SEE GAME NOTES FOR COMPLETE RELEASE (PDF)

THIS WEEK
After a weekend road sweep to close out the regular season, the University of Mary women's basketball team will host Winona State University in the opening round of the 2017 NSIC / Sanford Health women's basketball tournament. Tip off between the Marauders and the Warriors is set for 7 pm on Wednesday, Feb 22, at the McDowell Activity Center.

THE RECORD
Closing the season on a three-game win streak, including a road sweep last weekend, the Marauders are 15-15 overall and 10-12 in the NSIC. Mary is 10th overall in the Northern Sun and 4th in the NSIC North division.

NSIC PLAYOFF TICKETS - OPENING ROUND
Tickets are available at the Marauders athletic office in the University of Mary Fieldhouse until 4 pm on Tuesday, Feb. 21, and from 9 am to 1 pm on Wednesday, Feb. 22. Tickets will also be sold prior to the game on Wednesday when gates open at 6 pm, an hour before game time.
Ticket prices, as set by the NSIC, are $10 for adults and $2 for students.
Mary students will be admitted to the game free with their M-cards.
Please note this is an NSIC postseason contest and not part of the Marauders season ticket package.
 
NSIC PLAYOFFS
The winner of the Marauders-Warriors meeting will advance to the quarterfinal round of the NSIC / Sanford Health tournament and face the winner of the Augustana-Minot State  contest at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, February 25, at the Pentagon in Sioux Falls, SD. The semifinals are set for Monday, February 27, with the championship game on Tuesday, February 28.The winner of the NSIC tournament earns a spot in the NCAA Division II regional tournament.

RADIO ADJUSTS TO KFYR 550 AM
With both the Mary men's and women's basketball NSIC tournament games airing at the same time, the women's game will be carried on KFYR 550 AM with former Marauders men's basketball player Todd Domres calling the action. The Men's game against Minnesota State will remain on Fox Sports 710 with Voice of the Marauders Rick Anthony with the call.

BEK PRIME TO AIR MARAUDERS-WARRIORS GAME
The BEK Broadcasting Network will air the University of Mary - Winona State University NSIC / Sanford Health women's basketball tournament opening round contest at 7 pm on Wednesday, Feb. 22, state-wide on BEK Prime (KNDB in Bismarck, KNDM in Minot and KRDK in Fargo). 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.

PIZZA PARTY FOR MARY STUDENTS
Mary students who are in the stands by 6:15 pm for the Marauders-Warriors playoff game will receive a free slice of Bruno's Pizza.

SWEEP
For the first time all season the Marauders swept a weekend series with wins at Bemidji State and Minnesota Crookston. Mary has split seven times and been swept three times.

LAST TIME OUT
The Marauders closed out the 2016-17 regular season with a road sweep, propelling Mary to fourth place in the NSIC North and a home game in the opening round of the league playoffs. Behind a combined 42 points from freshmen Gabbie Bohl, Cassie Askvig and Lauren Rotunda, the Marauders opened the weekend with a 64-52 win at Bemidji State. Bohl scored 17, Askvig 15 and Rotunda ten. Askvig also had eight rebounds and four assists and Rotunda had five assists. Mary put the game away with a 14-0 run in the third quarter. Sierra Senske led BSU with 16 points.MAry shot 44 percent for the game to 33.3 percent for the Beavers... The Marauders clinched home court with an 87-81 overtime win at Minnesota Crookston. Rallying from 11 down in the 3rd quarter, Dani Williams scored with nine seconds in regulation to give Mary the lead before UMC's Micaela Noga hit a layup with three seconds remaining to force the extra session. Hannah Larson scored the first points of overtime - her only points of the game - to give Mary a fast start for the win. Rotunda scored a career-high 30 points to lead all players, making 11-of-13 shots in the game. Bohl added 27 points and ten rebounds. Williams chipped in 11. Isieoma Odor led UMC with 20 points and ten rebounds.

RANKINGS In 30 games this season the University of Mary has faced six ranked opponents. The Marauders 69-56 home win over Northern State was 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 (#7 Pittsburg State, #4 Cal Baptist, #11 MSU Moorhead twice).

HISTORY LESSON
Marauders vs. Warriors
The Marauders are 8-10 all-time against the Warriors
Mary is 7-2 at home and WSU is 8-1 on its home court
In the NSIC tournament Mary holds a 2-1 edge with both wins coming at home - Mary won playoff games at home 76-67 in 2010 and 72-66 in 2014. Winona State won at home in 2015 (67-62).
LAST HOME MEETING The Marauders knocked off visiting #12 Winona State University 83-80 on Jan. 15, 2016. Mary used a 15-2 run to grab a 72-60 lead and held off the Warriors at the end. WSU missed a 3-pointer in the final three seconds and Brittney Dietz blocked a trey attempt at the buzzer to protect the win. Dietz led the Marauders with 26 points. Hannah Larson added 20 points, six rebounds and five assists. Dani Williams chipped in 17. Alexis Foley posted 21 points for Winona State. The Marauders knocked off visiting #12 Winona
LAST MEETING The Marauders dropped a 65-47 road decsion to #22 Winona State University on Jan. 28, 2017, as the Warriors knocked down 9-of-22 trey attempts. Mary committed 18 turnovers to 11 for WSU, resulting in a 21-8 edge for the Warriors in points off turnovers. Hannah Larson led Mary with 12 points and Gabbie Bohl added 10. Jenny Tuttle hit five 3-pointers and led WSU with 19 points. Tara Roelfs added 12.  

NSIC TOURNAMENT HISTORY
Mary is 4-0 at home in the opening round (W 80-78 v BSU 2008, W 76-67 v WSU in 2012, W 84-62 v UIU in 2013, W 72-66 v WSU in 2014)
Overall Mary is 4-2 in the opening round (loss at WSU 67-62 in 2015, loss at Wayne State College in 2016)
Overall record of 4-6 in NSIC tournament (0-2 in the second round)
Advanced to NSIC second round twice (L 70-58 to WSC in 2008 semifinals, L 78-67 to Augie in 2012, L 74-59 to Augie (home game) in 2013, Loss to Minnesota State 95-71 in 2014)

REJECTION The Marauders have blocked the most shots this season in NCAA Division II with 162. In blocks per game, the Marauders are first in the Northern Sun with 5.4, the 7th best total in the country.

Block City Hannah Larson is averaging 2.5 blocks per game to lead the NSIC and is 15th in the country. The senior forward is 9th in the country in total blocks (75).

Charity Stripe Mary has went to the free throw line 107 more times then its opponents. The Marauders have been to the free throw line 10-plus times in all but two games this season. Mary has had an advantage in free throws taken in 22 of 30 games. Despite the advantage in total attempts the Marauders have only made 58 more free throws than the opposition.   

RISE AND SHINE: The Marauders are outscoring its opponents 461-445 in the first quarter of games. Mary is outscoring its opponents in the 1st quarter and overtime (27-15).

FRESHMEN WEEKEND
It was a huge weekend for the Marauders freshman. In a 64-52 win at Bemidji State, Gabbie Bohl (17), Cassie Askvig (15) and Lauren Rotunda (10) combined to score 42 points. The next night in an 87-81 win at Minnesota Crookston, they combined for 63 points, led by a career-high 30 from Lauren Rotunda. Bohl added 27 and Askvig had six.