The University of Minnesota Duluth returns to Romano Gym after nearly a month on the road and will hope to continue a two-game conference winning streak on it home court.
The Bulldogs (5-2, 2-1 NSIC) have played just one game at home this season, a dominant 89-43 win over the University of Wisconsin-Superior, but will face a pair of tough Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference challenges against the University of Mary and Minot State University this weekend.
UMD boasts two-time NSIC Player of the Week
Hannah Rutten, who posted a pair of double-doubles last weekend, including a 22-point, 16-rebound performance on Saturday night to life UMD over Bemidji State University. The senior center averaged 20.0 PPG and 14.0 RPG on the week, shooting 42.4 percent from the field as UMD picked up a pair of conference wins. Senior forward
Katrina Newman had her best outing of the season on Friday night vs. the University of Minnesota-Crookston with 25 points and eight rebounds, and sophomore forward
Taylor Meyer also had an impressive weekend with a 22-point night against BSU, adding 13 rebounds, three blocks, three assists, and one steal on the weekend.
About the Marauders
U-Mary (4-2, 2-1 NSIC) slipped in its conference opener against Minot State University but has also won a pair straight, both close tight victories 77-75 over MSU-Moorhead and 87-83 over Northern State. Senior forward Linda Murray ranks fifth in the Northern Sun with a 19.0 points per game average, with sophomore forward Brittany Dietz second on the team and 13th in the league at 16.5 PPG. Murray also leads the Marauders in shooting at 56.1 percent and rebounds at 10.3 per game. U-Mary averages 79.5 points per game, good for eighth in the league, but ranks last in scoring defense at 76.0 points per game.
UMD owns a 5-3 record all-time against the Marauders, but fell last time out 55-63 on Jan. 25, 2013.
About the Beavers
Minot State (7-0, 3-0 NSIC) enters the weekend with a spotless record but will face off with one-loss St. Cloud State on Friday night before heading up to Duluth. Australian sisters Carly and Christina Boag lead the Beaver offense this season. Senior Carly leads the NSIC, averaging 22.3 points per game and shooting 65.3 percent, while junior Christina averages 10.1. The elder Boag leads the Beavers averaging 10.0 rebounds per contest, good for fifth in the league. Minot State is strong on the defensive end as well, allowing just 61.3 PPG while averaging 78.3 each time out.
The Bulldogs are 2-1 all-time against the Beavers, dropping a tight 51-52 contest last season on Jan. 26, 2013.
UMD will tip off with U-Mary at 6:00 p.m. Friday night and open a men's/women's doubleheader with Minot State at 4:00 p.m. Saturday.
