The University of Minnesota Duluth women's basketball team moves on to the next round in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) tournament, taking on the University of Mary Marauders in the tournament's semifinal round.

MATCHUP INFORMATION

Monday, March 4

7:00 PM vs. University of Mary

Watch Live: https://www.midcosportsplus.com/

Live Stats: https://northernsun.org/sidearmstats/wbball/summary

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 (43.5%) in the conference, and remain top three in the conference in blocks per game (4.3).

SCOUTING REPORT - UMARY 

The University of Mary Marauders come into this matchup with a 21-10 overall record and a 16-6 conference record following their quarterfinal win over the St. Cloud State Huskies. The Bulldogs are 9-11 against the Marauders since 2013, with their most recent matchup resulting in an 11 point loss on the road 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 1322 points, 620 rebounds, and 276 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 303 total points this season with a 10.8 pts/game average, while also collecting 171 rebounds, 54 assists, 28 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 (325) this season with a 11.6 pts/game average. Rhoades started in all 28 games for the Bulldogs this season, pacing the team in minutes per game with 31.9. She tops the team charts with the most field goal attempts (314), and three point attempts (85), while also leading the team in assists (128), steals (40), and blocks (37). Rhoades also approaches the prestigious 1000 career point milestone, currently sitting at 941 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 27 games for UMD, Granica holds the highest field goal percentage (.543) out of the regular starting five. She has scored 284 points with a 10.1 pts/game average throughout the year while also collecting 133 rebounds, 29 assists, 22 steals, and 15 blocks.

ALL CONFERENCE SUPERSTARS

Graduate student guard Taytum Rhoades and senior guard/forward Ella Gilbertson both earned themselves NSIC all conference team nominations on Thursday, this being their first all conference nominations in both player's careers. Rhoades was voted to the NSIC all conference first team and currently leads the Bulldogs in four statistical categories this season, including total points (325). Gilbertson was voted to the NSIC all conference second team and currently leads the Bulldogs in rebounds (171) this season.

LOOKING AHEAD

If the Bulldogs were to win their matchup, they would head the NSIC tournament championship game against the winner of MSU Mankato versus Southwest Minn. State. The game is set to tip off on Tuesday, Mar. 5, at 7:00 PM.