GAME NOTES

THIS WEEK: The University of Mary women's basketball team completes its tour around the Northern Sun this weekend when U-Mary travels to Aberdeen, SD, to face Northern State University. The Wolves are the Marauders travel partner and the only team in the league U-Mary has yet to play. Game time is set for 6 PM on Saturday, January 21, at Wachs Arena.

THE RECORDS: The Marauders are 12-4 overall and third in the Northern Sun at 9-3... The Wolves are 11-7 overall and seventh in the NSIC at 6-6.

LAST OUTINGS: U-Mary opened last weekend with a 74-66 win at Southwest Minnesota State before seeing an eight-game win streak snapped in a 52-49 loss at Minnesota State... Northern State lost a tight 62-59 contest at Minnesota State before rebounding with a 69-55 win at Southwest Minnesota State. In a non-conference home game Tuesday, the Wolves beat Minot State 81-61.  

HISTORY / LAST MEETING
U-Mary vs. Northern State University: Northern State leads the all-time series with U-Mary 28-8. Since joining the Northern Sun and NCAA Division II in 2006-07, the Wolves hold a 7-3 lead in the recent series with the Marauders, winning the last four meetings. U-Mary is 2-3 at home and 1-4 on the road. In the first three seasons, the series was split each year. In the 2007-08 season, the road team won both times. Nicci Landdeck led the Marauders to their lone win at Wachs Arena, scoring 33 points in a 64-53 victory January 19, 2008... In the last meeting between the two teams, Northern State defeated U-Mary 75-66 on 2.26.11 in Bismarck, ND. The loss kept U-Mary out of the NSIC playoffs and the win secured second place for NSU. Shaunna Knife led the Marauders with 18 points and Kayla Schmidt added 11. Krista Rabenberg led all players with 23 points. Jodi Reinschmidt added 19 and Emily Becken score 16.  

ONCE AROUND: U-Mary's travel partner, Northern State is the only Northern Sun team the Marauders have yet to play. After this weekend all conference teams will have played 13 conference games with nine remaining.

SNAPPED AT EIGHT: U-Mary's eight game winning streak came to a close with a 52-49 loss at Minnesota State on Saturday. It was the Marauders longest win streak since capturing eight straight in 2004-05.  

THIRD: Tied for first in the win column, the Marauders stand third in the Northern Sun standings. Wayne State and Augustana are each 9-2. The Marauders are right behind at 9-3.

LOVE LOST: After earning votes in the previous two polls, the Marauders didn't receive any votes this week in the USA Today ESPN Division II Top 25 Women's Basketball Coaches' Poll.

ALUMNI NIGHT: The annual Marauders Men's and Women's Basketball Alumni Night is set for Saturday, January 28. Activities begin with an alumni game for both men and women at 8:45 AM at the McDowell Activity Center. Teams will alternate playing for 10 minutes at a time. That evening as the Marauders host the University of Minnesota Duluth, the men's alumni members will be introduced at intermission of the women's game. All the women's alumni will be introduced at intermission of the men's game. Following the Marauders games, a social will be held at the Bismarck Country Club by the Tom O'Leary Golf Course. To RSVP or for additional questions, please contact U-Mary women's head coach Fred Fridley (ffridley@umary.edu) or men's head coach Jevin Budde (jmbudde@umary.edu).

TUBE TIME: The Marauders make their season debut on the NBC North Dakota Sports Network (KFYR-TV in Bismarck, KMOT-TV in Minot, KUMV-TV in Williston, and KQCD-TV in Dickinson) when they return home next weekend to host the University of Minnesota Duluth on January 28. U-Mary makes a second appearance February 18 against St. Cloud State. The Marauders also have a second appearance on Midco Sports Net February 17 against Concordia University - St. Paul.

ROAD WARRIORS: The Marauders have experienced tremendous success on the road this season, winning seven of nine games and exceeding last year's total of six road wins. U-Mary's road sweep of NSIC foes Minnesota Duluth and Bemidji State on December 16-17 was the Marauders first road sweep of conference foes since January 11-12, 2008.

MURRAY'S GREAT EIGHT: JR F Linda Murray swatted away eight shots in a loss at Minnesota State University on January 14. It is the most by a player in the Northern Sun this season. The eight blocks are also the most by a U-Mary player since the Marauders began NCAA Division II play in 2006-07. The figure may also be an all-time single game record for U-Mary.

LOW POINT: Despite a horrendous shooting night, the Marauders nearly pulled out a 52-49 loss at Minnesota State. U-Mary shot 17.5 per cent (11-of-63) from the field and did not make a three pointer (0-for-17). This was U-Mary's worst shooting performance and the first time the Marauders have failed to make a three-pointer in a game since beginning NCAA Division II play in 2006-07.

DEEEEEFENSSSSSE: U-Mary is one of the most difficult teams to score on in the nation. Teams are shooting an anemic 33.5 per cent from the field against U-Mary, the best figure in the conference. The Marauders also are allowing just 59.8 points per game, fifth in the NSIC. Nine times in 16 games the Marauders have held an opponent to 56 or fewer points.
SCORING: The Marauders are second in scoring in the NSIC, posting 68.7 points per game. The team's scoring margin of +8.9 pointer per game is fourth.

HAAG IN CHARGE: SO F Kaitlyn Haag may be coming off the bench but she is front and center in the recent success of the Marauders. In her last eight games Haag has been unstoppable while reaching double figures in each contest. During this stretch she is averaging 14.1 points per game and 7.8 rebounds while shooting 53.8 per cent from the field and 79.4 per cent at the free throw line. For the season, Haag is second on the team in scoring (9.8) and rebounding (6.8).

MAGNIFICENT MURRAY: Linda Murray has anchored the paint for the Marauders this season. The junior forward from Fresno, CA, averages 8.5 points and 7.4 rebounds and has posted a team-high 34 blocks. Three times this season she has posted a double double.  

POWERFUL POST PLAY: Marauders post players Kaitlyn Haag and Linda Murray have been a tremendous post pair for the Marauders this season. Murray starts and averages 8.5 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. Haag is scoring 9.8 points and pulling down 6.9 boards per game in a relief role.

STAT STUFFER: JR G Ali Collins continues to post tremendous numbers all across the board for the Marauders. The Mandan, ND, native leads U-Mary in scoring (11.0 PPG), assists (3.3/game), steals (39) and free throw attempts (60). The dynamic guard also pulls down 5.1 rebounds per game. Collins snared 11 boards at Minnesota State, tying her career high. She barely missed a double double after scoring nine points.  

NATIONAL NOTE- TEAM: The Marauders rank in the top 50 nationally in several categories:
• 12th in field goal percentage defense (33.5)
• 18th in blocks per game (5.1)
• 25th in rebounding margin (+7.0)
• 41st in free throw percentage (73.7)
• 46th in three-pointers made per game (6.4)
• 53rd in winning percentage (75.0)

NATIONAL NOTE - INDIVIDUAL: Several Marauders are mentioned among the top 100 on the NCAA individual stat leader boards:
• Kayla Schmidt 55th in three point field goals made/game (2.3)
• Ali Collins is 91st in steals/game (2.4)
• Linda Murray is 35th in blocked shots/game (2.1)
• Lindsey sand is 53rd in free throw percentage (83.7)

BOARD GAMES: The Marauders are first in the NSIC in rebounds per game (45.4) and fourth in rebounding margin (+6.9/game). The Marauders were out-rebounded twice in 16 games, losses to Augustana and Minnesota State.   

WINDEX: Linda Murray is the Marauders leading glass cleaner this season. Her average of 7.4 rebounds per game is fifth in the NSIC. Teammate Kaitlyn Haag averages 6.9 rebounds and is 9th in the conference. The Marauders are the only team in the league to have two rebounders in the top 10.  

BLOCK PARTY: The Marauders average 5.13 blocks per game, second in the NSIC. Leading the way is Linda Murray with 2.13 blocks per game, second in the NSIC. Shaunna Knife is 10th with 1.19 blocks/game.

DOWNTOWN: The Marauders are averaging 6.38 treys made per game, fifth among schools in the NSIC. Leading the way is senior guard Kayla Schmidt, who is second in the Northern Sun with an average of 2.25 treys per game.

CRIME SCENE: U-Mary averages 9.31 steals per game, sixth in the NSIC. Ali Collins is the leader of the crime ring, averaging 2.44 steals/game, third among NSIC players.  

ALL IN: Twice this season all 12 Marauders have scored in a single game; a win over Minot State and a loss at Concordia University. The squad nearly accomplished that feat against Johnson and Wales when 11 of the 12 players who appeared in the game scored.
 
SHARING THE LOAD: Seven different Marauders have reached double digits in points this season. Ali Collins scored 10 or more points 10 times, Kaitlyn Haag eight times, Shaunna Knife seven, Kayla Schmidt six, Laura Petersen five times, McKenzie Foster three times and Lindsey Sand once.

SHARING THE LOAD v2: Five Marauders have led the team in scoring, including Ali Collins five times, Kaitlyn Haag four times, Linda Murray three times, Kayla Schmidt two times apiece and Laura Petersen and Shaunna Knife once each.  

SHARING THE LOAD v3: Only one player averages double figures in scoring - Ali Collins at 11.0 PPG. Three players check in at over eight points per game: Kaitlyn Haag (9.8 PPG), Linda Murray (8.5), and Kayla Schmidt (8.1). Right behind is Shaunna Knife (7.8), Laura Petersen (7.7) and McKenzie Foster (5.9).

TAKING TURNS: Only once this season has the same player led the Marauders in scoring in consecutive games, Kaitlyn Haag against SMSU and MSU. During one five game stretch five different Marauders have paced the team in scoring.

MAC ATTACK: The Marauders have won 32-of-51 NSIC home games the last six seasons and are 46-25 overall (9-4 2006-07, 10-3 in 2007-08, 8-5 in 2008-09, 7-6 in 2009-10, 7-5 in 2010-11, 5-2 in 2011-12) in the McDowell Activity Center. Since Fred Fridley became head coach in the 2003-04 season, the Marauders are 83-27 at home, which includes a 15-0 mark in 2004 and 10-0 in 2006.

RALLY TIME: The Marauders overcame a 16-point deficit to defeat Bemidji State 81-77 behind a 20 point explosion from Kayla Schmidt that included six three pointers. Earlier this season U-Mary overcame a 19 point deficit in a 58-56 win at St. Cloud State.

BIG WIN: The Marauders win over 4th ranked Wayne State College 72-64 on 12.10.11 is the highest ranked NCAA Division II opponent the Marauders have defeated.   

RANKED: The 72-64 win over #4 Wayne State College on 12.10.11 is the third win for the Marauders over a nationally ranked NCAA Division II opponent. U-Mary previously defeated #20 Concordia University-St. Paul 67-66 on 1.23.10 and #25 Augustana to open the 2008-09 NSIC season.   

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.  

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.