The University of Minnesota Duluth women;s basketball team gears up for an away and home week schedule, facing off against the Winona State University Warriors on Wednesday, Jan. 29, at 7:30 PM on the road and hosting Concordia St. Paul Golden Bears on Saturday, Feb. 1, at 3:00 PM.
Last Time Out
The Bulldogs fell in both games on the road last weekend in North Dakota, losing 59-71 to the University of Mary Marauders and 48-58 to the Minot State University Beavers.
After taking a 12-9 lead early in the first quarter to open the weekend against UMary, the Bulldogs would struggle to keep up with the scoring production of the Marauders despite having three players tally in double figures by the end of the night.
A similar situation would play out on night two as the Bulldogs collected a 37-29 lead by the halftime break against Minot State. However, a difficult third quarter for UMD would put them behind and leave them at a ten point deficit as time expired.
Last Week's Spotlight Players
#11 Myra Moorjani - 2 GP, 24 PTS, 11 REB, 7 A, 2 STL
#45 Johanna Miller - 2 GP, 22 PTS, 21 REB, 5 A, 2 STL, 2 BLK
#42 Lexi Karge - 2 GP, 19 PTS, 9 REB, 3 A, 1 BLK
Scouting Report - Winona State
The Winona State University Warriors are 8-12 overall and 4-10 against NSIC opponents throughout the 2024-25 season, most recently coming off a 73-85 loss to the Northern State Wolves.
The Bulldogs are 8-4 against the Warriors since 2014, falling to WSU 65-67 in overtime earlier this season. UMD holds a 3-3 home record and a 5-1 away record over the Warriors, and their largest margin of victory over WSU has been 28 points (65-37, Dec. 2023).
The Warriors are currently led in scoring by senior #0 Olivia Gamoke, who is averaging 13.0 points per game with 259 total points over 20 games this season.
Scouting Report - Concordia St. Paul
The Concordia St. Paul Golden Bears are 18-2 overall and 12-2 against NSIC opponents throughout the 2024-25 season, most recently coming off a 73-48 win over the University of Mary Marauders.
The Bulldogs are 7-7 against the Golden Bears since 2014, falling to CSP 38-82 earlier this season before the holiday break. UMD holds a 4-0 home record, 1-7 away record, and a 2-0 neutral site record over CSP, and their largest margin of victory over the Golden Bears has been 44 points (86-42, Jan. 2022).
The Golden Bears are currently led in scoring by junior guard #23 Lydia Haack, who is averaging 16.1 points per game with 321 total points over 20 games this season.
Bulldogs Against the Rest
The Bulldogs, as a team, rank within the top three throughout the NSIC in two different statistical categories and top five throughout the NSIC in four different categories. These categories include:
Assist/Turnover Ratio - 1.03 (4th in NSIC, 35th in NCAA)
Fouls Per Game - 14.6 (1st in NSIC, 32nd in NCAA)
Defensive Rebounds Per Game - 27.4 (5th in NSIC, 67th in NCAA)
Turnovers Per Game - 13.4 (2nd in NSIC, 19th in NCAA)
UMD Slated Eight in NSIC Preseason
The University of Minnesota Duluth women's basketball team was slated to finish eighth in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) preseason coaches poll. The Bulldogs received 119 points in the conference poll after finishing the 2023-24 season in the semifinal round of the NSIC tournament.
Moorjani Named NSIC Player to Watch
Junior guard Myra Moorjani has been named UMD's NSIC Player to Watch for the 2024-25 season. While she made an appearance in all 29 games, Moorjani became a mainstay member in the Bulldogs' starting five for the final 10 games of the 2023-24 season. Moorjani tallied 181 total points last season while averaging 6.2 points per game, 3.0 rebounds per game, and was third on the team with 40 total assists.
Offseason Losses
The Bulldogs graduated a large majority of their veterans, including losing a large majority of their starting five from the previous season.
Taytum Rhoades leaves UMD after a career season with the Bulldogs. Rhoades led the team in total points, assists, steals, and blocks last season, and closed things out with a NSIC All Conference first team nod.
Ella Gilbertson leaves the program after leading the team in total rebounds throughout 2023-24. Gilbertson was the only other Bulldog member to receive an all conference nod, being named to the NSIC All Conference second team last season.
Taya Hakamaki was able to lead the team last season in average points per game despite missing the final 10 games with a knee injury. Hakamaki ended her time at UMD as a career 90.1% free throw shooter.
Madelyn Granica set new career highs in nine different statistical categories throughout the 2023-24 season. Granica closed out her UMD career with 689 total points.
Abby Johnson spent the last two years of her college career with the Bulldogs after transfering from the University of Nebraska Omaha. Throughout her 38 appearances with the Bulldogs, Johnson collected 172 points, 56 rebounds, and 15 blocks.
Gus Boyer made 51 total appearances for the Bulldogs throughout her college career. A member of the Bulldogs three consecutive conference championship wins, Boyer collected 46 points, 51 rebounds, and 16 steals while at UMD.
Last Season
The Bulldogs closed out their season with a 19-10 overall record, falling in the semifinal round of the NSIC tournament to the University of Mary Marauders.
UMD carried the momentum from their one point win in their regular season finale against St. Cloud State into a dominant 73-69 home victory in the opening round of the tournament over the University of Sioux Falls.
The Bulldogs stayed alive in their first matchup at the Sanford Pentagon, turning a three point deficit after the third quarter into a nine point comeback victory over Concordia St Paul. UMD would go on to fall 75-83 in their semifinal matchup against the University of Marauders.
Looking Ahead
Bulldog women's basketball will have another split schedule next week, hosting the Southwest Minnesota State University Mustangs and playing the Augustana University Vikings on the road. Tip-off against the Mustangs is currently set for Wednesday, Feb. 5, at 7:30 PM.
