THIS WEEK
Making a push to grab the last home playoff slot in the NSIC North with just four games remaining in the regular season, the University of Mary women's basketball team closes our their weekend home schedule with a visit from St. Cloud State and Minnesota Duluth on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 10-11, at the McDowell Activity Center. Tied for fourth with SCSU, the Marauders and the Huskies square off at 6 pm on Friday. The weekend concludes against the UMD Bulldogs at 4 pm on Senior Day.    

THE RECORD
After splitting a pair of home games, the Marauders are 12-14 overall and 7-11 in the NSIC. Mary is 10th overall in the Northern Sun and tied for 4th in the NSIC North division.

BEK SPORTS TO BROADCAST WEEKEND DOUBLEHEADER
BEK Sports is televising back-to-back days of Marauders basketball this weekend when St. Cloud State University and the University of Minnesota Duluth come to visit the McDowell Activity Center. The Marauder games against the Huskies and Bulldogs on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 10-11, can be seen throughout western North Dakota on BEK PRIME KNDB/KNDM. The women's game on Friday starts at 6 pm with the men's contest to follow at 8 pm. On Saturday, start times are 4 pm for the women and 6 pm for the men. The games are also available via local cable providers on BEK PRIME. Visit www.bektel.com/bbn/bpcf/ for local channel assignments and current broadcast schedule. Additionally the BEK Broadcasting Network is also available nationally on BEK Now via ROKU streaming device. Visit www.beknow.tv for more information.

SAMARITAN'S FEET EVENTS
To raise awareness for those who may not have shoes, Marauders women's head basketball coach Rick Neumann and men's head basketball coach Joe Kittell will coach barefoot for Samaritan's Feet Night on Friday, Feb. 10, when St. Cloud State University visits the McDowell Activity Center. This is the second straight year Neumann and Kittell have coached in their bare feet to help draw awareness for the need for shoes both here in the U.S. and around the world... Marauders men's assistant coaches Josh Vaughan, Casey Bruggeman and Justin McCloud and women's assistant coaches Jason Schmitz and Allie Paluchniak also plan to coach barefoot while the St. Cloud State women's coaches will make a donation to Samaritan's Feet.... Fans can make a free will donation for Samaritan's Feet during the Marauders-Huskies games on Friday. Additionally Marauders Athletics will donate a portion of Friday's gate receipts to Samaritan's Feet. Funds raised in Bismarck remain in the community to help provide shoes for local children... On Sunday, Feb. 12, Samaritan's Feet will conduct a shoe distribution at Bismarck's Will-Moore Elementary School for local children in grades K-5 who are in need of shoes. The event lasts from 1-4 pm. Members of the Marauders men's and women's basketball, volleyball and baseball teams, University of Mary campus ministry and other community volunteers anticipate serving over 300 elementary school students.

SENIOR DAY
Saturday is the final regular season home game for two University of Mary senior student-athletes. Hannah Larson and Rachel Weir will be honored for their contributions to the Marauders at halftime of the men's game.

TRU MOO CHOCOLATE MILK GIVEAWAY
Tru Moo will give away chocolate milk to the first 300 fans on Saturday, Feb. 11, after the gates to the McDowell Activity Center open at 3 pm.

LAST TIME OUT
The Marauders split a pair of home games last weekend. Facing one of the top teams in the NSIC South, Sioux Falls rallied late to defeat the Marauders 65-60. Mary committed 26 turnovers in the game, leading to 30 points for USF. Gabbi Bohl scored 26 points and had eight rebounds. Lauren Rotunda added 14 points and Hannah Larson had 11 rebounds and five assists... Bohl took over the game late in Mary's 82-76 overtime win over Southwest Minnesota State. The Mary freshman post player scored 11 of the Marauders 14 fourth quarter points. She finished the day with 23 points and eight rebounds. Dani Williams posted 23 points, including two big treys in overtime. Hannah Larson had 12 rebounds and 10 assists. Caleigh Rodning had 24 points and 12 rebounds for SMSU.   

RANKINGS In 26 games this season the University of Mary has faced six ranked opponents. The Marauders 69-56 home win over Northern State is the second time Mary has defeated a team ranked among the nation's top 25. In the third game of the season the Marauders knocked off #2 Cal Baptist 85-75. Mary has also faced #3 West Texas (L 51-42), #12 Pittsburg State (L 78-30), #24 MSU Moorhead (L 73-53) and at #22 Winona State (L 65-47). (All rankings at time of game).

RANKINGS II The Marauders have played four games against teams currently ranked in the top 25 of the current WBCA poll or are receiving votes (#11 Pittsburg State, #7 Cal Baptist, #16 MSU Moorhead twice, and #22 Winona State). Additionally Sioux Falls is receiving votes.

PLAYOFF PUSH
With two weekends and four games remaining, the Marauders are tied for 4th in the NSIC North with St. Cloud State. Mary already has beaten SCSU once this season and hosts the Huskies on Friday, Feb. 10... Of the Marauders last four games, Mary plays just one team with a winning record - Minnesota Duluth on Saturday, Feb. 11.

HISTORY LESSON
Marauders vs. Huskies
The Marauders are 8-8 against the Huskies during Mary's NCAA era
The Marauders are 4-3 at home against the Huskies
Mary is 4-4 on the road and 0-1 at neutral site games against SCSU
The two schools have split the last three seasons with the home teams going 4-2
The longest win streak for either team is three
LAST MEETING Hannah Larson and Gabbie Bohl combined for 39 points and 17 rebounds in the Marauders 82-81 New Year's Eve road win at St. Cloud State. Mary outscored the Huskies 48-10 in the paint. Bohl had 20 points and nine rebounds and Larson added 19 and 8. Dani Williams chipped in 15 points and Lauren Rotunda had 14 points and 10 rebounds. Mallie Doucette led SCSU with 20 points.

Marauders vs. Bulldogs
The Marauders are 8-7 against the Bulldogs during Mary's NCAA era
Mary holds a 5-2 edge in home games at the McDowell Activity Center
On the road at Romano Gym, the Marauders are 3-5 against the Bulldogs
Mary is 6-2 in the last eight games against UMD
The Marauders swept last year's season series but need a win on Saturday to earn a season split this year.
LAST MEETING The Marauders led by 12 in the first quarter before the Bulldogs took control in the middle stanzas, outscoring Mary 51-27, on the way to an 85-73 UMD home win. Hannah Larson and Dani Williams each scored 16 and Cassie Askvig added 14. Sammy Kozlowski had 21 points for UMD.

HANNAH HIGHLIGHTS
Hannah Larson will finish her Marauders career in the top ten in four different statistical categories at Mary. The senior forward currently has 1,212 points to pass Jessica Slinde for 10th on the all-time scoring list. Larson is 10th in assists with 323. The Bismarck, ND, native is fourth in career rebounds with 839. Additionally Larson has 234 career blocks, an NCAA-era career-best mark for Mary.

See game notes for complete release...

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