The University of Minnesota Duluth women's basketball team will search for victory in another home and away split schedule this week, taking on the No.19 ranked Southwest Minnesota State Mustangs at home on Wednesday, Feb. 5, at 7:30 PM and hitting the road to take on the Augustana University Vikings on Saturday, Feb. 8, at 5:30 PM.
Last Time Out
The Bulldogs are coming off a tough week last week, falling 53-57 to the Winona State University Warriors on the road and 61-86 to the nationally ranked Concordia St Paul Golden Bears at home.
A back and forth battle against the Warriors saw multiple ties and lead changes throughout the night. The Bulldogs grabbed an early two point lead before giving it up heading into the second quarter, with a similar situation playing out in the second as they would collect and relinquish a three point lead before the halftime break. The same happened again with a two point coming and going in third before the Bulldogs went on to tie things up as time winded down in the fourth, but could not continue the rally as WSU pulled away in the final minutes.
UMD opened the afternoon at home against the Golden Bears with a 19-17 lead by the end of the first quarter. However, the Bulldogs struggled to hold on to that lead as CSP shot ahead in the second and maintained control throughout the rest of the afternoon.
Last Week's Spotlight Players
#42 Lexi Karge- 2 GP, 27 PTS, 14 REB, 2 A, 1 BLK, 100 FT% (6-6)
#45 Johanna Miller - 2 GP, 25 PTS, 6 REB, 2 BLK, 2 STL, 62.5 FG%
#4 Maria Counts - 2 GP, 18 PTS, 9 REB, 7 A, 2 STL, 1 BLK
Scouting Report - Southwest Minn. State
The Southwest Minnesota State University Mustangs are 20-2 overall and 14-2 against NSIC opponents this season, most recently coming off a 68-62 win over the University of Sioux Falls Cougars.
The Bulldogs are 9-4 against the Mustangs since 2014, holding a 6-1 home record and a 3-3 away record against SMSU after falling 56-82 against them earlier this season on the road. UMD's largest margin of victory over Southwest has been 30 points (87-57, Feb. 2019).
The Mustangs are currently led in scoring by senior guard #2 Bri Stoltzman, who is averaging 19.5 points per game with 409 total points over 21 games played this season.
Scouting Report - Augustana University
The Augustana University Vikings are 4-18 overall and 2-14 against NSIC opponents this season, most recently coming off a 68-72 loss to the Wayne State College Wildcats.
The Bulldogs are 10-5 against the Vikings since 2014, holding a 5-2 home record, 3-3 away record, and a 2-0 neutral site record against AU after defeating them 61-48 earlier this season. UMD's largest margin of victory over Augustana has been 24 points (69-45, Feb. 2019).
The Vikings are currently led in scoring by senior guard #3 Hannah Burg, who is averaging 11.6 points per game with 256 total points over 22 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 118 points, 59 rebounds, 32 assists, six steals, and a block while appearing in all 21 games for the Bulldogs this season. Bjorge has collected 175 points, 59 rebounds, 46 assists, 21 steals, and seven blocks over 19 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 179 points, 84 rebounds, 38 assists, 18 steals, and 10 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 - 1.01 (4th in NSIC, 41st in NCAA)
Fouls Per Game - 14.7 (2nd in NSIC, 35th in NCAA)
Turnovers Per Game - 13.6 (2nd in NSIC, 21st 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 host their final home games of the regular season next weekend, facing off against the Minnesota State University Moorhead Dragons and the Northern State University Wolves. Tip-off against the Dragons is currently set for Friday, Feb. 14, at 7:30 PM.
