BISMARCK, ND - The University of Mary Women's Basketball team (9-6, 8-4 NSIC) returns home to the McDowell Activity Center with hopes of improving on an already solid record and position in the conference. The Marauders host Upper Iowa University (6-11, 2-10 NSIC) Friday night at 7:30, and then Winona State University (9-9, 3-9 NSIC) Saturday night at 5:30. 

FREE TICKETS
US Bank of Bismarck will serve as the official sponsor for each of the Marauders Men's and Women's Basketball games this weekend. Fans can pick up complimentary tickets while they last at any of the three US Bank locations in Bismarck. 

• 200 N 3rd St Bismarck, ND 58501 
• 423 E Bismarck Expy Bismarck, ND 58504 
• 3318 N 14th St Bismarck, ND 58503 

LAST TIME OUT
The Marauders split their matchups on Jan. 13-14 in the second weekend of NSIC interdivisional action. UMary fell 77-57 last Friday to a strong Augustana team (15-3, 9-3 NSIC). Ryleigh Wacha led the Marauders scoring with 14 points while Megan Zander and Megan Voit both added 13. 

The Marauders turned around Saturday and pulled off a 56-49 win over Wayne State College (9-7, 5-7 NSIC). Megan Zander led with 16 points in a game where defense was dominant. UMary held Wayne State to just 27.7% shooting and out-rebounded the Wildcats 46-37. 

PLAYERS TO WATCH
Megan Zander enters the weekend as the eighth-highest scorer in the Northern Sun, averaging 16.1 points per game. Zander also leads the Marauders in most rebounds per game (5.3) and is the most-proficient free-throw shooter in the NSIC averaging 86% from the charity stripe. 

Megan Voit is second on the Marauders in scoring, averaging 9.9 points per game. Voit enters this weekend first in three-point shooting percentage (39.2%) and averages 2.7 treys a game, the second-highest in the NSIC. 

Moriku Hakim continues to be a presence at the boards. The sophomore from Fargo, ND averages 9.0 points per game, 5.2 rebounds per game, 0.8 blocks per game, and 1.2 steals per game. 

Ryleigh Wacha averages 8.3 points per game and 5.1 points per game. The sophomore from Fargo, ND is versatile on both sides of the court, also leading the Marauders with 2.6 assists per game and 1.4 steals per game. 

Addison Rozell has started every game this season for the Marauders. The sophomore from Redfield, SD averages 7.7 points per game, 4.9 rebounds per game, and 0.8 blocks per game. 

Carly Kottsick is another everyday starter for the Marauders. Kottsick averages 4.0 points per game, 2.5 assists per game, and 1.2 steals per game. 

FINDING A WAY
The Marauders once again enter the new week ranked fifth in the NSIC in scoring (68.3 points per game) and tenth in defense (64.5 points per game). UMary stands 3-1 on the season in games decided by a single-digit margin. 

As a team, the Marauders rank seventh in three-point shooting percentage (32.8%) and eighth in three-pointers per game (6.3). 

OPPONENT BREAKDOWN - PEACOCKS
Upper Iowa enters Friday 6-11 overall and 2-10 in the Northern Sun. The Peacocks have dropped their last three matchups against UM Crookston, Minnesota Duluth, and St. Cloud State.

Upper Iowa has the no. seven-scoring offense in the NSIC with 66.6 points per game. Upper Iowa also currently averages 73.8 points per game, most in the conference. The Peacocks are paced by Lydia Haack, the no. nine scorer in the NSIC with 15.9 points per game while shooting 45.0% from the field (10th in the NSIC). Haack also averages 4.3 assists per game (2nd in the NSIC) and leads the Peacocks in rebounds per game (5.8) along with Helen Staley. 

Historically, the Marauders hold a 13-1 head-to-head record over the Peacocks and have won the previous six games. UMary defeated Upper Iowa 73-60 on January 29, 2022, in Fayette, IA. Megan Voit was lethal hitting 5-8 three-pointers as part of a 22-point performance and Ryleigh Wacha dominated for a double-double with 21 points and 14 rebounds. 

OPPONENT BREAKDOWN - WARRIORS
Winona State enters the weekend 9-9 overall and 3-9 in the Northern Sun. The Warriors dropped both games last weekend to St. Cloud State 58-43 and Minnesota Duluth 66-40. 

Winona State has the no. 13 scoring offense in the NSIC (61.9 points per game) along with the fifth-ranked defense in the conference (61.2 points per game). Alex Dornfeld leads the Warriors scoring with 12.2 points per game followed by Caitlin Riley with 10.6. Dornfeld is also currently the top rebounder in the Northern Sun with 158 total, averaging 8.8 per game. 

The Warriors have also been one of the most successful teams shooting from beyond the arc this season, ranking third in three-point shooting percentage (34.6%) and also average 7.6 treys per game. 

Winona State holds a historical edge over UMary 9-8 in head-to-head matchups. The Marauders lost on the road 64-68 in their last matchup on January 28, 2022. Lexie Schneider led the Marauders efforts with 18 points and 5 rebounds. Megan Voit and Julia Fitterer both added 11 points in the contest. 

THE STAFF
Rick Neumann enters his tenth season at the helm of UMary Women's Basketball. Through the years, Neumann has enjoyed many successful years as the Marauders fourth-winningest coach in program history with a career record of 156-139. Neumann joined his alma mater as an assistant coach in 2003, taking over the head coaching role in the 2012-2013 season, and has coached numerous All-Conference and All-American players.

Reigning Summit League Player of the Year Chloe Lamb enters her first season as the Marauders assistant coach. Lamb comes to UMary fresh after capping off a historic career at the University of South Dakota where she earned the 2022 Summit League Tournament MVP as the Coyotes won both Summit regular season and tournament titles. She is a four-time All-Summit League selection, earning 1st team honors in her last two seasons at USD.

Phydel Nwanze enters her first season as a Marauders assistant coach and graduate assistant. She played collegiately at St. Edwards University and earned a BA in kinesiology and exercise science.

DIAL INTO 710 AM FOX SPORTS
Listen to "Voice of the Marauders" Jesse Rostvedt call all Marauders Northern Sun games and select conference contests on 710 AM Fox Sports.
 
LIVE STATS AND WEBCASTS
Links to radio broadcasts, web streams, and live stats are found at goumary.com/coverage. 

TICKETS
Game tickets for Marauders athletics are available online at www.UMaryTickets.com and at the gate for all UMary athletics. 

• Adults | $10 + fees online and $15 (CASH ONLY) at the gate
• Seniors (65+) and youth 13-18 | $5 + fees online and $10 (CASH ONLY) at the gate
• Children 12 and under accompanied by an adult | Free
• Children 12 and under with no adult present| $5
• UMary students and faculty and staff with their MCard and youth 12 and younger are admitted free

 
Please note that ticket sales at the gate are CASH ONLY purchases. Fans receive a discounted rate on tickets when purchased online at www.umarytickets.com than at the gate. Fans are also able to purchase tickets using credit and debit cards when ordering online while sales at the ticket booth are cash only.

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