THIS WEEK
The University of Mary women's basketball team hosts a pair of nationally-recognized squads to open the Marauders Northern Sun home schedule. UMary first hosts the MSU Moorhead Dragons, the preseason coaches choice to win the NSIC North who is receiving votes in the WBCA national poll, on Friday, Dec. 1. Tipoff is set for 6 pm at the McDowell Activity Center.
 
The weekend concludes when 16^th ranked Northern State University Wolves arrive in the MAC on Saturday, Dec. 2, at 4 pm.
 
LAST WEEK
The Marauders opened NSIC play at Minot State University with a tough 72-62 loss. UMary was within two points with over three minutes left in the game but struggled offensively down the stretch… UMary wrapped up its nonconference schedule with a 53-30 win over Yellowstone Christian College. The 30 points was the fewest allowed by the Marauders since holding Briarcrest to 20 points in November 2010. Jordyn Jossart stepped forward to provide the offense punch as the Marauders sat their top four scorers. The sophomore hit five treys and scored 17 points. Anna Schmelzer and Isabel Schmelzer both had nine rebounds.
 
HISTORY LESSON
Marauders vs. Dragons
The Marauders are 8-12 against the Dragons since 2006-07… MSUM has won the last four meetings... The Marauders last win was a 69-64 home victory on Jan. 9, 2015, behind 17 points, 11 rebounds and five assists from Brittney Dietz.
LAST MEETING: Struggling to hit shots from the field, the Marauders lost 73-53 at home to #25 MSU Moorhead on Jan. 7, 2017. Morgan Ham hit all seven of her 3-point attempts and led the Dragons with 21 points. Gabbie Bohl led UM with 19 points. Hannah Larson had 14 points. MSUM shot 55 percent to UMary's 36 percent.
 
Marauders vs. Wolves
The Marauders are 9-13 against the Wolves since the 2006-07 season.
LAST MEETING: The Marauders upset visiting 25^th ranked Northern State 69-56 on Jan. 6, 2017. Hannah Larson scored 23 points and hauled down 11 rebounds to pace all players in both categories. The senior forward was 5-of-8 on trey attempts and connected on 8-of-12 field goals. She also blocked two shots. Lauren Rotunda knocked down 4-of-5 trey attempts and made 6-of-10 shots overall on the way to 19 points. Also a key player on defense, she tied Rachel Weir for game-high honors in steals with four. The win snapped a 6-game losing streak to NSU.
 
OPPO RESEARCH
The RV MSU Moorhead Dragons are 3-1 entering their first Northern Sun game of the season. After opening with a 66-53 loss to then-21 Michigan Tech, the Dragons have won three straight games… Four Dragons are averaging double digit points. Sr. F Drew Sannes averages 14.8 points and 9.5 rebounds per game. Jr. G Jacky Volkert checks in at 12.8 ppg and 4.1 assists. So. F Megan Hintz contributes 11.5 ppg and Sr. G Cassidy Thorson is at 10.8 ppg… Head coach Karla Nelson is in her 18^th season at MSUM and has a career mark of 305-183.
 
#16 Northern State University is 4-1 as the Wolves enter their NSIC opening weekend. NSU owns wins over #3 Harding and #5 CSU Pueblo… The Wolves average 79.2 points per game, outscore the opposition by 13.6 points per game and shoot 48.3 percent from the floor and 41.2 percent beyond the arc… Miranda Ristau is leading the team averaging 17.0 points and 7.0 rebounds per game, while shooting a team leading 66.1 percent from the floor. Jessi Marti is second on the team averaging 12.2 points, while shooting 50.0 percent from the floor and the 3-point line.
 
MAC ATTACK
The Marauders are undefeated in three home outings at the McDowell Activity Center this season.
 
FOUR SCORE
Four Marauders average double digits in points. Gabbie Bohl (17.8 ppg) leads the way, followed by Cassie Askvig (13.8 ppg), Dani Williams (13.0 ppg) and Lauren Rotunda (11.3 ppg).
 
YOUNG
Dani Williams may almost feel out of place in the Marauders starting lineup as the senior guard is the only upperclassmen among the five starters. She is joined by sophomores Gabbie Bohl, Lauren Rotunda and Cassie Askvig and freshman Macy Williams.
 
POWER PLAY
The 2017 NSIC Freshman of the Year and an all-conference second team selection, sophomore post Gabbie Bohl is a dominant force in the middle for the Marauders. The Minot, ND, native is second in the NSIC in scoring (17.8 points per game) and field goal percentage (.661) and averages 6.8 rebounds.
 
THREE FOR THREE
While her uniform number may be coincidental, senior guard Dani Williams is the Marauders leading 3-point shooter. She is shooting 48.7 behind the arc and has knocked down 19 treys this season. Williams leads the NSIC in 3-pointers per game at 3.2 and is third in 3-point field goal percentage among players with at least ten attempts.
 
GROWTH
In her first season as a starter, Cassie Askvig is off to a tremendous start. The sophomore forward leads the team in rebounds (9.5/game) and is second on the squad in scoring (13.8 ppg), assists (2.5/game), blocks (5) and 3-pointers (14).
 
SOUND ALL-AROUND
A member of the NSIC All-Freshman team last spring, sophomore Lauren Rotunda has taken a step forward this season. The Fargo, ND, native averages 11.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.0 steals while shooting .471 from the floor and .750 at the free throw line.
 
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