The University of Minnesota Duluth women’s basketball team will travel to Allendale, Mich. Wednesday to tip-off the 2006-07 season against the defending national champions of Grand Valley State. Game time is slated for 6:00 p.m CST.



THE MATCH-UP

The Bulldogs and Lakers have met only once before, with UMD holding the 1-0 all-time edge. The two last went courting during the 1991-92 season on 12/21/91 when the Bulldogs prevailed 68-49.

LAST WEEK

UMD, (0-0), played its one and only exhibition outing this past Saturday against an North Tartan Elite team, which defeated the Bulldogs 73-70. UMD was led by former Southern Illinois transfer and Duluth native Katy Freeman, who sparkled in her maroon and gold debut with 18 points and 5 steals.

Grand Valley State took last week off after going toe-to-toe with two Division I opponents the weekend before. The Lakers held court by traveling to Michigan State on 11/2/06 in an 64-55 exhibition loss. Erika Ryskamp led GVS with a game-high 17 points and grabbed 6 rebounds. Two days later the Lakers faced Valparaiso University, losing in an 50-45 effort. Ryskamp again led GVS with a game-high 18 points and 5 rebounds.

PRESEASON PICKS/RANKINGS

UMD was picked to finish 5th in the NCC preseason coaches poll.

Grand Valley State was ranked No. 1 in the nation by USA TODAY/ESPN preseason poll. The Lakers were ranked No. 2 in the nation by the Women's Division II Bulletin Preseason Top 25, and were picked by the head coaches of Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference to win the North Division.

THE COACHES

After 21 years as an assistant coach for the University of Minnesota Duluth and the University of Minnesota, David Stromme steps in his first starring role as the interim head coach. Stromme succeeds Sue Fiero, who stepped down in June after one season at the Bulldog helm. Stromme spent 17 years (1985-2002) as an assistant coach at UMD, working under his sister, Karen Stromme. While he was a member of the Bulldog staff, UMD rolled up a 370-159 overall record (for a .703 winning percentage), advanced to the NCAA II playoffs five times and the NAIA National Tournament on eight occasions, captured nine Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference titles, produced a pair of NAIA/NCAA II All-Americans and 20 All-NSIC first team selections.

Dawn Plitzuweit is set to begin her fifth season as the head coach of the Grand Valley State women's basketball team. Plitzuweit has guided Grand Valley State to a 96-31(.756) record in her four years, including a 54-18 (.750) GLIAC mark.Last season Plitzuweit led Grand Valley State to its first-ever NCAA Division II National Championship title.

A GRAND DEBUT

When the Bulldogs lace-up against Grand Valley State, it will be the first time in program history that UMD will open against a defending national champion. The Bulldogs are 2-9 all-time when taking on defending national champions.

A WINK AND A SMILE

Katie Winkelman will start the season with 765 career points and No. 28th on the Bulldogs all-time scoring chart. Winkelman scored a career-high 408 total points last season, putting the 1,000 point club within her reach starting her senior year.

Winkelman emerged as the Bulldogs second in command last season, averaging 14.8 PPG, and was explosive in 12 NCC games, averaging 19.6 PPG and finishing third in the conference in scoring. For her groundbreaking NCC efforts, Winkelman landed on the 12 member All-NCC First Team.

RETURNING PRESENCE

The Bulldogs have lost three-time All-American Lindsey Dietz, but they will regain the services of Stephanie Reiter and Justine Axtell. After playing in all 29 games as a freshman (4.4 PPG), Reiter redshirted the 2005-06 season due to injury. Axtell, who was third on the team last season in scoring before suffering a season-ending injury, returns just in time for her senior season. Axtell averaged 9.3 PPG, along with an impressive 6.0 RPG. She also ranked 7th in the conference with 3.83 assists per game average.

NEW STARTS

Besides the major homecoming of head coach Dave Stromme to UMD, the Bulldogs have embraced three transfers from Division I programs this season. Duluth native Katy Freeman has not only returned to her hometown after two years at Southern Illinois, she has jumped into the starting line-up and will impact UMD this season. Venessa Ostergaard arrived from Bradley and Liz Preller, who transfered from North Dakota State University, (and will sit out this year), all look to help round out the Bulldogs depth this season.

BULLDOG BITS

UMD’s fifth place NCC finish last season was the lowest conference finish since the 1981-82 season ... The Bulldogs flew to the fastest start in school history and a 14-2 record, but their season ending of nine losses in a row also is the longest losing streak in school UMD history ... UMD played 13 games in the confines of Romano Gym last season, going 9-4 and improving their all-time home record to 265-64 (.770).

ON THE AIR

Wednesday's game vs Grand Valley State will be covered play-by-play by Ray Schow on WDSM (710 AM) starting at 5:45 p.m.