The University of Minnesota Duluth women's basketball team opens up the 2024-25 postseason on the road, facing off against the University of Mary Marauders in the first round of the NSIC tournament on Wednesday, Feb. 26, at 6:00 PM.
Last Time Out
The Bulldogs ended their 2024-25 season on a high note, completing the weekend sweep with wins over the University of Minnesota Crookston and Bemidji State University to secure themselves the eleventh seed going into the NSIC tournament.
UMD bounced back from an early deficit in Crookston with double digit point runs in both the first and second quarters to take a 42-33 advantage by the halftime break. The Bulldogs continued to grow their lead in the second half, collecting a 14 point run in the fourth on their way to a 77-60 win to start the weekend.
A career high 31 points for Grace Counts led the Bulldogs on their way to a victory in Bemidji. UMD grabbed the early lead in the first quarter with a six point scoring run, and never surrendered that lead throughout the rest of the night, closing out the regular season on a 71-54 win.
Last Week's Spotlight Players
#24 Grace Counts - 2 GP, 35 PTS, 7 REB, 2 A, 71.4 3FG%
#42 Lexi Karge - 2 GP, 30 PTS, 10 REB, 3 A, 1 BLK, 1 STL
#45 Johanna Miller - 2 GP, 22 PTS, 21 REB, 5 A, 64.7 FG%
Scouting Report - University of Mary
The University of Mary Marauders are 15-11 overall and 12-10 against NSIC opponents throughout 2024-25, most recently taking down the University of Sioux Falls Cougars 66-58 to secure themselves the sixth seed in the NSIC tournament.
The Bulldogs are 9-13 against the Marauders since 2013 after falling to them 59-71 on the road in their most recent matchup. UMD holds a 7-3 home record, 1-9 road record, and a 1-1 neutral site record against MARY, with their largest margin of victory standing at 33 points (73-40, Feb. 2015).
The Marauders are currently led in scoring by sophomore guard #13 Bergan Kinnebrew who is averaging 15.4 points per game with 385 total points over 25 games.
NSIC Tournament
At the end of the regular season, Wayne State and UMD found themselves tied against conference opponents at 8-14 respectively. WSC & UMD only played each other once during the regular season, with WSC earning the 10th seed via strength of schedule.
Bulldogs Against the Rest
The Bulldogs, as a team, rank within the top three throughout the NSIC in two different statistical categories and within the top five in four categories. These categories include:
Assist/Turnover Ratio - 0.99 (5th in NSIC, 42nd in NCAA)
Fouls Per Game - 14.6 (3rd in NSIC, 41st in NCAA)
Three Point Percentage - 32.5 (5th in NSIC, 59th in NCAA)
Turnovers Per Game - 13.6 (3rd 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
With a win against the Marauders, Bulldog women's basketball would punch their ticket to the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, SD, for the following rounds of the NSIC tournament. UMD would go on to face off against the Minnesota State University Mankato Mavericks in the quarterfinal round.
