GAME NOTES (PDF)
THIS WEEK: After playing two exhibition games and four non-conference contests, the University of Mary opens Northern Sun competition this weekend in Minnesota. The Marauders play at St. Cloud State University on Friday, December 2, with tip off set for 6 PM. U-Mary will then make a short trip to St. Paul, MN, to tangle with the Golden Bears of Concordia University on Saturday, December 3. Game time is set for 4 PM.
RADIO CHANGE FOR SATURDAY: Due to a conflict, the U-Mary at Concordia University - St. Paul women's basketball game on Saturday, December 3, will be broadcast on KBMR 1130. Pregame is 3:30 PM. All other Marauders basketball games will be carried on ESPN 710 AM.
THE RECORDS: The Marauders are 3-1 overall entering Northern Sun play... The Huskies are 3-1 overall... The Golden Bars are 3-3.
LAST WEEK: In its lone contest Thanksgiving Week, U-Mary earned an 81-52 win at Minot State University... SCSU earned a big home win, defeating UW-Stoudt 93-34... CU split two home games, defeating Mt. Mercy 83-72 before losing 66-52 to Michigan Tech last weekend.
HISTORY: U-Mary is 2-3 against St. Cloud State in a series that began during the 2008-09 season when SCSU re-joined the NSIC. The first Marauders win was a 78-61 home court victory behind 22 points from Rachel Zillmer on 1.22.10... In a series that began during the 1997-98 season, U-Mary is 4-6 all-time against Concordia University - St. Paul. In the first meeting between the two schools, the Marauders defeated the Golden Bears 72-57. The Golden Bears won the next four meetings after the Marauders joined the Northern Sun in the 2006-07 season. The biggest moment in the series for U-Mary occurred in a 67-66 home win on 1.23.10 when freshman Shaunna Knife buried a 3-pointer with 1.6 seconds left in the game against a CU squad ranked 20th in the nation.
LAST MEETING: Visiting U-Mary rolled past SCSU 79-53 on 2.19.11 behind 22 points from Ali Collins and 15 points and nine rebounds from Shaunna Knife. The Marauders hit 10 treys and shot 48 per cent overall to 32.8 per cent for the Huskies... The Marauders couldn't keep pace in a 108-74 road loss to the Golden Bears. CU hit 16 treys and shot 56.1 per cent from the field to 37.5 per cent for U-Mary. Maurika Hichman scored 25 points for CU and Shaunna Knife led UM with 15 points.
RECAP: U-Mary 81 Minot State 52 - In the span of eight days, U-Mary avenged an 11 point home loss to Minot State University in the season-opener with a 29 point drubbing of the Beavers on the road. The Marauders rolled past the Beavers 81-52 behind a career-high 21 points from Kayla Schmidt. The senior guard nailed seven treys in the game and pulled down six rebounds. McKenzie Foster added 15 points, hitting 7-of-8 free throws. She led all players with four assists. Linda Murray pulled down 10 rebounds and blocked three shots. Shaunna Knife had nine points, six rebounds and three blocks. Kaitlyn Haag had seven boards. Christina Boag and Morgan Klose led the Beavers with 10 points apiece.
TURNABOUT: After losing to Minot State by 11 points in the season-opener at home, the University of Mary responded with a 29 point win at MSU just one week later.
14: The Marauders rained down 14 treys at Minot State University on 11.23.11, the third highest total in school history. The U-Mary mark is 18 against Minnesota Crookston last season on 1.9.11. The Marauders also nailed 15 against the Golden Eagles on 2.25.09.
LUCKY 7: Kayla Schmidt hit for a career-high 21 points while make seven treys at Minot State on 11.23.11. Her seven treys are also a personal high. The school mark is nine made treys by current graduate assistant coach Kayla Rogers at Rocky Mountain College on Dec. 17, 2009. Schmidt currently leads the NSIC with 3.5 treys per game.
ALL IN: All 12 Marauders on the rosters scored in the 81-52 win at Minot State. U-Mary nearly accomplished that feat against Johnson and Wales when 11 of the 12 players who appeared on that game scored.
104-24: The University of Mary came close to two records in its 104-24 win at Johnson and Wales in Miami, FL. The margin of victory was just short of the 85 points in a 105-20 Marauders win over Briercrest College on 11.13.10. The 24 points allowed against JWU was second to the 20 points allowed against Briercrest.
3 vs. 2: Through four games the Marauders have a slightly better field goal percentage on three pointers than on field goals overall. U-Mary is shooting 38.8 per cent behind the arc to 38.6 per cent overall.
DOWNTOWN: The Marauders are averaging 10 treys made per game, tops among schools in the NSIC. U-Mary also leads the conference in three point field goal percentage at 38.8.
SHARING THE LOAD: Six different Marauders have reached double digits in points this season. Shaunna Knife, Ali Collins and Kayla Schmidt have all hit for 10 or more points three times each. Laura Petersen, McKenzie Foster and Linda Murray each have reached double figures one time.
SHARING THE LOAD v2: Three Marauders are averaging double figures in scoring - Kayla Schmidt, Ali Collins and Shaunna Knife. Three more average at lease 7.5 points per game - McKenzie Foster, Linda Murray and Laura Petersen.
THREE: The Marauders have won three straight games for the first time since winning three in a row between Jan. 22-29, 2010.
BOARD PLAY: U-Mary has yet to be out-rebounded this season. After tying Minot State in rebounds in the opener, the Marauders have had an advantage in each of the last three games. For the season U-Mary is averaging 49.5 boards to 35 for the opposition. The Marauders lead NSIC teams with 49.5 rebounds and is second in rebounding margin (14.5). Linda Murray (7.5 rebounds/game), Shaunna Knife (7.0) and Kaitlyn Haag (6.8) are in the top 13 individually in the NSIC.
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.
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