden Eagles effort on the glass, grabbing 7.4 per game with Miller just behind her at 6.7 per contest.
Natalie Moynihan is in her first season leading the Golden Eagles.
Scouting Bemidji State (3-15, 0-14 NSIC)
The Beavers have yet to pick up their first conference win of the season after a pair of losses last weekend to Minnesota Duluth and Concordia, St. Paul. Sophomore forward Alyssa Hill paces the Beavers in all facets of the game led by her 12.4 points per game and 49.5 field goal percentage. Hill is second on the team in rebounding, grabbing 4.7 per game as senior Amme Sheforgen leads BSU with 5.2 rebounds per game. Sheforgen leads the Beavers in assists as well with 43 total on the year.
Chelsea Stoltenberg is in her ninth season as Bemidji State's head coach.
