SIOUX FALLS, SD – The University of Mary women's basketball team is on the road for a pair of conference games this weekend. UMary opens against Augustana University on Friday, January 10, at 5:30 pm in Sioux Falls, SD. The Marauders then travel to Wayne, NE, to challenge Wayne State College on Saturday, January 11, at 3:30 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 8-4 on the season and 5-3 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. The Marauders currently sit in 5^th place in the NSIC standings.

LAST TIME OUT
The Marauders split their home games last weekend, losing 69-63 to #10 Minnesota State University and defeating Winona State University 69-48. Ryleigh Wacha recorded her season high in points (18) and rebounds (8) in the Marauders defeat to the Mavericks.

Bergan Kinnebrew led the team with 16 points against the Warriors. Anna Lenzen posted a career-high 13 points off the bench in UMary's victory over WSU.

STAT LEADERS
Bergan Kinnebrew leads the team in scoring (14.7 ppg). Kinnebrew ranks 8^th in the NSIC in scoring and 2^nd in free throw percentage (.881).

Emily Jaenke is second on the team in scoring (8.8 ppg). She leads the team in three-pointers made (24) and is first in three-point percentage (.453). Jaenke is tied for second in the NSIC in three-pointers made per game (2.4).

Ryleigh Wacha has the second-highest three-point percentage (.452) on the Marauders. She is averaging 7.9 ppg, 5.4 rpg and 2.6 assists per game. Wacha is 23^rd in the NSIC in steals per game (1.3), 17^th in assists per game and 24^th in rebounds per game.

Addison Rozell has recorded the most blocks for UMary (19) while averaging 5.3 rebounds per game. Rozell is 4th in the NSIC in blocks per game (1.6).

Eden Fridley has the most steals on UMary with 17 and leads the team in assists (32). She is tied for 16^th in the NSIC in steals per game (1.4) and is 12^th in assists per game (2.7).

Moriku Hakim leads the Marauders in rebounding (5.9 rpg) off the bench. Hakim ranks 20^th in the NSIC in rebounds per game.

OPPO RESEARCH – AUGUSTANA UNIVERSITY
AU is 2-13 overall and 0-9 in the Northern Sun. The Vikings are currently in 15^th place in the NSIC standings. Junior guard Olivia Hayenga leads the team in scoring, averaging 12.1 ppg on .357 percent shooting from three.  Sophomore guard Payton Hardy leads AU in rebounding (6.5 rpg). Senior guard Hannah Burg leads the Vikings in assists (3.9 apg) and is second on the team in scoring (11.5 ppg).

OPPO RESEARCH – WAYNE STATE COLLEGE
WSC has a 7-6 record overall and a 4-5 record in the Northern Sun. The Wildcats currently sit in 8th place in the NSIC standings. Junior forward Kylah VanDonkersgoed leads the team in scoring, averaging 12.5 ppg while shooting .43 percent from the field. Senior forward Maya Fitzpatrick leads WSC in rebounding (5.3 rpg), and assists (3.3 apg), and is second in scoring (11.9 ppg). Senior guard Tate Norblade is averaging 11.3 ppg on .462 percent shooting from the floor.

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 191 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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