The University of Minnesota Duluth women's basketball team closes out the remainder of their 2024-25 regular season home schedule this weekend, hosting the Minnesota State University Moorhead Dragons on Friday, Feb. 14, at 7:30 PM for their Play4Kay cancer awareness game and the Northern State University Wolves on Saturday, Feb. 15, at 5:30 PM for Senior Night.
Last Time Out
The Bulldogs are coming off a rough home and away week of Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) play, falling to the nationally ranked Southwest Minnesota State University Mustangs 63-89 at home before losing to the Augustana University Vikings 53-58 on the road.
UMD found themselves at an early deficit against the Mustangs, trailing 20-11 by the end of the first quarter. The Bulldogs were able to fight back and narrow that lead to just two points, pushing the score to 35-33 at the halftime break, but were unable to find a lead in the second half and fell to a 26 points deficit by the end of the night.
After a slow first quarter on the road, the Bulldogs were able to fight back to an even 26-26 tie by the halftime break. UMD broke open the scoring first in the second half, building a 42-40 advantage by the end of the third, but were unable to shut down the Vikings in the final period and fell 53-58.
Last Week's Spotlight Players
#11 Myra Moorjani - 2 GP, 32 PTS, 3 REB, 5 A, 2 STL, 52.0 FG%
#45 Johanna Miller - 2 GP, 24 PTS, 23 REB, 3 A, 3 BLK, 1 STL
#23 Claire Bjorge - 2 GP, 19 PTS, 2 REB, 3 A, 2 BLK, 2 STL
Scouting Report - Minnesota State Moorhead
The Minnesota State University Moorhead Dragons are 12-12 overall and 10-8 against NSIC opponents throughout the 2024-25 season, most recently coming off a 67-65 win over the University of Mary Marauders.
The Bulldogs are 11-11 against the Dragons since 2014, most recently defeating MSUM 74-50 earlier this season. UMD holds a 4-5 home record, 6-5 away record, and a 1-1 neutral site record over the Dragons, with their largest margin of victory being 25 points (67-42, Feb. 2022).
The Dragons are currently led in scoring by senior guard #10 Natalie Jens who is averaging 12.0 points per game with 228 total points over 19 games this season.
Scouting Report - Northern State University
The Northern State University Wolves are 15- 9 overall and 12-6 against NSIC opponents throughout the 2024-25 season, most recently coming off a 77-65 win over the Bemidji State University Beavers.
The Bulldogs are 11-12 against the Wolves since 2014, most recently falling to them 43-73 on the road earlier this season. UMD holds a 6-5 home record, 4-7 away record, and a 1-0 neutral site record over NSU, and their largest margin of victory has been 20 points (66-46, Feb. 2022).
The Wolves are currently led in scoring by junior forward #2 Madelyn Bragg who is averaging 16.1 points with 386 total points over 24 games this season.
Freshman Standouts
Freshman guards Vanessa Bickford and Claire Bjorge both continue to be important pieces to the Bulldogs' game plan with the pair seeing action in the majority of UMD's games this season. Bickford has tallied a total of 128 points, 63 rebounds, 35 assists, seven steals, and a block while appearing in all 23 games for the Bulldogs this season. Bjorge has collected 192 points, 61 rebounds, 49 assists, 23 steals, and nine blocks over 21 games after missing a pair of games due to injury.
The Counts Connection
The Counts sisters have been a dynamic duo on the court for the Bulldogs since Maria Count's return to the lineup in late December. The sister duo has combined for 193 points, 95 rebounds, 46 assists, 19 steals, and 12 blocks 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 three different categories. These categories include:
Assist/Turnover Ratio - 1.00 (4th in NSIC, 40th in NCAA)
Fouls Per Game - 14.6 (3rd in NSIC, 35th in NCAA)
Turnovers Per Game - 13.7 (2nd in NSIC, 26th 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 officially close out their 2024-25 regular season schedule next weekend on the road against the University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles and the Bemidji State University Beavers. Tip-off against the Golden Eagles is currently set for Friday, Feb. 21, at 7:30 PM.
