WINONA, Minn. - The Winona State University women's basketball team returns home for their first NSIC weekend of the New Year, taking on the University of Minnesota Crookston on Friday, Jan. 6 and facing Bemidji State University on Saturday, Jan. 7.  The Warriors will tip off at 5:30 p.m. against the Golden Eagles on Friday and face the Beavers at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday. 

Winona State is 8-6 on the year and will be looking to snap a three-game losing streak.  WSU has dropped three successive road games, at Wayne State (77-68), at Augustana (73-57) and at Upper Iowa (70-63). Winona State beat Sioux Falls in McCown Gymnasium 76-61 on Dec. 10 and enter the weekend with a 3-2 home mark. 

Minnesota-Crookston owns a 6-8 regular season mark and  5-3 mark in NSIC play.  On Saturday, head coach Ana Wurtz and WSU will see a Bemidji State team that enters the weekend 4-8 overall and 1-7 in league action.  BSU will play at Upper Iowa on Friday before facing the Warriors on Saturday. 

GAME & FAN INFORMATION

• Live stats & stream for the game are available at the links above and on the WSU Women's Basketball schedule page. 
• Both contests will take place in McCown Gymnasium, home of WNB Financial Court.

WINONA STATE STORYLINES

• Winona State enters the weekend 8-6 on the season and 2-6 in the NSIC
• WSU is looking to snap a three-game skid.
• WSU averages 64.1 points per game and allows 60.8 points/game.
• Alex Dornfeld leads WSU in scoring at 12.6 ppg.
• Dornfeld is also WSU's leading rebounder at 9.1 rpg.
• Ava Sergio has blocked a team-best six shots this season.
• Caitlin Riley leads Winona State in steals with 16.
• Riley is also the Warriors top 3-point threat, hitting 37-of-78 (45.5%) this year.
• Lauren Fech leads WSU in minutes-per-game at 33.1 and assists (36).
• WSU opened the 2022-23 campaign with a seven-game win streak.
• Ana Wurtz is in her first year as head coach at Winona State.

Minnesota Crookston STORYLINES

• The Golden Eagles are 6-8 overall and 5-3 in the NSIC
• Emma Miller leads UMC in scoring at 17.5 ppg.
• Bren Fox is the top Golden Eagle rebounder at 8.9 rpg.
•  Miller has hit 29-of-79 (36.7%) 3-pointers this season.
• Miller also leads the Golden Eagles in steals with 15.
• Minnesota Crookston has a 13-18 record vs. WSU over the last 21 games.
• The Golden Eagles have not won a game in McCown Gymnasium since Jan. 14, 2011.
• UMC most recently beat UMary, 78-64 and are on a three-game winning streak.
• Head coach Mike Roysland is in his 17th season at Minnesota Crookston.

Bemidji State STORYLINES

• The Beavers enter the weekend at 4-8 overall and 1-7 in the NSIC
• Trinity Yoder leads BSU in scoring at 14.5 ppg.
• Sam Pogatchnik is the top Beaver rebounder at 6.9 rpg.
• Maddie Schires is the top BSU 3-point threat, hitting 34-of-90 (37.8%).
• Yoder also leads the Beavers in steals with 23.
• Bemidji State's last win in McCown Gymnasium was a 69-62 victory over WSU on Dec. 9, 2011.
• BSU last beat Winona State on Feb. 23, 2022, downing the Warriors, 63-51.
• Head coach Chelsea Stoltenberg is in her eighth season at Bemidji State.

WARRIOR NOTABLES 

• The Warriors were selected 11th overall and 5th in the NSIC South by coaches around the league.
• Head coach Ana Wurtz and assistant coach Hannah McGlone are the only all-female coaching staff in the NSIC that also competed at their alma mater as student-athletes.
• The Warriors' 7-0 start was the best opening stretch of games since the 2015-16 season, where WSU started 13-0.

For the most up to date news in Warrior Athletics, please visit: www.WINONASTATEWARRIORS.com and @WinonaStateATH.

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About Winona State University Athletics: 

The Winona State University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, as an integral part of the educational mission of the institution, is committed to offering opportunities to experience academic and athletic excellence for our student-athletes through two simple words: Graduate Champions.  

Fourteen Warrior programs compete at the NCAA Division II level within the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).  Winona State University competes as an affiliate member of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) in the sport of women's gymnastics.