Winona, Minn. -- The Winona State University women's basketball team will head to the University of Sioux Falls tomorrow in the first Warrior road trip of 2020-21.
The Warriors (0-1 / 0-0 NSIC South) will face a tough test with the Cougars (2-0 / 2-0 NSIC South), both in terms of the quality of opponent, and a layoff of almost two weeks, due to COVID testing and quarantine protocols. Due to impending inclement weather, the WSU-USF two-game series shifted to Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 16 – Jan. 17.
With games scheduled to start at 6pm on Saturday, Jan. 16 and 2pm on Sunday, Jan. 17, read on for the tale of the tape between the programs.
Good Things Come to Those Who Wait... Due to impending weather, the USF-WSU series was moved to Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 16-17, one day later than the original Friday-Saturday schedule.
Post-age Due… USF will feature some of deepest post play the Warriors will face this year, with four Cougars coming in at six feet or taller. Anna Goodhope, Anna Brecht, Amanda Dagostino and Kiara James all have seen time for USF, led by Brecht, the top scorer on the team so far, averaging 19.5 ppg. For the Warriors,
Emma Fee and
Ava Sergio will look to measure up with the Sioux Falls contingent down low.
Climbing the Ladder… Winona State guard
Allie Pickrain led WSU in 3-point shooting in their only outing this season, going 3-for-6 from behind the arc vs. Minnesota Duluth on 01/02. In contrast, Sioux Falls saw Megan Fannin go 4-for-7 across their two wins over Upper Iowa on Jan. 8-9. At 206 all-time, Pickrain could climb into the #4 spot in the Warrior record book, as former WSU standout Connor Nagle has a fourth-best three-point mark of 210, which she earned between 2012-16.
In the Rearview Mirror... Pickrain, a senior from Apple Valley, Minn., has already put one career marker behind her this season. With her six three-point shots vs. UMD, Pickrain became No. 4 in 3-point attempts all-time. She now sits at 537. Next on the list is
Katie Wolff, who launched 572 three-pointers for Winona State between 2012-16.
Two's Company, Three's Crowd… Last season, the two programs faced off in three contests, with the Warriors capturing both regular season victories, but Sioux Falls winning in the postseason. The Cougars were poised to start the NCAA Division II Central Region Tournament in Warrensburg, Mo. when the pandemic halted the competition.
One-on-one, Hawkeye Style…Both Winona State and USF feature one student-athlete from Iowa on their rosters: Cougar Molly Lutmer (Fr. G, Perry, Iowa) and the Warriors'
Caitlin Riley (So. G, Cedar Rapids).
Hustad Around the Hoop… With just one game under her belt this season due to COVID protocols, WSU Preseason Player to Watch
Taylor Hustad hauled in all of her five rebounds against UMD on Jan. 2 at the offensive end of the floor. Hustad currently has 227 rebounds in her career, sitting at No. 11 all time. For USF, their top performer in the paint so far is Dallie Hoskinson, who has 16 rebounds in two games.
Feeling Charitable… Sioux Falls has two players who earned 10 trips to the foul line so far this year, where Hoskinson and Brecht are 7-of-10 and 6-of-10, respectively. In their one game this season against Minnesota Duluth on Jan. 2, Winona State was 11-of-12 as team.
Shea Dechant was 3-for-4 on the day, while Hustad,
Alex Dornfeld, Mattie Schimenz and
Jenna Bruss all were 2-for-2 from the line.
Sweet Home, McCown… Winona State has a 7-0 edge over Sioux Falls in their last 15 contests when playing at home, but are 2-5 while on road vs. the Cougars over that span. The Warriors won by two points the last time they took the floor at the Stewart Center, when
Taylor Hustad hit a pair of free throws with four ticks on the clock to ice the game. Hustad hit for 23 in that game, followed by Fee with 19 and
Sydney Lodermeier who had 15.
Senior Citizens…Last year, Sioux Falls featured seven seniors, a group that led their team to a NCAA Tournament berth. In 2020-21, Winona State sports four seniors on the roster – point guard
Emily Kieck, Hustad, Pickrain and Fee.
The First 1,000 is the Hardest… Beginning with their first game on Jan. 5, 2013, the Warriors have scored 963 points total against USF, heading into the weekend series.
New Faces, New Places… Winona State will see three NCAA Division I transfers on the Sioux Falls roster; Anna Goodhope (North Dakota State), Emily Petersen (Nebraska-Omaha) and Anna Brecht (Wisconsin-Green Bay) all suit up for USF this season.
Katie Sowa is WSU's lone transfer on the current roster, having played her freshman season at the University of Indianapolis.
Just Getting Started...
Taylor Fautsch, Vanessa Alexander and
Kaitlyn Schrimpf all notched their first Warrior minutes vs. UMD. Schrimpf and Alexander both pulled in a pair of rebounds in the contest.
Counting Clipboards… At 550-321 over 30 collegiate seasons, Winona State's
Scott Ballard is one of the most experienced coaches in the NSIC. He is also just 19 victories away from 300 wins at WSU (281-189). USF bench boss Travis Traphagen led Sioux Falls to one of their best seasons in history last year at 26-6 overall and the NSIC South Division title.
For the most up to date news in Warrior Athletics, please visit:
www.WINONASTATEWARRIORS.com and
@WinonaStateATH.
