The University of Minnesota Duluth will return to Romano Gym for the last time in 2015-16 this weekend hosting a pair of charitable efforts while taking on Minnesota State University Moorhead and Northern State University in a pair of outings against the top two teams in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference North Division.
UMD (6-15, 6-12 NSIC) will also celebrate senior guard
Taylor Dillinger this weekend. The Bulldogs' lone graduating player has had a significant impact on and off the court, averaging 4.0 points and 2.2 rebounds per game in her career, while shooting 31.4 percent from the floor and posting a 77.6 percent career free throw shooting percentage, which slots just outside the top-5 career performances for UMD. Additionally, she's a three-time NSIC All-Academic Team selection, earned the NSIC Myles Brand All-Academic with Distinction award, and this year, being the Bulldog recipient of the NSIC's Butch Raymond Scholarship.
Friday night will be a tropical-themed night with prize giveaways for fans while UMD also celebrates Locks of Love with Regis Salon sponsoring haircuts for donation at halftime of the men's contest. Saturday night will be senior night and school spirit themed while honoring the Play 4Kay foundation promoting breast cancer awareness in the name of former North Carolina State University head coach Kay Yow.
SCOUTING THE DRAGONS | 16-5, 13-5 NSIC (T-First/North)
MSU Moorhead slipped up against Augustana (S.D.) University last time out but had won four straight entering that game, including a current three-game winning streak on the road ... the Dragons knocked off the Bulldogs 61-53 in Moorhead earlier this season on Dec. 12, 2015 ... senior center Savannah Handevidt grabbed a double-double with 22 poitns and 14 rebounds against UMD, averagining just 9.1 points per game on the year ... senior forward Heather Strese scored 14 points against the Bulldogs, on par with her 14.3 PPG on the year ... junior guard Jordan Banasik averages a team-high 14.8 points on the year ... head coach Karla Nelson is in her 16th season leading MSU Moorhead ... despite the defeat earlier this year, the Bulldogs own a 50-31 all-time record against the Dragons.
SCOUTING THE WOLVES | 17-6, 13-5 NSIC (T-First/North)
Northern State has slipped in two of three but had a three-game winning streak previously, and the Wolves will meet up with St. Cloud State University on Friday before arriving in Duluth ... NSU knocked off UMD 71-62 in Aberdeen, South Dakota earlier this season on Dec. 11, 2015 ... senior guard Devon Brecke netted 20 points against the Bulldogs and averages 11.0 points per game on the season ... sophomore forward Jill Conrad scored just six points against UMD but averages a team-high 13.6 points and 7.0 rebounds per outing on the year ... senior center Lauren Deadrick grabbed a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds for the Wolves, and she averages 9.8 points and 9.1 boards on the year ... head coach Curt Frederickson has led Northern State since the 1977-78 season ... after falling against NSU earlier this year, UMD still owns a 32-28 record against the Wolves.
FREE THROWSUMD ended its winless skid last Friday night, scoring a season-best in points with an 84-60 victory over Upper Iowa University then played a defensive game against No. 10 Winona State University, but fell 57-46 ... junior forward
Kenzie Kane averaged 11.5 points per game, scoring 17 in Friday's win over Upper Iowa finishing 6-of-11 from the floor while hitting five three-pointers on the night ... freshman guard
Sammy Kozlowski averaged 11.0 points per game, including a team-high 12 points on Saturday night against Winona State ... first-year forward
Emma Boehm made her return to the line-up on Friday night with 14 points and a pair of assists.
FOLLOW LIVELive Stats & Videos (both games)
WHO'S NEXT?UMD will be home one last time this weekend. The Bulldogs host MSU Moorhead on Friday night. Opening tip is set for 6:00 p.m.
