THE OPENING TIP: The University of Minnesota Duluth will look to continue its hot streak of six games straight against Sioux Falls (Dec. 13) and Southwest Minnesota State (Dec. 14).

SCOUTING REPORT ON SIOUX FALLS: The Cougars are starting the year off strong, riding a nine game streak to open the year. Sioux Falls comes off a weekend sweep over two Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) opponents. They would first beat Concordia-St. Paul in a battle till the end, 62-57. They then took to Mankato, Minn. to take on Minnesota State, where they would beat the Mavericks, 66-61. Sioux Falls was picked to top the southern division of the NSIC, and chosen to finish in second overall. The Cougars are lead by Travis Traphagen, who is in his 12th season as a head coach, all with Sioux Falls. He carries a 226-112 (.669) overall record with the Cougars.
In addition to being picked as Sioux Falls player to watch this season, Kaely Hummel was chosen as the southern division preseason player of the year. Last season, she finished the 2018-19 season with a 15.6 points per game, dropping 2.2 from beyond the arc per game. This season, she has lead the way for the Cougars, averaging 16.4 points per game. Hummel has averaged 2.1 rebounds per game this season, and has hit 24 3's, all while averaging 29.0 minutes per game. She's shooting 38.7 (48-124) percent from the floor.

SCOUTING REPORT ON SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA STATE: The Mustangs currently sit 5-3 on the year, sporting a 0-3 NSIC record on the year. SMSU comes off a weekend where it would go 0-2. The Mustangs would first fall to Minnesota State University by 16 in a 76-60 battle. SMSU would then travel to Concordia-St. Paul, only to fall in an overtime battle to the Golden Bears by three, 82-79. The Mustangs were chosen to finish sixth in the southern division of the NSIC and ninth overall in the conference. The Mustangs are lead by Tom Webb, who is in his 12th season as a head coach (116-188, .382) and fourth with SMSU (25-65, .278).
Caleigh Rodning was picked as SMSU's player to watch this season. She currently averages 9.3 points a game and is grabbing an average of 7.5 rebounds per game. She is hitting 29.2 percent of shots, while dropping 81.3 percent of free throws she's taken. Meleah Reinhart is leading the way on the offensive side of the ball, averaging 16.0 points per game to start the year. She has managed to grab 4.4 rebounds per game and plays 28.4 minutes a night. During her time on the floor, she's shooting a 40 percent, with a 33 percent average from beyond the arc.

THE SERIES: The Bulldogs have been undefeated against the Mustangs over the past two years, keeping their distance and never winning by less than 15 in three match-ups. The two meetings last season would go UMD's way, with the first finishing in a 60-39 score, and the second match-up coming in the first round of the NSIC Tournament, with the Bulldogs winning by a score of 87-57. The Cougars haven't had much luck either against UMD, with the Bulldogs taking both meetings in the past two years. The match-up between the two teams last year went in UMD's favor by a score of 51-36.

LAST TIME OUT: The Bulldogs extended their win streak last week against a pair of NSIC opponents. First, they would win a tightly contested match against Minot State, where thy would grab a 12 point lead in the final quarter to win 60-48. They then took on a tough opponent in UMary, where the teams would show their offensive abilities in a 87-75 win for UMD.

HOW THEY RANK: Below is a look at the Bulldogs overall record, preseason conference rank, and rank in the Women's Basketball Coaches Association DII Poll, as well as their opponents.
 

SCHOOL	OVERALL	PRESEASON CONF.	WABC
UMD	6-3	2ND	NR
USF	9-0	1ST	NR
SMSU	5-3	6TH	NR

THE BROADCAST: The game between the Bulldogs and the Huskies will be available through live streaming capabilities at the following link:

UMDBulldogs.com/watch

Live stats are available through the same link, following the live stats button: UMDBulldogs.com/watch

THAT'S OUR BALL: The Bulldogs currently rank sixth in the NSIC in total rebounds with 305 in nine games this season. Brook Olson has been leading the charge and has an average of 6.9 per game, which is good for 11th in the NSIC, and has totaled 62, which is ninth in the NSIC.

PASS ME THE ROCK: The Bulldogs are currently in second in the NSIC in assists per game, averaging 16.22, and second for total assists with 146.  Sophomore guard Maesyn Thiesen is leading the way, leading the NSIC in assists per game with 5.2 (23rd in DII) and sits in second in total assists with 47. Ann Simonet has helped along the way, with an average of 2.7 per game (17th in the NSIC) and 24 overall (11th in the NSIC).

TOP OF THE BOARD: UMD ranked either No. 1 or No. 2 in the NSIC in every single stat category as a team in 2018-19.  Along with ranking top or number two in every category, the Bulldogs ranked in the top six nationally (DII) in seven of those categories.

WHAT'S A TURNOVER: The Bulldogs ranked number No. 1 in all DII last season in assist turnover ration, finishing the season with a 2.20 average. UMD also held the top spot in DII in turnovers per game, finishing with an astonishing average of 5.0 per game. The next closest team was Walsh University, with 7.0.

BRICK CITY: The 34.5 field goal percentage was ranked first in the NSIC and sixth in all DII. The Bulldogs also were tops in the NSIC in blocked shots per game, and 24th in DII, with an average of 5.0 per game.

VALUE POSSESSIONS: UMD held the lowest turnovers in a single game last season, on that omitted just five turnovers. It was the season lowest recorded in DII.

OH CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAIN: returnees senior guard Taylor Schneider and senior forward Katie Stark will be the captains of the 2019-20 UMD Bulldogs.

FAMILIAR FACES: The Bulldogs return nine players from last years NSIC regular season/tournament winning team, including All-NSIC second team recipient junior forward Sarah Grow and All-NSIC Freshman team recipient forward Brooke Olson. Grow received NSIC Player of the Week honors once last season, on December 17th.

OLSON PLAYER TO WATCH: Sophomore forward Brooke Olson was named the Bulldogs preseason player to watch for the season. Olson finished 2018-19 averaging 5.4 (166 total) rebounds per game, ranking 20th in the NSIC. She shot .425 from the floor, finishing third on the team while attempting 233 shots (made 99). She's expected to have a breakout year on both sides of the ball. She averaged 20.1 minutes a game last season.
 
NSIC PRESEASON COACHES POLL: The Bulldogs have steadily climbed to the forefront of the NSIC the past four 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 place second in the northern division and third overall in the NSIC.

The Bulldogs were picked this year to finish just behind MSU Moorhead in the northern division this year, finishing just three points back and receiving one first place vote. The Bulldogs did receive one first place vote for overall standing, finishing in third behind Sioux Falls (receiving six first place votes) and MSU Moorhead (finishing with nine first place votes).

Megan Hintz from MSU Moorhead was named  the NSIC North Division Preseason Player of the Year while Sioux Fall's Kaely Hummel was bestowed the NSIC South Division Preseason Player of the Year honors.

THE COACH: Fifth-year head coach Mandy Pearson has the program trending in the right direction. The Bulldogs have displayed definite signs of a program steadily rising the ranks. UMD doubled their win total from Pearson's first season at the helm and last season was another rewarding step as the Bulldogs finished 23-7 overall and 18-4 in league action, both program best season.

Already in four seasons, Pearson has evolved a trio of players to all-conference heights in forward Taylor Meyer, junior forward Sarah Grow and guard Sammy Kozlowski. Pearson's ingenuity has UMD boast one of the better defensive and ball control units in the nation. The Bulldogs were tops in all of Division II in turnovers per game and in the top-60 for points allowed per game in 2017-18. In 2018-19, UMD was No. 11 in points allowed per game, and No. 2 in fewest turnovers in all of Division II.

UMD officially announced in August 2015 the selection of former Saint Mary's University head coach Mandy Pearson to lead the next generation of UMD Bulldog women's basketball.

Pearson proved her ability to turn a program around while leading the NCAA Division III Cardinals since the 2007 season, providing stability to a program that posted a 7-18 record during the 2006-07 season and needed its third coach in as many seasons before she stepped into the role. Saint Mary's quickly moved up the ranks in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference under her guidance, securing its first playoff bid since 2005 during the 2011-12 campaign. A year later, the Cardinals posted a 22-5 record, second-best in program history, advanced to the MIAC Tournament semifinals, and earned a victory over UMD's Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference rival Winona State University. Pearson was named the MIAC Coach of the Year for the first time in 2012-13, repeating that feat a year later, and also earned the SMU Staff Recognition Award following that season.

Her last two years with the Cardinals, Pearson's squads posted a 42-13 combined record including a 24-4 mark--best in program history--in 2013-14. The team found itself ranked in the Women's Basketball Coaches Association/USA Today Sports NCAA III Top 25 Coaches' Poll and d3hoops.com polls for the first time ever, as high as no. 12 in 2013-14 and in the top-25 from d3hoops.com in 2014-15. In her nine seasons as the SMU bench boss, Pearson produced one d3hoops.com All-American selection in Courtney Euerle (an honorable mention in 2013-14), who also earned MIAC Player of the Year honors and was the only player from the entire conference to earn All-America recognition that season. Pearson also produced two All-NCAA III West Region Team members, nine All-MIAC award selections, seven all-conference honorable mentions, four All-MIAC Defensive Team selections, and four MIAC All-First Year Team picks.

Before joining Saint Mary's, Pearson served as an assistant with NCAA III Hamline University during the 2005-07 seasons after wrapping up a four-year playing career at another MIAC school, Concordia College of Moorhead. Pearson earned three All-MIAC selections during her playing career and was named a First Team All-American during her senior season in 2004-05. She was the first Cobber to achieve 1,000 points and 500 assists in her career. She also played softball for Concordia-Moorhead, earning All-MIAC citation on the diamond as well in her senior campaign. She earned a Bachelor of Artsin psychology from Concordia with minors in sociology, health and coaching. While coaching at Saint Mary's, she earned her Master of Arts degree in human development in 2013.

Over the last six years, Pearson has spoken at several camps and clinics, including the Minnesota State High School League Association Clinic in 2011. She also polished her own coaching acumen at the Nike Championship Basketball Clinic, the University of Wisconsin Green Bay, Northern State University, and Final Four Coaching Clinics.

2018-19 ACCOLADES: Two players, alumnae Sammy Kozlowski and junior forward Sarah Grow were named to the All-NSIC team. Kozlowski was named to the first team while Grow was honored with second team honors. Sophomore forward Brooke Olson was named to the All-NSIC Freshman team and Kozlowski was named the NSIC Defensive Player of the Year. The Bulldogs won NSIC Player of the Week a total of three times last year, with Grow winning it once in December and Kozlowski winning it twice in January. Eight Bulldogs were named to the NSIC All-Academic team. Alumnae Emma Boehm, Josie Buckley, Maizi Deihl, Sammy Kozlowski, senior Katie Stark, junior Ann Simonet, junior Payton Kahl and sophomore Sarah Grow were all honored to the team. Emma Boehm was named as the recipient to the NSIC Myles Brand All-Academic award.

ON TAP: The Bulldogs will take to the road to square off against St. Cloud State (Dec. 21) before the end of the semester break.