The #8 University of Minnesota Duluth Women's Basketball team opens their regular season on the road to take on the Thomas More University Saints and the University of Wisconsin Parkside Rangers. The action for the Bulldogs will kick off on Saturday at 5:30 PM in Hammond, IN, and will continue the next day at 2:00 PM in Kenosha, WI.

MATCHUPS

Saturday

5:30 PM @ Thomas More University

Sunday

2:00 PM @ UW Parkside

NATIONAL / CONFERENCE RANKINGS 

Following the runner up performance in the NCAA DII National Championships, the Bulldogs slotted in at #8 in the first WBCA national rankings of the season. The Bulldogs were also chosen to finish second in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC), just 31 points behind first place Minnesota State University Mankato in the conference preseason poll.

NSIC PRESEASON PLAYER TO WATCH 

Senior guard Ella Gilbertson was chosen as UMD's NSIC Player to Watch this season. Gilbertson was second on the team for total points last season and fourth in three pointers made, including a game-winning three pointer in last season's NCAA Central Region Championship. There is no doubt that she will have some big shoes to fill after the program graduated former Bulldog and 2022 DII Honda Athlete of the Year Brooke Olson.

COACHING ADDITIONS 

UMD welcomes some changes this year on the bench with the coaching staff. Former intern assistant coach Cecile Kieger officially transitions into the lead assistant coach position this season. Former Bulldog standout Maesyn Thiesen also transitions to the bench as an assistant coach. Thiesen finished her career as a Bulldog in third for total assists in program history, as well as earning All Conference second team and All Conference tournament team nods last season.

UP NEXT

The Bulldogs will have a week off before their first conference matchup of the season, where they will take on the #2 ranked Minnesota State University Mankato Mavericks.