THIS WEEK: After two exhibition games at NCAA Division I schools, the University of Mary is set to officially kick off the 2011-12 regular season tonight when the Marauders host one-time rival Minot State University. Tip off against the Beavers is 7 PM on Tuesday, November 15, at the McDowell Activity Center. U-Mary then begins a three-game road trip this weekend when the Marauders play twice in Florida. U-Mary will play at Johnson and Wales University in Miami, FL, on Friday, November 18, at 2 PM ET. The weekend concludes in West Palm Beach on Sunday, November 20, at Northwood University.
THE RECORDS: The Marauders have yet to play a regular season game this year... Minot State is 1-1, defeating the University of Alaska Fairbanks 72-59 and dropping their season opener at the University of Alaska Anchorage 87-63... Johnson and Wales is 1-2 overall... The Northwood Seahawks are 1-2 entering this week. The Seahawks have a game on Friday before hosting U-Mary on Sunday.
NCAA D2 HISTORY: Since beginning NCAA Division II competition in 2006-07, the University of Mary has not faced Minot State, Johnson and Wales or Northwood. The Marauders did play one of the Johnson and Wales in December 2007 but it was the Denver. CO, branch.
RIVALRY RENEWED: Former North Dakota College Athletic Conference (NDCAC) and Dakota Athletic Conference (DAC) competitors, U-Mary and Minot State University face each other for the first time since the Marauders defeated the Beavers 53-46 February 17, 2006, on the road. The last time the two teams played in Bismarck, the Marauders earned a 68-58 win on December 3, 2005. When U-Mary shifted to NCAA Division II play in 2006, the rivalry went on hiatus. With the Beavers shift to D2, the two teams will play each other twice this season. The rivalry will continue to heat up when the two begin facing each other as members of the Northern Sun in 2012-13. The Beavers are the newest addition to the conference.
STREAK: The Marauders have a ten-game winning streak against the Beavers. The last time MSU defeated U-Mary was January 4, 2002, an 81-62 win in Minot. The last time the Beavers won in Bismarck, ND, was an 89-63 win on January 5, 2001.
RADIO COVERAGE CHANGES: Radio coverage of the Marauders women's basketball team's season opener against Tuesday, November 15, can be heard on KFYR 550 AM with former U-Mary men's basketball player Todd Domres. There will be no radio coverage of the Marauders games at Johnson and Wales and Northwood University in Florida. The Marauders regular radio coverage returns to ESPN 710 AM beginning with the U-Mary at Minot State game on Nov. 23.
CONTINUITY: The Marauders return four starters, five of their top six scorers and 10 of 14 players from last season. Headlining the U-Mary team is Ali Collins. The junior guard led the Marauders in scoring (11.2 ppg), assists (3.2 apg), and steals (51) and was third in rebounding (4.4 rpg). Junior forward Shaunna Knife averaged 10.4 points per game and led the team in rebounds (6.5 per game) and blocked shots (32). Sophomore forward McKenzie Foster averaged 9.3 points per game off the bench and shot 44.9 per cent behind the arc and .854 at the free throw line. The lone projected senior in the lineup, guard Kayla Schmidt averaged 8.5 points and made 89.5 per cent of her free throws. Entering her third year as a starter, junior guard Laura Peterson scored 8.1 points per game. Returning guards Lindsey Sand and Taylor Luke and forward Mia Gilreath will continue to play key roles.
COLLINS THE MARAUDERS NSIC PLAYER TO WATCH: Headlining the U-Mary team is Ali Collins, the Marauders 2011-12 NSIC Women's Basketball Player to Watch. A native of Mandan, ND, Collins made an immediate impact for the Marauders last season after transferring back home from Illinois Central Community College. The junior guard led the Marauders in scoring (11.2 ppg), assists (3.2 apg), and steals (51) and was third in rebounding (4.4 rpg). Collins really turned her game up down the stretch, scoring 20 or more points in four out of the final six games of the season. A strong defender, Collins had a season-high eight steals against Wayne State College, the best total by a U-Mary player since the Marauders moved to NCAA Division II. She also tied her season-high of 23 points in that same game.
NEW FACES: The Marauders will mix a pair of 6-2 junior forwards into the rotation. Linda Murray transferred to U-Mary from Merced Community College. Murray earned first team All-Central Valley Conference recognition as a sophomore last year after averaging 11.6 points, 11.7 rebound and 2.4 blocks per game. Her efforts for the Lady Devils earned Murray the third most votes in the conference most valuable player voting. Merced College finished the season 20-10 and second in the conference at 8-2. As a freshman at Merced, Murray averaged 11.4 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game to earn all-conference honors in 2009-10... Shanara Clark played two seasons at Antelope Valley Community College and is one of the top shot blockers in school history. In 61 career games she blocked 88 shots for the Marauders. As a sophomore in 2010-11, Clark averaged 8.1 points and 5.2 rebounds as Antelope Valley finished second in the Foothills Conference at 11-3 in league play and 21-10 overall. In her freshman season, the Marauders won the Foothills Conference title and went 25-6 overall as Clark averaged 7.8 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game.
U-MARY PICKED 8TH IN NORTHERN SUN: After just missing a playoff spot last season, Northern Sun coaches believe the University of Mary women's basketball team will qualify for the conference tournament this year. In the 2011-12 NSIC Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll the Marauders are projected to finish eight. The Marauders finished in a three-way tie for 8th last season but missed out on post-season play due to tiebreakers.
150: Marauders head coach Fred Fridley recorded his 150th win against Augustana on Saturday, Feb. 12, 2011, in his eighth season directing the U-Mary program. His program has six winning seasons out of seven.
