WINONA, Minn. – Keeping with tradition, the Warriors welcome their alumni back to McCown Gymnasium this weekend to close a four-game homestand against the Golden Eagles and Beavers. Tipoff with Crookston is set for 5:30 p.m. on Friday with Saturday's action vs. Bemidji State slated for 3:30 p.m.
Winona State's Alumni Game will take place Saturday morning prior to the finale against BSU.
The Warriors split their first action of the season against NSIC North opponents on the road to open 2020. Winona State enters the weekend at 10-4 (6-4 NSIC) and seeks its first weekend sweep since December 6-7.
Notes
SCOUTING CROOKSTON: The Golden Eagles (2-12, 1-9 NSIC) come into Friday's contest riding a five-game losing streak and sit at seventh in the NSIC North. The Warriors have won five consecutive contests against the Golden Eagles, including a 76-64 win last season. Minnesota Crookston has struggled both offensively and defensively this year, as they have surrendered a league-leading 74.6 ppg while averaging just 59 on the offensive side. The Golden Eagles have also had turnover issues, coughing up the ball 16.5 times/game, which is fourth worst in the conference. Junior Abby Guidinger is the only Golden Eagle to average in double figures (10.5 ppg) while five others average 5.5 points or more.
SCOUTING BEMIDJI STATE: The Beavers enter the weekend with a record of 6-8 (3-7 NSIC) and sit just above Crookston at sixth place in the NSIC North. The Warriors have won eight of their last nine games against the Beavers, with their only loss coming in last year's tilt, 61-57. The Beavers only score 64.5 ppg, but they make up for it with their defense, which only allows 64 ppg. The Beavers are led on offense by sophomore Trinity Myer, who is the only player in double figures (13.6). BSU is balanced, though, as they have three players all averaging 9.1-9.3 ppg. Myer is also fifth in the NSIC in assists/game (4.0).
SATURDAY BLUES: Winona State has split both weekend series to start 2020, winning both Friday matchups before seeing their production dip significantly on Saturday. In both Saturday setbacks in the New Year, the Warriors have been outscored by a combined 37 points. Fatigue and youth could be a factor in those outcomes as the WSU starters have played a majority of the minutes in both Friday contests which were decided by just 10 combined points. Over both weekends, the Warriors have shot 46% in their Friday victories compared to a 33% clip in the Saturday losses.
SHARING IS CARING: Junior Emily Kieck is having a great year sharing the ball, as she leads both the team and conference in assists/game (4.8). Kieck is on pace to crack the top 15 in WSU history for assists in a season and is currently ranked 20th all-time in career assists (201). Kieck produced one of her best performances of the season last Friday against Wayne State as she picked up the first double-double of her career with 11 points and 11 assists.
MAKE EM' COUNT: A big reason the Warriors have been able to win so many close games this season is because of their free throw shooting. WSU shoots 75.4% (169-224) from the charity stripe, which ranks third in the NSIC. Allie Pickrain shoots it at a 92.9% clip while Caitlin Riley (87.5%) and Taylor Hustad (79.3%) aren't far behind. Winona State is 5-1 in games decided by eight points or less this season compared to a 7-6 mark last year.
TWIN TOWERS: The combination of Taylor Hustad and Emma Fee are currently the best rebounding duo in the NSIC, averaging 15.5 rebounds a game between the two. Hustad leads the NSIC with 9.6 a game, while Fee is ranked 16th at 5.9. If Hustad keeps up her incredible pace, she could be the first Warrior to average double digit rebounds in a season since current graduate assistant Hannah McGlone accomplished the feat in 2016-17.
