The University of Minnesota Duluth women's basketball team is set to host their opening round matchup of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) postseason tournament, facing off against the University of Sioux Falls Cougars for the third time this season.

MATCHUP INFORMATION

Wednesday, Feb. 28

6:00 PM vs. University of Sioux Falls

Watch Live: https://nsicnetwork.com/umdbulldogs/

Live Stats: https://umdbulldogs.com/sidearmstats/wbball/

THE SEASON SO FAR

The Bulldogs ended their regular season last week with a narrow one point win over the St. Cloud State University Huskies. UMD finished with a 17-9 overall record and a 14-8 conference record, securing them a seventh place spot in the standings heading into the tournament.

RANKINGS, RANKINGS, RANKINGS

UMD currently remains outside of the most recent WBCA national rankings, last being ranked during the week of Dec. 12. MSU Mankato resides as the NSIC's only representative in the rankings, slotting in at the No.21 themselves. The Bulldogs still hold the number one ranked field goal percentage (43.7%) in the conference, and remain top three in the conference in blocks per game (4.3) as well as free throw percentage (73.9%).

SCOUTING REPORT - SIOUX FALLS

The University of Sioux Falls Cougars ended the 2023-24 regular season with a one point loss to Minot State. The Cougars finished  with a 9-17 overall record and a conference record of 7-15, locking them into the eleventh seed for the conference tournament. The Bulldogs are 10-13 against the Cougars since 2013, and have matched up twice with the Cougars already this season with both ending in wins for UMD.

BULLDOG STARTING FIVE

The mix of veteran presence and young athleticism in the Bulldog starting five (consisting of Ella Gilbertson, Madelyn Granica, Myra Moorjani, Lexi Karge, and Taytum Rhoades) continues to put up strong performances on both sides of the ball. The core group has tallied 1214 points, 576 rebounds, and 258 assists just this season so far.   

PRESEASON PLAYER TO WATCH - GILBERTSON

Senior guard/forward Ella Gilbertson was voted as UMD's NSIC Preseason Player to Watch back in October prior to the beginning of the season. Gilbertson so far has tallied 253 total points this season with a 9.73 pts/game average, while also collecting 160 rebounds, 52 assists, 24 steals, and 2 blocks. 

ALL RHOADES LEAD TO TAYTUM

Graduate student guard Taytum Rhoades continues to dominate on the court. The St. Paul native currently leads the team in points (311) this season with a 12.0 pts/game average. Rhoades started in all 26 games fro the Bulldogs this season, pacing the team in minutes per game with 31.4. She tops the team charts with the most field goal attempts (291), three point attempts (84), and free throw attempts (79), while also leading the team in assists (122), steals (38), and blocks (37). Rhoades also approaches the prestigious 1000 career point milestone, currently sitting at 927 career points.

GET IT TO GRANICA

Graduate student guard/forward Madelyn Granica has had a strong final season with the Bulldogs as well. Starting in all 26 games for UMD, Granica holds the highest field goal percentage (.552) out of the regular starting five. She has scored 265 points with a 10.2 pts/game average throughout the year while also collecting 123 rebounds, 27 assists, 16 steals, and 14 blocks.

LOOKING AHEAD

If the Bulldogs were to win their matchup with Sioux Falls, they would meet Concordia St. Paul in the quarterfinal round of the NSIC Tournament in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Their first game in Sioux Falls would be Sunday, Mar. 2, at 7:00 PM.