The University of Minnesota Duluth took 3-of-4 on an extended homestand over the holiday break, but the Bulldogs return to classes this week before heading out on the road to face a pair of Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference North Division foes this weekend.

UMD (8-8, 6-6 NSIC) fell 91-53 on Friday night against then-No. 24 Wayne State (Neb.) College before rebounding with a 73-68 victory on Saturday against Augustana (S.D.) College. The Bulldogs continued the trend of their season thus far, with nearly each of their eight defeats coming at the hands of a national ranked team at the time or at some point this season while defeating those teams on the outside and below them in the standings. This week, they'll travel to the two teams directly below them in the standings in the University of Mary and Minot State University.
 

OFF-THE-COURT CONTRIBUTIONS
This past week, UMD sat in at the Hartley Nature Center preschool class, putting on a short basketball clinic for the three- and four-year-old students based primarily on dribbling and passing. Most of the students attended last Saturay's UMD win over Augustana. Next month, the Bulldogs will once again be volunteering with the Rookie Basketball Association in Duluth.

UMD also excelled in the classroom this past fall, combining for the highest grade point average in head coach Annette Wiles' seven seasons at the helm of the Bulldogs: 3.65. "The players loved the experience of working and teaching basketball to the pre-school class," said Coach Wiles. "We are very proud of our efforts of giving back and working with young people in the community of Duluth and surrounding areas."

FREE THROWS
• Junior forward Taylor Meyer just missed securing a double-double with 24 points and nine rebounds in Saturday's win against Augustana, adding one assist and three steals while going 13-of-15 from the free throw line. She averaged 15.0 points and 8.0 rebounds on the weekend, adding three steals and two assists
SCOUTING THE BEAVERS (Friday, Jan. 23, 6:00 p.m.) - Live Video • Live Stats
• Minot State (8-10, 3-9 NSIC) has dropped four of five games but split on the road, defeating Upper Iowa University 74-61 and falling to Winona State University 47-62 last weekend. UMD is 3-2 all-time against the Beavers, but fell last time out 84-66 on Jan. 17, 2014 last season.
• Senior forward Christina Boag leads the way for Minot, averaging 12.1 points and 6.9 rebounds per game in NSIC play. Junior forward Savana Kingsbury sits just behind Boag hauling in 6.6 boards per outing. Boag's 47.4 percent shooting is 15th-best in the conference.
• The Beavers rank in the bottom half of the NSIC in most statistical categories but have the sixth-lowest opposing field goal percentage (37.8 percent) and lowest opposing three-point percentage (27.1 percent). The team is also allowing just 34.4 rebounds per game, second-fewest in the conference and a +1.5 margin in their favor.

SCOUTING THE MARAUDERS (Saturday, Jan. 24, 4:00 p.m.) - Live Video • Live Stats
• U-Mary (5-7, 7-11 NSIC) has lost three straight entering the weekend and will host St. Cloud State University on Friday evening before UMD comes to town on Saturday. The Bulldogs are even, 5-5 against the Marauders, with U-Mary pulling even last time out with a 74-65 win on Jan. 18, 2014 last season.
• Junior forward Brittney Dietz sits 12th in the NSIC in scoring as she averages 14.8 points per game while also dishing 3.0 assists per outing in conference play. Sophomore forward Hannah Larson has scored 12.1 points and grabbed 6.3 rebounds per game. She ranks fourth in the conference with 2.1 blocks per contest.
• The Marauders also rank on the lower half of the NSIC in most statistical categories but have also ranked well on defense as opponents shoot 39.7 percent against them (ninth best) and 28.5 percent (fourth best) in the league.

The Bulldogs and Beavers will take the court in Minot to start the weekend on Friday night. Opening tip is set for 6:00 p.m.