SIOUX FALLS, SD – Two road games await the University of Mary women's basketball team this weekend, starting against the University of Sioux Falls on Friday, January 17, at 7:30 pm in Sioux Falls, SD. The Marauders then travel to Marshall, MN, to take on Southwest Minnesota State University on Saturday, January 18, at 5:30 pm.  

WATCH LIVE OR FOLLOW STATS
Live streaming and live stats for games are available online at www.GoUMary.com/coverage

THE RECORD
UMary is 9-5 on the season and 6-4 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. The Marauders currently sit in 5^th place in the NSIC standings.

LAST TIME OUT
The Marauders went 1-1 on the road last weekend. UMary fell 61-52 to Augustan University. The Marauders then came back to defeat Wayne State College 53-51.

Bergan Kinnebrew hit the game-winning shot against the Wildcats, finishing high off the glass with eight seconds remaining. The Marauders got two stops thanks to great defense by Eden Fridley, Ryleigh Wacha and Addison Rozell to win the game.  

STAT LEADERS
Bergan Kinnebrew leads the team in scoring (14.6 ppg). Kinnebrew ranks 8^th in the NSIC in scoring and 5^th in free throw percentage (.836).

Emily Jaenke is second on the team in scoring (9.1 ppg). She leads the team in three-pointers made (30) and is second in three-point percentage (.370). Jaenke is tied for second in the NSIC in three-pointers made per game (2.4) and 5^th in three-point percentage.

Ryleigh Wacha has the highest three-point percentage (.421) on the Marauders. She is averaging 8.1 ppg, 5.8 rpg and 2.4 assists per game. Wacha is 22^nd in the NSIC in steals per game (1.3), 22^nd in assists per game and 18^th in rebounds per game.

Addison Rozell has recorded the most blocks for UMary (21) while averaging 5.7 rebounds per game. Rozell is 4th in the NSIC in blocks per game (1.5) and 21^st in rebounding.

Moriku Hakim leads the Marauders in rebounding (6.1 rpg) off the bench. Hakim ranks 13^th in the NSIC in rebounds per game.

OPPO RESEARCH –UNIVERSITY OF SIOUX FALLS
USF is 9-8 overall and 5-5 in the Northern Sun. The Cougars currently sit in seventh place in the NSIC standings. Sophomore forward Kami Wadsworth leads the team in scoring, averaging 17.0 ppg on 45.6% shooting from the field. Senior forward Abby Phipps leads USF in rebounding (6.4 rpg) and blocks (9). Sophomore guard Ayla Brown has the most assists on the Cougars, dishing out 3.8 assists per game.

OPPO RESEARCH – SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA STATE UNIVERSITY
SMSU is 14-2 overall and 8-2 in the Northern Sun. The Mustangs are ranked #23 nationally and are in third place in the NSIC standings. Senior guard Bri Stoltzman leads the team in scoring, averaging 17.1 ppg on 55.4% shooting from the field. Junior forward Audrey Swanson leads the NSIC in rebounding (8.9 rpg) while averaging 14.1 ppg. Senior guard Peyton Blandin averages 16.4 ppg and 4.4 rebounds per game.

COACHING STAFF
Rick Neumann enters his 13th season as the head coach of the UMary women's basketball program. Last season, Neumann passed Fred Fridley for second all-time in program wins this season. Neumann is closing in on 200 wins for his career at UMary amassing 192 wins during his tenure.

Haley Froelich enters her first season as the Marauders assistant coach. Froelich served as the assistant coach at Clarke University for the 2023-24 season, where the Pride went 29-3 and made it to the second round of the NAIA tournament.

KINNEBREW NAMED MARAUDERS PLAYER TO WATCH IN 2023-24
The Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference has announced that Bergan Kinnebrew is the University of Mary women's basketball Player to Watch. Last season, Kinnebrew led the bench unit in scoring, averaging 5.4 ppg on 42.4% shooting from the field as a true freshman. The Bismarck, ND, native looks to increase her production this season in an expanded role after the departure of Lexie Schneider, Megan Zander and Mariah McKeever.

MARAUDERS PROJECTED TO PLACE NINTH IN NSIC PRESEASON COACHES POLL
The NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll projected the Marauders to finish 9th in the conference this season. Last season, UMary took second and made it to the NSIC championship game for the first time in program history.

WELCOME BACK
The Marauders return two starters from last year's lineup G Ryleigh Wacha and F Addison Rozell both have multiple years of starting experience.

Notable key bench returners include G Bergan Kinnebrew, C Moriku Hakim, G Zoe Velde, G Chloe Pfau and C Cassie Erickson.

Additional returners include C Allison Undlin, G Anna Lenzen and G Emily Jaenke.

NEW
The Marauders add two freshmen guards to their roster Brenna Dick (West Fargo, ND) and Eden Fridley (Bismarck, ND). UMary also added transfer guard Ava Interrante, who spent four seasons at Division I Valparaiso University.

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