WINONA, Minn. - The Winona State University women's basketball team will host Minnesota State University Moorhead on Friday, January 26, and St. Cloud State University on Saturday, January 27.
The Warrior - Dragon contest will start at 5:30 p.m. on Friday and the WSU - SCSU tilt will tip off at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday. Both contests will be in McCown Gymnasium, home of WNB Financial Court.
Additionally, the WSU Alumni Office welcomes back Winona State women's basketball alumnae for a reunion game and social prior to Saturday's contest against the Huskies. Click here for more info.
Winona State (5-12, 4-8 NSIC) faces Minnesota State Moorhead on Friday and St. Cloud State looking to start a streak to the postseason. The games against the Dragons (6-11, 6-6 NSIC) and Huskies (10-6, 7-5 NSIC) will feature an opportunity to climb the NSIC standings for Winona State with the Huskies sitting seventh and the Dragons ninth, heading into the weekend. MSUM enters play on Friday having lost two consecutive contests, while St. Cloud State has won three straight games coming into the weekend.
Leading a balanced attack for the Warriors is Olivia Gamoke, leading the team in points per game (9.1), and tied for the team lead in assists (24) and third on the team in steals (11). Warrior teammate and point guard Emma Carpenter is second on the squad with 8.4 points per game and is tied with Gamoke in both assists.
This weekend's contests are also a part of the NCAA Division II Official's Appreciation Week during the winter sports seasons. A warm 'Warrior Thanks' to the NSIC officials assigned to the Winona State contests for your hard work and dedication to our student-athletes.
GAME & FAN INFORMATION
WINONA STATE STORYLINES
- WSU is 5-12 on the year, 4-8 in NSIC play.
- This Saturday is the alumnae game for the women's basketball team.
- WSU is shooting 38.3% as a team from the floor.
- The Warriors are averaging 55.8 points/game and conceding 64.2 points per outing.
- Olivia Gamoke is WSU's leading scorer, averaging 9.1 ppg.
- Alex Dornfeld is the top Warrior rebounder, averaging 6.9 rebounds/game
- Dornfeld and Vanessa Alexander have both had a 12-rebound game this season.
- Olivia Gamoke leads WSU in minutes per game (30.5).
- Alex Dornfeld has registered three double-doubles this year, including a 12-point, 11-board performance at Minot State most recently.
- Olivia Gamoke scored 17 points at Minot State, leading the Warriors in scoring on the day.
- Gamoke was 4-of-5 from 3-point distance against the Beavers last Saturday.
- As a team, Winona State scored 24 points in the third quarter but only five points in the fourth quarter vs. Minot State last weekend, the largest two-quarter swing of the year.
- WSU held MSU to just seven points in the fourth frame of the contest.
- Coming off the bench, Hailey Markworth logged 30 minutes of action at Minot State. Only starters Gamoke and Dornfeld played more, with 36 minutes apiece.
- Winona State heads into the Warrior weekend in 11th place in the NSIC standings. WSU will open up the final eight-game NSIC slate next Tuesday when they travel to Concordia University, St. Paul. The Warriors will play four home and four away contests between January 30 and February 24.
- Ana Wurtz is in her second season as the head coach at Winona State.
MSU Moorhead STORYLINES
- The Dragons enter the weekend at 6-11 overall and 6-6 in the NSIC.
- Winona State holds a 9-9 record vs. MSUM dating back to January 22, 2010.
- WSU has won three of the last four games dating back to January 2019.
- MSUM has lost their last two games.
- The Dragons lost 57-65 (OT) to Concordia St. Paul in their most recent action.
- As a team, MSUM is shooting 37.4% from the floor and 71.1% at the line.
- MSUM hits 28.7% of their three-point attempts.
- Natalie Jens is averaging 15.6 points per game for the Dragons.
- Karla Nelson is in her 24th season as head coach for the Dragons.
St. Cloud State STORYLINES
- The Huskies enter the weekend 10-6 overall and 7-5 in the NSIC.
- Winona State holds a 12-6 record against SCSU, dating back to Mar. 7, 2009.
- SCSU beat Winona State 58-43 last year.
- St. Cloud State is 5-5 over their last ten games.
- The Huskies beat Augustana 76-58 at home in their most recent action.
- As a team, SCSU is shooting 40.8% from the floor and 69.3% at the line.
- SCSU hits 35.0% of their three-point attempts.
- Jada Eggebrecht leads the team in scoring with 13.3 ppg.
- Lori Fish is in her 16th year at SCSU.
Warrior Notables:
- The Warriors were selected 12th overall in the 2023-24 NSIC Coaches Poll. This season marks the first single-division format within NSIC basketball.
- Head coach Ana Wurtz and assistant coaches Hannah McGlone and Emily Kieck are the only all-female coaching staff in the NSIC that also competed at their alma mater as student-athletes.
- The first Winona State women's basketball season was in 1973-74, with the squad going 9-5 overall.
For the most up-to-date news in Warrior Athletics, please visit: www.WINONASTATEWARRIORS.com and @WinonaStateATH.
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.
Media Contact: Pete Watkins, Director of Athletic Communications | Ph: 507.457.5577 | Email: pwatkins@winona.edu
