Burnsville, MN – Newcomer Linda Murray quickly established herself as one of the top players in the Northern Sun on both ends of the floor this season and Ali Collins earned recognition for her all-around abilities as the two juniors earned Northern Sun women's basketball postseason honors. Murray was named to the All-NSIC First Team and the NSIC All-Defensive Team and Collins is an All-NSIC second team selection after the duo led the Marauders to third place in the conference this season.
 
The lone player to be named to both the All-NSIC first team and the All-Defensive team, Murray is one of the leaders and shot blockers in the Northern Sun. The 6-2 center from Fresno, CA, averages 12.0 points, 8.1 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game while shooting 48.4 per cent from the floor. Murray has posted nine double doubles on the season.
 
A transfer from Merced Community College, Murray reached double digits in rebounds 10 times this season. Six times she has scored 20 or more points in a game. In her last three games, all wins, Murray scored at least 20 points and pulled down double digit rebounds each time out. Second in shot blocks in the NSIC, Murray had a season high eight against Minnesota State University.
 
Two of her best games of the season came against the best team in the conference. Murray posted 20 points and 14 rebounds in an upset win over Wayne State College and followed up with a season-high 29 points and 10 rebounds in a loss against the Wildcats.
 
Murray becomes the first U-Mary player named to the All-Defensive team and the first Marauders player to earn first team honors since Nikki Landdeck in 2008.
 
Collins led the Marauders in assists and steals and is second on the squad in scoring. A junior from Mandan, ND, the 5-9 guard keyed the Marauders offense that was second in the conference in scoring. She averages 10.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.9 steals per game. Six times she led the teams in scoring while pacing the team in assists 18 times.
 
A transfer from Illinois Central Community College in her second season at U-Mary, Collins is fifth in the conference in assists and fourth in steals.  She is also 19^th in the league in scoring.
 
The duo was outstanding in leading the Marauders to an NSIC / Sanford Health tournament first round 76-67 win over Winona State. Murray paired 20 points and with 11 rebounds and Collins scored 15 points and dished out five assists.
                               
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