SIOUX FALLS, SD – After winning their first-ever road NSIC tournament game, The University of Mary women's basketball team (14-15, 7-12 Northern Sun) competes against the University of Minnesota Duluth in the quarterfinals of the NSIC/Sanford Health Men's Basketball Tournament on Sunday, February 27, at 7 pm.
The winner of the game will advance to the semifinals of the NSIC tournament to take on the winner of Minnesota State University/Southwest Minnesota State University on Monday, February 28, at 7 pm. The Marauders have never advanced to the semifinals of the NSIC tournament in the history of the program.
About The Opposition
The University of Minnesota Duluth has amassed a record of 21-4. Senior forward Brooke Olson was named the NSIC North Division Player of the Year. This is the third straight year Olson has won this award. Olson averaged 18.1 ppg and 6.4 rebounds per game. Sarah Grow was named to NSIC All-Conference second team after averaging 9.9 ppg and bringing down 5.2 rebounds per game. The Bulldogs defeated the Marauders 73-67 in Duluth earlier in the season.
Last Time Out
UMary took down the University of Sioux Falls 62-55 in the opening round of the NSIC tournament. This marks the first time in program history that the Marauders have won a road playoff game.
Megan Voit, who leads the NSIC in three-pointers made, exploded for 23 points and 12 rebounds. The junior shot 7-of-11 from behind the arc and a perfect 2-of-2 from the free-throw line.
Macy Williams contributed 13 points, six rebounds and six assists.
Ryleigh Wacha scored seven points and grabbed eight rebounds.
Lexie Schneider had seven points and seven rebounds.
Stats To Watch
Lexie Schneider leads UMary in scoring, averaging 14.2 ppg. She also leads UMary in rebounding with 8.3 rpg. She's third in the NSIC in rebounding, 13
th in scoring and 20
th in blocks (0.6). Schneider earned first-team All-NSIC honors for her performance this season.
Macy Williams leads the Marauders in assists with 105 total and is averaging 10.2 ppg. Williams is 13
th in the NSIC in assists and 10
th in assist to turnover ratio.
Megan Voit is the team leader in three-pointers made with a total of 84 and is tied for second on the team in scoring, averaging 11.3 ppg. She is shooting .389 from behind the arc. She is first in the NSIC three-pointers made per game and in three-point field goal percentage.
Megan Zander is second on the team in scoring with 11.3 ppg while averaging 5.3 rpg. She's shooting .450 from three on 27-of-60 shooting.
Ryleigh Wacha averages 8.0 ppg and 5.8 rpg. Wacha is 10
th in the NSIC in blocks (0.8 bpg) and 20
th in rebounding.
Coaches
Head coach
Rick Neumann is fourth all-time in coaching wins at UMary with 147. In his ninth season, he has a record of 147-133. Hall of Fame coach Roger Haug is the Marauders all-time leader in wins (234), followed by Fred Fridley (170), Cal Collins (150) and Neumann (147).
UMary brought in two assistant coaches
Brooke LeMar and
Chloe Wanink for the 2020-21 season. LeMar was a two-time all-conference after spending her collegiate career at NCAA Division I North Dakota State University. She then went on to play professionally in several countries including Denmark, Germany, Australia and Sweden. LeMar worked as the Director of Player Development at the California Baptist University.
Wanink was a four-year all-conference performer at NCAA Division I Wofford University. She was a three-year captain at Wofford and led the Southern Conference in scoring her junior season averaging 21 points per game. She was named the 2019-20 SoCon Preseason Player of the Year and was named to the Nancy Lieberman Point Guard watchlist.
Returners
Notable returners to the Marauders include
Macy Williams,
Lexie Schneider and
Megan Voit. Schneider led the NSIC in rebounding and was second on the team in scoring with 12.5 ppg.
Voit led the team in total three-pointers made with 22 while averaging 7.9 ppg.
Williams was first in the NSIC in assists with 75. Williams ranks 7
th all-time for the University of Mary in assists.
Other returners include senior
Carly Kottsick, juniors
Reese Wishart and
Mady Shafer, sophomores
Zoe Velde, Lakyn Darras,
Cadee Ryckman and
Hallie Schweitzer.
New Faces
The Marauders add the University of North Dakota transfer
Megan Zander, who averaged 8.8 ppg and 5.9 rpg last season.
UMary brings in five freshmen, who will look to make an immediate impact for the Marauders. Those five include
Addison Rozell,
Julia Fitterer,
Ryleigh Wacha,
Moriku Hakim and
Ellie Hasz.
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