GAME NOTES        LIVE VIDEO        LIVE AUDIO        LIVE STATS

U-Mary Twitter
U-Mary Facbook
WBB Twitter
WBB Facebook

LAST TIME OUT: The University of Mary made things interesting this past weekend, but in the end was able to come away with a weekend sweep of Bemidji State and Minnesota Crookston. It took double overtime against Bemidji St. for U-Mary to come away with an 89-83 win. The Beavers had a chance to win, but a steal by Linda Murray at the end of regulation forced overtime. Brittney Dietz took it from there as she went 10-of-11 from the free throw line including two with one second left in the first overtime to keep the game going. After a slow first half on Saturday, U-Mary won the game in the second half due largely to a 23-of-33 performance from free throw line. Outscored by five in the first half, U-Mary made just six field goals in the second half, but came away with a 76-68 victory. Dietz led the Marauders with 18 points and Lindsey Sand was next up with 13. Sand scored 11 of her 13 point in the second half alone as she went 11-of-14 from the free throw line. Murray was a force inside for the Marauders all weekend scoring 23 points and grabbing 28 rebounds in U-Mary's two games.
 
This weekend The Marauders hope to continue their momentum on one of their toughest road trips of the season. Riding a six-game winning streak, U-Mary will take on #24 Minnesota State on Friday and wrap-up the weekend on Saturday against the defending NSIC Champion, Concordia-St. Paul.
 
The Records: U-Mary is 11-6 so far this season and 9-5 in NSIC play. The Marauders have a 4-3 record on the road. #24 Minnesota State is 13-5 overall and 10-4 in NSIC play. The Mavericks only home loss came against first place Wayne State. Concordia-St. Paul has won four straight and is 15-6 overall and 10-4 in NSIC play. The Golden Bears are 9-2 at home with one loss coming in non-conference play and the other against the Mavericks.
 
Follow along with all of this weekend's live coverage at goumary.com/coverage. There will be live video, audio and stats available for both games. For those in the Bismarck area the radio coverage for both games will also be broadcast on Bismarck's ESPN 710 AM.
 
The Series: The Marauders have defeated the Mavericks just once (1-6) since joining the NSIC in 2006-07. Defeating MSU 63-57 on Jan. 15, 2011, U-Mary willed its way to victory with five different players scoring nine or more points. The Golden Bears hold an 8-4 lead in the series against the Marauders. Beginning in 2007 U-Mary lost the first four games of the series, but since than the series is even at 4-4.
 
Last Season vs. MSU Ali Collins scored a game tying lay-up with six seconds left in the game to force overtime, but U-Mary fell 65-61. Trailing by 12 at half the Marauders stormed back in the second half, but ultimately fell short. The Marauders had their worst three-point shooting night of the season with season lows in makes (3) and percentage (.176).
 
Last Season vs. CU, U-Mary trailed by 10 at half before falling by a final of 78-63. Shaunna Knife finished with 14 points, 10 rebounds three blocks and two steals. Concordia used their size on the glass as they held a 48-38 advantage in rebounding. Despite the Golden Bears starting three six footers, the Marauders actually held an advantage in the paint outscoring CU 36-26.
 
Last Season's Finishes: U-Mary finished the 2012-13 season with a 19-11 record overall and a 13-9 conference record, which was good for 5th place overall in the NSIC. MSU finished last season with a 26-6 record overall and an 18-4 mark in conference play, which was good for second place. CU posted a 23-7 mark overall and a 19-3 record in conference play, which was good for 1st place.
 
MSU is currently in a three-way tie for second overall in the NSIC and a two-way tie for second in the South Division. Senior forward Ali Wilkinson leads the Mavericks. Wilkinson, at 19.0 point per game, is the only player averaging double figures on the highest scoring offense in the conference. Minnesota State has 10 other players averaging 5.0 points per game. Wilkinson, who averages 8.7 rebounds per game, was named first team all-conference last season. Averaging 83.4 points per game, the Mavericks have outscored opponents by an average of 14.4 per game. MSU is shooting 44 % form the field and 36 % from deep. Defensively the Mavericks are holding opponents to 39 % from the field and 27 % from deep. On the glass Minnesota State holds a +2.8 margin. The Mavericks are one of the best in the nation at taking care of the ball averaging the 12th most assists in the country at 17.8, while maintaining the 13th best assist/turnover ratio at 1.19. With 10.6 steals per game, MSU holds a +6.0 turnover margin.
 
CU is currently in a three-way tie for second overall in the NSIC and a two-way tie for second in the South Division. The Golden Bears are led by 2012-13 NSIC Player of the Year Anika Whiting, who is averaging 16.4 points and 6.5 rebounds. Concordia-St. Paul has three other players averaging in double figures. For the season CU is outscoring opponents 70.1 to 65.4. The Golden Bears are shooting 40 % from the field and 34 percent from deep, while allowing opponents to shoot 38 and 34 % respectively. Despite having seven players averaging three or more rebounds, the Golden Bears are actually being outrebounded by an average of 2.5 per game. CU is also one of the best in the nation at taking care of the ball averaging 15.5 assists per game, while maintaining the fifth best assist/turnover ration in the country at 1.34. The Golden Bears are forcing just 6.0 steals per game, but maintain a +2.6 turnover margin as they lead the country with just 11.6 turnovers per game. CU ranks 16th in the country with 4.8 blocks per game.
 
SCHEDULE ADDITION: The Marauders have added a home game to their schedule. U-Mary will host Oglala Lakota College on Monday, February 3, in a non-conference contest. Tip off is 6 PM in the McDowell Activity Center. To assist the Bismarck Emergency Food Pantry, fans attending the game are encouraged to donate a non-perishable food item. Currently the Bismarck Emergency Food Pantry is low on tuna and canned fruit, particularly peaches and pears. Fans can also make a monetary donation. Admission will not be charged for the game. The game replaces the cancelled Valley City State University contest.
 
Next Week the Marauders take Oglala Lakota on Monday before heading to Minnesota to take on Minnesota Crookston on Friday and Bemidji State on Saturday.
 
What the Coaches Say: Despite winning 19 games in 2012-13, U-Mary was tabbed to finish 10th overall and 6th in the North Division. Four teams who finished behind the Marauders in the overall standings, as well as in the North Division standings, have been selected to finish ahead of them this season. Named the All-NSIC Freshman Team in 2012-13, Brittney Dietz was selected as U-Mary's 2013-14 NSIC Player to Watch.
 
Round 2: Thrust into duty the week of U-Mary's first practice a year ago, Head Coach Rick Neumann enters his second season as head coach of the Marauders with his first opportunity at a full offseason. Behind a strong recruiting class, Neumann hopes to build off of a successful inaugural campaign in which he led U-Mary to their second consecutive 19 win season in addition to picking up his first career playoff win.
 
Holes to Fill: For the previous three seasons Ali Collins and Shaunna Knife were integral to U-Mary's success. The duo, which each ranked in the top-20 all-time in points, rebounds and assists, have graduated and left big shoes to fill for the 2013-14 squad. The Marauders also graduated four-year starter Laura Peterson, who finished 24th all-time in scoring with 841 career points.
 
Unfamiliar Faces: The Marauders will look significantly different than a year ago as they return just four players who saw the floor in 2012-13. U-Mary graduated 4 starters including its top 3 scorers. To fill those voids the Marauders added 9 players including 4 junior college transfers.
 
The Golden State:  The Marauders have three players hailing from the state of California including 2011-12 First Team All-NSIC performer Linda Murray. Murray and the three other players got a chance to play in their home state as they played a pair of games against NAIA opponents in Southern California.
 
Local Talent: Of the 17 players on this year's roster, six are from the state of North Dakota including Bismarck native Hannah Larson, and starters Lindsey Sand (Steele) and Brittney Dietz (Beach).
 
Free Throws/Fouls: U-Mary is leading the Northern Sun with 367 free throw attempts and is third with 264 makes. However, the Marauders are 15th in free throw percentage at 71.9. U-Mary allowed opponents to shoot more free throws than any other team in the NSIC and make more than all but one team. Opponents are shooting 77.7 percent against the Marauders. For the season the only team to commit more fouls than U-Mary (21.8) is Minnesota State (22.8).
 
Double-Double: Third in the NSIC in rebounding at 9.8 per game, Linda Murray already has seven double-doubles this season.
 
Among the Best: McKenzie Foster has been displaying her talent to shoot from deep the past four years for U-Mary and this year is no different. Making two three per game, Foster ranks 8th in the nation in three-point percentage at 45.3 percent.
 
Patience is a Virtue: After four years Lindsey Sand has finally received her opportunity to start and is making the most of it.  Sand is averaging 12.4 points, 3.9 rebounds and 4.5 assists. Sand is shooting 44 % from the field and 39 % from deep.
 
Smooth Transition: Despite being fourth on the team in minutes last season, Brittney Dietz started just one game as a redshirt freshman. Dietz has made the transition into the starting line-up this season seamlessly. Averaging 34.5 minutes, Dietz is averaging 16.4 points, 3.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game.
 
Logging Time: Leading the team in minutes, Brittney Dietz logged 84 minutes this past weekend including 47 in a double overtime victory over Bemidji State. Dietz is averaging 34.5 minutes per game and has now played 31 or more minutes in 15 of 17 games. Dietz is third in the conference at 35.0 minutes per game in NSIC games.
 
Sharing the Sugar: With 16.2 assists per game, U-Mary ranks 29th in the country and fourth in the conference.
 
Block Party: With Hannah Larson, Linda Murray and Sloan Turner all averaging one block or more per game, U-Mary ranks 15th in the country at 4.8 per game.
 
Climbing the Record Books: Senior Lindsey Sand is quickly climbing the all-time assist list at U-Mary. With 216 career assists, Sand ranks 15th all-time. With 15 assists Sand will pass Barb Gelinski for 14th all-time. At her current pace Sand could jump as high as 12th ahead of Melanie Schell's 259.
 
Consistency is key: Fans may not think of McKenzie Foster as a prolific scorer, but the 5-10 guard has been a mainstay in U-Mary's rotation for four years now as she finds herself 31st all-time on the scoring list. At her current pace Foster will finish either 26th or 27th, but could jump ahead of former teammate Laura Peterson (841) and into the top-25.
 
STUDENT-athlete: Despite spending much of her past five years in the gym, in the weight room and on the road, senior Lindsey Sand found plenty of time to study as evident by her recent receiving of the NSIC Myles Brand All-Academic with Distinction Award. The honor, named for the late NCAA President Dr. Myles Brand, is bestowed to senior NSIC student-athletes who have a cumulative grade point average of 3.75 or higher, are exhausting their eligibility and are on track to graduate.
 
Streaking: After dropping four straight Northern Sun games, U-Mary has now won six straight NSIC contests. The streak is the longest the Marauders have had since the 2011-12 season when they rattled off eight consecutive conference wins.
 
DEFENSIVE WINS GAMES: After allowing opponents to shoot 42.6 % through their first 11 games, the Marauders have held opponents to just 36.0 % shooting during their current six-game winning streak. During the first 11 games opponents were shooting 36.9 % from deep and during the current winning streak are shooting just 31.6 %. During the streak U-Mary has average one more block and 0.7 more steals than in its first 11 games.
 
Super Seniors: Seniors Linda Murray, Lindsey Sand and McKenzie Foster have set the tone for the Marauders scoring 39.0 of the team's 76.7 points per game. The trio is also averaging 16.5 rebounds and has 128 of the team's 276 assists. Murray has seven times led the team in scoring and 12 times in rebounding. Sand has led the team in scoring three times and in assists 10 times. Foster has led the team in scoring three times and steals seven times.
 
Fab Freshman: It was evident from the beginning that freshman forward Hannah Larson would have an impact on U-Mary this season, but guards Taylor Henningsgard and Dani Clark have come on strong down the stretch as well. Larson has made her presence known around the NSIC as she ranks 14th in the league with 7.6 rebounds and fourth in blocked shots at 1.86 per game. Originally planning to redshirt, Henningsgard has stepped in nicely to the back-up point guard position averaging 14 minutes, 2.2 points and 1.4 assists. Clark did not play in eight consecutive games, but has played in each of the last eight games and is averaging 12.6 minutes, and 2.8 points. Henningsgard and Clark combined for 84 minutes in U-Mary's two games this past weekend.
 
Half Time: U-Mary is 8-1 when leading at half with their only loss coming against Minot State when they surrendered a nine point opening half lead. The Marauders are just 3-5 when trailing at halftime.
 
#marauders#