THE OPENING TIP: The University of Minnesota Duluth takes to the road for the second time in the 2020 calender year, first going to Moorhead, Minn. to take on Minnesota State University-Moorhead (Jan. 24) before heading to Aberdeen, SD to square off against Northern State University (Jan. 25).

SCOUTING REPORT ON MINNESOTA STATE UNIVERSITY-MOORHEAD: The Dragons are currently riding a two game losing streak, dropping both contests last weekend. MSU-M first took on Wayne State College in Wayne, Neb., putting up a hard fought battle only to fall to the Wildcats 78-73. The Dragons would then travel to Sioux Falls, SD to take on Augustana University, ultimately falling to the Vikings in overtime 63-60. After last weekend, MSU-M now carries a 13-6 overall record on the year while going 8-4 against Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference opponents, good for a 3rd place spot in the northern division of the NSIC while sitting in four way tie for 4th place in the NSIC overall. The Dragons are 3-2 in their last five games. Karla Nelson is at the helm of the program, currently in her 20th season with the Dragons. In those 20 seasons, Nelson has carried the program to 365-201 (.645) record in that span, garnering NSIC coach of the year four times (02-03, 04-05, 16-17, 18-19).
Megan Hintz (three time NSIC Player of the Week award winner) has lead the way for the Dragons this year, averaging 15.2 points per game for MSU-M. She's been able to shoot at a 56.0% from the floor this season while also leading in free-throw percentage with a 90.0% from the charity stripe. Hintz has been good in-tight on the rim as well, leading the team with an average of 7.9 rebounds per game. Peyton Boom has been a solid scorer on the squad for the Dragons this year as well, dropping 9.9 per game, shooting 50.7% from the floor.

SCOUTING REPORT ON NORTHERN STATE UNIVERSITY: The Wolves have lost their last two games as well. NSU hit the road last weekend, taking to Sioux Falls to take on Augustana University, getting beaten by the Vikings by a score of 73-44. The Wolves, looking to bounce back, put up a considerably better performance when they played Wayne State College the following night, but would fall for the second night in a row, this time to the Wildcats 79-67. NSU is 3-2 in its last five contests, and is currently 11-7 on the season, going 7-5 against NSIC opponents. That 7-5 record within the conference is good for a 4th spot in the northern division of the NSIC and a standalone spot in 7th in the NSIC overall. In her 2nd season as head coach of the Wolves and 11th with the program overall, Paula Krueger is 21-26 (44.7) with the Wolves and 154-151 (50.5) as a head coach (9 seasons with the Colorado School of Mines).
Lexi Wadsworth has been the top scorer for NSU this season so far, dropping an average of 15.9 points per game in an average of 28.8 minutes a night. Wadsworth is second on the team in field goal percentage, shooting 55.7% on the season and second in rebounds, grabbing 5.4 per game. Brianna Kusler (won one NSIC Player of the Week award) has been the leader for NSU in rebounds this season, grabbing 7.9 per game. She's second on the team in scoring, just behind Wadsworth with a 13.2 average per game. She has 50 assists (leads the team), 20 steals (leads team) in 33.9 minutes a night.

THE SERIES: In the past five match-ups, UMD has had the upper hand on the Dragons, going 3-2 against MSU-M. The two teams met four times last season, twice in conference play, again in the NSIC tournament and a final time in the NCAA tournament. The Bulldogs went 2-2 last season against the Dragons, with MSU-M ending UMD's run in the post season last year by a score of 63-54.
Though the Wolves have the upper hand in the past five games with a 3-2 record against UMD, the Bulldogs are on a two win streak against Northern State, beating the Wolves in both meetings last season (both in regular season conference play). The Bulldogs last played the Wolves when they traveled to Aberdeen, SD, to take on Northern State, beating NSU 74-56.

LAST TIME OUT: The Bulldogs have continued to be hot in NSIC play, taking down another two tough opponents in the Minnesota State University Mavericks (69-58) and the Concordia-St. Paul Golden Bears (74-55). UMD improved to 11-1 in the NSIC and now carry a 14-4 overall record on the season. The 11-1 record in good for a 1st spot in both the northern division as well as the NSIC conference overall.

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

SCHOOL	OVERALL	NSIC	WBCA
UMD	14-4	1ST	NR
MSU-M	13-6	T-4TH	NR
NSU	11-7	7TH	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 average 34.1 rebounds per game, a big part of that is Brooke Olson, who is sitting 13th in the NSIC for rebounds per game, averaging 6.6 per game. Katie Stark is another top rebounder, who is grabbing an averaging of 5.9 per game, good for 17th in the NSIC and Sarah Grow is averaging 5.7 per game, good for 21st in the NSIC.

PASS ME THE ROCK: The Bulldogs are currently in 2nd in the NSIC in assists per game, averaging 16.28, and 2nd for total assists with 293.  Sophomore guard Maesyn Thiesen is leading the way, sitting T-2nd NSIC in assists per game with 4.4 (56th in DII) and sits in 3rd in total assists with 79. Ann Simonet has helped along the way, with an average of 3.6 per game (6th in the NSIC) and 65 overall (5th 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.

POINTS ON POINTS: The Bulldogs currently rank 7th overall in overall points in the NSIC. Brooke Olson has been a big part of the attack for UMD, averaging 16.1 points per game, 5th in the NSIC.

BRICK CITY: UMD ranks third in the NSIC in the blocked shots per game category, averaging 4.06 per game. Sarah Grow has lead the team in blocked shots per game (2.0, 36 total) and sits in 2nd in the NSIC. Katie Stark has been a huge part of that stat as well, where she currently sits 7th in the conference with an average of 1.1 per game (17 total).

VALUE POSSESSIONS: The Bulldogs are sitting in 2nd in the NSIC in the assist/turnover ratio category with a 1.25 assist to every turnover. They sit in 11th in the DII landscape in said category.

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 continue their road stint, playing games three and four of the four game road trip. UMD will first travel to Winona, Minn. to take on the Winona State University Warriors (Jan. 31) before heading to Fayette, Iowa to take on the Upper Iowa University Peacocks (Feb. 1).