THE OPENING TIP: The University of Minnesota Duluth embarks on a four-game homestand with a pair of Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference games. The Bulldogs will go up against the University of Sioux Falls in the home opener on Friday, Dec. 14. UMD will follow up with Southwest Minnesota State University on Saturday, Dec. 15. The tip starts at 5:30 p.m. on Friday and 3:30 p.m. the following afternoon at Ralph A. Romano Gymnasium. 

SCOUTING REPORT ON SIOUX FALLS: The Cougars are 7-1 and one of four NSIC teams with an unblemished 3-0 conference record. Sioux Falls is receiving votes in the coaches' poll. It is scoring 79.8 points per game this season. That number is 17th in the nation and second in the NSIC. The Cougars also hold opponents 56.4 a game. Only 25 teams have a better scoring defense. They are shooting 43.8 percent from the floor, third in the NSIC. They are first in the NSIC in turnover forced per game (21.0), turnovers per game (11.9), and turnover margin (+9.1).

Kaely Hummel will be the player to shut down. She averages 15.3 points per game this season for Sioux Falls. Hummel has hit double figures in seven of the eight games including 20 points against Minnesota State last time out. Hannah Jones leads the Cougars with 6.1 rebounds per game and 3.0 assists per game. 

SCOUTING REPORT ON SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA STATE: The Mustangs are 4-4 overall and 1-2 in the NSIC. This is only the second road game for SMSU, which it lost. It also reps one of the better offensives in the NSIC, scoring 73.1 points per game. That is fifth in the NSIC and 76th overall. Unlike its travel partner, the Mustangs don't boast the best scoring defense. Opposing teams are scoring 71.4 points per game, dead last in the NSIC. They are also last in defensive field goal percentage at 41.8. Southwest Minnesota State is second in the conference in made three pointers and three-point attempts.

Caleigh Rodning leads the Mustangs with 17.8 points per game. She is knocking down 48.6 percent of her threes and 48.8 percent overall from the field. Aside from scoring, Rodning also leads her team in rebounds (6.4) and assists (1.9). She leads the NSIC in double-doubles with four. She is third in the conference in scoring and seventh in rebounds. In addition, Meleah Reinhart and Erin Baxter also average 11 points per game.

THE SERIES: UMD and Sioux Falls have played seven times overall with the Cougars leading the all-time series 3-4. Friday will the second straight contest against USF at Romano Gymnasium. Last season, the Bulldogs snapped a three-game losing skid with a 69-51 win on Dec. 9, 2017 behind 17 points and seven rebounds from senior guard Sammy Kozlowski.

UMD and Southwest Minnesota State have played 73 times overall with the Bulldogs leading the all-time series 55-18. UMD rides a two-game winning streak over the Mustangs. The Bulldogs won by 15 last season at home with another solid performance for Kozlowski, who tallied 16 points and eight rebounds.

HOW THEY RANK: Here is how UMD and its opponents stack up with their records, in the NSIC standings and in the WBCA Coaches Poll.

THE BROADCAST: The game on Saturday can viewed at: portal.stretchinternet.com/umd

In addition, live stats are also available at: portal.stretchinternet.com/umd

LAST TIME OUT: After blasting Minot State by 26 on Friday night, UMD's comeback rally fell short Saturday against Mary. The Bulldogs defeated the Beavers 76-48 behind sophomore forward Sarah Grow's 19 points. UMD outscored Minot State in each quarter. That wasn't the case the following day versus the Marauders. Gabbie Bohl scored 30 points to push Mary past UMD 82-76. The Bulldogs scored 31 points in the final quarter and cut a 18-point deficit down to six before the final buzzer. Senior guard Sammy Kozlowski tied a career high with 25 points and senior guard Emma Boehm had a season high 17 points in the setback. 

CRASH THE GLASS: Sophomore forward Sarah Grow led the team in rebounds last year as a true freshman as is leading the way again through three games this season. Grow is collecting 6.4 rebounds per game, which is a bout 22 percent of the team's total rebounds. She is 15th in the NSIC in rebounding and seventh in offensive rebounds (2.5) per game.

GET THAT OUTTA HERE: Sophomore forward Sarah Grow leads the NSIC in blocked shots. Grow averages 2.4 blocks per game and has at least two blocks in four games this season. She tallied a career high six blocks in the season opener against Northern Michigan. 

PICKPOCKET: Senior guard Sammy Kozlowski is ranked fourth in the conference in steals with 2.4 steals per contest. Kozlowski has recorded a steal in every game this season. In fact, she has a steal in the last 16 games, ranging back to the previous season, dating back to Jan. 20, 2018.

KOZ-ING PROBLEMS: Senior guard Sammy Kozlowski is coming off a 25-point performance last Saturday and is primed for big showings against this weekend. Kozlowski had her way against Sioux Falls and Southwest Minnesota State last season as she averaged 16.5 points, 7.5 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 5.0 steals in leading the Bulldogs to a pair of victories.

DENY THE THREE: Opposing teams are shooting 24.3 percent from behind the arc. That percentage clip is the 15th-best in the nation. UMD held then-No. 9 Drury University to an 0-for-11 performance earlier this season.

DE-FENSE: UMD is allowing 57.4 points per game this season. That is the fourth best figure in the NSIC in defensive scoring totals.

SECOND QUARTER TAKEOVER: The Bulldogs have outscored opponents 82-61 in the second quarter this season.  That is the best quarter margin for UMD this season. They are undefeated (3-0) this year when taking a lead into the second half. 

FROM DOWNTOWN: UMD has done well from behind the arc, shooting 35.4 percent from three. That clip is third in the NSIC and the Bulldogs average 6.8 triples per game.

KEEP THEM UNDER 50: When holding opponents under 50 points, UMD has won its past 18 games. They are 3-0 this season when accomplishing that mark. The last loss to a team when holding them under 50 points came on Jan. 22, 2010 against Minnesota State University.

NSIC PRESEASON COACHES POLL: The Bulldogs have steadily climbed to the forefront of the NSIC the past three seasons under the new regime of head coach Mandy Pearson. Around the league, the coaches highlighted UMD as one of the teams to beat this season. UMD was picked to win the NSIC North Division and fifth overall in the annual preseason poll, released Oct. 18. 

For the second time, UMD was picked to win the north edging out Minnesota State University Moorhead for the preseason divisional crown. It's the Bulldogs first since the conference originally introduced divisions in 2012-13. The University of Sioux Falls was chosen by the league coaches as the overall favorites in the NSIC for the 2018-19 season. The Cougars were also selected as the south division favorites.

Gabbie Bohl from the University of Mary was named  the NSIC North Division Preseason Player of the Year while Concordia-St. Paul's Anna Schmitt was bestowed the NSIC South Division Preseason Player of the Year honors.

NEW DOGS ON THE BLOCK: The Bulldogs bring in four newcomers this season after losing five letterwinners and a total of four seniors from last season. UMD bring in a pair of forwards -- Brooke Olson (Rice Lake, Wis.) and Lauren Miller (Zumbrota, Minn.) -- to strengthen the interior. In addition, the Bulldogs brought in the a pair of guards for added backcourt depth. Maesyn Thiesen (Sauk Centre, Minn.) is prepping to be the point guard of the future while Emma Schmidt (Dumont, Minn.) is a slashing off-ball guard.

ON TAP: UMD rounds out the non conference schedule with a midweek contest against Michigan Tech University on Wednesday, Dec. 19 at 1:00 p.m.