The University of Minnesota Duluth will open its season Friday afternoon at the Missouri S&T Tournament in Rolla, Mo., taking on a pair of first-time opponents in the host Miners and Pittsburg State University.
UMD earned an exhibition win over the weekend, downing NCAA Division III's Bethel University 80-71 at Romano Gym Saturday. Seniors
Megan Lueck and
Hannah Rutten combined for 34 points for UMD, and Rutten hauled in eight rebounds. The NSIC North Division's Preseason Player of the Year,
Katrina Newman, had six points, three assists, and three steals in 21 minutes of action.
The Opponents
Missouri S&T (1-0) opened the season with an 85-52 victory over Westminster (Mo.) College last weekend. Head coach Alan Eads enters his 11th season at the helm of the Miners in 2013. Four Miners hit double figures scoring, led by junior Mia Wesley's 18. Sophomore Leigh-Ann Kesper led all players with eight rebounds on the night. S&T was picked third in the Great Lakes Valley Conference's (GLVC) West division, receiving one first-place vote, as they return eight letterwinners.
This will be the first meeting between UMD and Missouri S&T.
Opening its season at the Disney Tip-off Classic in Anaheim, Calif., Pittsburg State (1-2) opened the season with a win before stumbling twice, including a loss at the hands of NSIC rival Concordia-St. Paul on Nov. 9. Pittsburg opens its home season tonight against Henderson State before heading to Rolla to take on UMD. Junior guard Lizzy Jeronimus scored 20-plus points in each of the Gorillas' three games this year and has twice led the team in rebounds. Pitt State was picked to finish fifth in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAA) by both coaches and the media.
The Bulldogs and Gorillas will meet for the first time Saturday.
UMD will be back in action at Romano Gym next week, but the Bulldogs open the season against the hosts of Missouri S&T at 3:00 p.m. on Friday. They'll have a quick turnaround, tipping off against Pittsburg State at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday.
