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UMD Women’s Basketball Continues Homestand Against Bemidji State and Minnesota Crookston

The University of Minnesota Duluth women's basketball team will be searching for redemption this weekend as they play host to the Bemidji State University Beavers on Friday, Jan.17, at 7:30 PM and the University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles on Saturday, Jan. 18, at 5:30 PM.

The University of Minnesota Duluth women's basketball team will be searching for redemption this weekend as they play host to the Bemidji State University Beavers on Friday, Jan.17, at 7:30 PM and the University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles on Saturday, Jan. 18, at 5:30 PM.

Last Time Out

The Bulldogs made their return to Romano Gymnasium last weekend for their first home game of 2025, falling to the St. Cloud State University Huskies 66-79.

The Bulldogs opened up the afternoon strong, sinking a last minute three pointer to collect a 14-11 lead by the end of the first quarter. UMD went on to lose their lead in the second quarter and would be unable to regain control throughout the rest of the game, falling in the first game of their three game homestand.

Last Week's Spotlight Players

#4 Maria Counts - 18 PTS, 8 REB, 4 A, 1 BLK

#11 Myra Moorjani - 13 PTS, 10 REB, 3 A, 1 BLK, 1 STL

#45 Johanna Miller - 11 PTS, 3 REB, 1 A

Scouting Report - Bemidji State

The Bemidji State University Beavers are 4-10 overall and 2-8 against NSIC opponents so far this season, most recently coming off an 18 points loss to the Winona State Warriors.

The Bulldogs are 21-1 against the Beavers since 2013, holding a 12-0 home record, 8-1 away record, and a 1-0 neutral site record over BSU. UMD's largest margin of victory over the Beavers has been 29 points (78-49, Dec. 2022), defeating the Beavers 71-51 in their most recent matchup.

The Beavers are led in scoring by sophomore guard Tieryn Plasch who is averaging 10.2 points per game with 143 total points over 14 games this season.

Scouting Report - Minnesota Crookston

The University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles are 6-10 overall and 4-6 against NSIC opponents so far this season, most recently coming off a 39 points loss to the MSU Mankato Mavericks.

The Bulldogs are 19-2 against the Golden Eagles since 2013, holding a 10-0 home record and a 9-2 away record against UMC. UMD's largest margin of victory over the Golden Eagles has been 47 points (99-52, Feb. 2023), defeating the Golden Eagles 82-59 in their most recent matchup.

The Golden Eagles are currently being led in scoring by junior guard Emma Miller who is averaging 21.1 points per game with 337 total points over 16 games this season.

Bulldogs Against the Rest

The Bulldogs, as a team, rank within the top three throughout the NSIC in two different statistical categories and top five throughout the NSIC in four different categories. These categories include: 

Assist/Turnover Ratio - 1.05 (5th in NSIC, 35th in NCAA)

Blocks Per Game - 3.8 (5th in NSIC, 54th in NCAA

Fouls Per Game - 14.8 (2nd in NSIC, 39th in NCAA)

Turnovers Per Game - 13.7 (1st in NSIC, 29nd in NCAA)

UMD Slated Eight in NSIC Preseason

The University of Minnesota Duluth women's basketball team was slated to finish eighth in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) preseason coaches poll. The Bulldogs received 119 points in the conference poll after finishing the 2023-24 season in the semifinal round of the NSIC tournament.

Moorjani Named NSIC Player to Watch

Junior guard Myra Moorjani has been named UMD's NSIC Player to Watch for the 2024-25 season. While she made an appearance in all 29 games, Moorjani became a mainstay member in the Bulldogs' starting five for the final 10 games of the 2023-24 season. Moorjani tallied 181 total points last season while averaging 6.2 points per game, 3.0 rebounds per game, and was third on the team with 40 total assists.

Offseason Losses

The Bulldogs graduated a large majority of their veterans, including losing a large majority of their starting five from the previous season.

Taytum Rhoades leaves UMD after a career season with the Bulldogs. Rhoades led the team in total points, assists, steals, and blocks last season, and closed things out with a NSIC All Conference first team nod.

Ella Gilbertson leaves the program after leading the team in total rebounds throughout 2023-24. Gilbertson was the only other Bulldog member to receive an all conference nod, being named to the NSIC All Conference second team last season.

Taya Hakamaki was able to lead the team last season in average points per game despite missing the final 10 games with a knee injury. Hakamaki ended her time at UMD as a career 90.1% free throw shooter.

Madelyn Granica set new career highs in nine different statistical categories throughout the 2023-24 season. Granica closed out her UMD career with 689 total points.

Abby Johnson spent the last two years of her college career with the Bulldogs after transfering from the University of Nebraska Omaha. Throughout her 38 appearances with the Bulldogs, Johnson collected 172 points, 56 rebounds, and 15 blocks.

Gus Boyer made 51 total appearances for the Bulldogs throughout her college career. A member of the Bulldogs three consecutive conference championship wins, Boyer collected 46 points, 51 rebounds, and 16 steals while at UMD.

Last Season

The Bulldogs closed out their season with a 19-10 overall record, falling in the semifinal round of the NSIC tournament to the University of Mary Marauders.

UMD carried the momentum from their one point win in their regular season finale against St. Cloud State into a dominant 73-69 home victory in the opening round of the tournament over the University of Sioux Falls.

The Bulldogs stayed alive in their first matchup at the Sanford Pentagon, turning a three point deficit after the third quarter into a nine point comeback victory over Concordia St Paul. UMD would go on to fall 75-83 in their semifinal matchup against the University of Marauders.

Looking Ahead

Bulldog women's basketball will head take a tour around North Dakota next weekend to face off against the University of Mary Marauders and the Minot State University Beavers. Tip-off against the Marauders is currently set for Friday, Jan. 24, at 7:30 PM.