NDSU Cross Country Hosts Bison Open Friday

The North Dakota State women’s and men’s cross country teams will begin the 2013 season by hosting the Bison Open at Rose Creek Golf Course in Fargo on Friday, Aug. 30.

The women’s 5k race is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m., with the men’s 8k to follow at approximately 6:35 p.m. Race distances are subject to heat and weather conditions.

NDSU will compete with South Dakota State, North Dakota and South Dakota in a triple-dual format in which true dual meet scores will be calculated for all six possible team matchups.

Women’s Preview

The Bison return five of their top six runners from the 2012 squad that posted a dominant performance at the conference meet, winning with 36 points for the second-best point total at the Summit League Championships since 2003.

NDSU’s top five finishers all placed in the top 15 at the conference meet last season, and senior Faith Kruchowski is the lone departure from that squad. All-Region honoree and Summit League runner-up Brecca Wahlund is back for her sophomore season, and seniors Heidi Peterson and Maddie McClellan will be back after first-team all-league performances in 2012.

Junior Abbi Aspengren and sophomore Tarin Lachowitzer are also among the returners. Aspengren placed eighth at the 2012 Summit League Championships, and Lachowitzer was NDSU’s No. 5 finisher at the NCAA Midwest Regional as a true freshman.

Redshirt freshman Erin Teschuk is expected to compete for the Bison this fall after impressive freshman seasons in indoor and outdoor track in 2013. She anchored the NDSU distance medley relay team to an indoor conference title and took fourth in the indoor 800m at the conference meet. Outdoor, Teschuk earned a runner-up finish in the 1500m at the Summit League Championships.

Four true freshmen have joined the roster in Jenny Guibert, Taylor Janssen, Kayla Woltz and Taylor McDonald. Guibert (Rochester Century HS) was a four-time placewinner in the 800m at the Minnesota High School Class AA State Championships, while Janssen (Moorhead HS) was a three-time Minnesota Class AA all-state performer in cross country, finishing in the top 20 at the state meet in each of her first three seasons.

Woltz (Chatfield HS) was a six-time qualifier for the Minnesota Class A Cross Country Championships, earning a top-10 finish on all six trips. McDonald (Totino-Grace HS) was a four-time Class AA state cross country meet participant.

Men’s Preview

The Bison return their entire squad that tied for sixth at the Summit League Championships in 2012, including upperclassmen Brett Kelly, Grady Anderson, Moses Heppner and Lucas DeGree.

Sophomores Brendan Skime and Bryon Schuldt also return for NDSU after serving as consistent contributors in 2012.

Kelly and Anderson were the top finishers for the Bison at the 2012 Summit League Championships, placing 20th and 21st, respectively. Schuldt led NDSU at the NCAA Midwest Regional as a true freshman, taking 95th place in the 10k race.

The newcomers include redshirt freshmen Ben Schultz and Matt Jennings, who were members of the NDSU track & field team in 2013 and will be joining the cross country squad this fall. Schultz placed fourth in the 800m at the Summit League Outdoor Championships in May.

Three true freshmen will also join the Bison this fall in Steven Cotter, Brant Gilbertson and Elias Hendrickson. Cotter (Andover HS) placed 12th at the Minnesota Class AA state cross country meet and was third in the 800m at the state track championships as senior in 2012, running 1:54.91. Hendrickson (Bemidji HS) was close behind Cotter in the 800m at the state meet, placing fourth, and he helped Bemidji to a sixth-place team finish at the 2012 state cross country meet.

Gilbertson (Watertown HS) placed eighth in the 3200m at the South Dakota state track meet as both a junior and senior, and he was sixth in the Class AA state cross country meet as a senior.

Gophers Announce Big Ten Conference Basketball Schedule

 

The University of Minnesota men's basketball program, in conjunction with the Big Ten Conference, announced its 2014 conference schedule today. The schedule will include 18 conference games, nine of which will be played at the friendly confines of Williams Arena. Complete TV assignments will be announced at a later date. 

 

Minnesota will open the conference season with a pair of home games for the second-consecutive season – Jan. 2 against the national runner-up Michigan Wolverines and a Jan. 5 game against Purdue. The Gophers will also host Ohio State (Jan. 16), Wisconsin (Jan. 22), Northwestern (Feb. 1), Indiana (Feb. 8), Illinois (Feb. 19), Iowa (Feb. 25) and Penn State (March 8 or 9) at The Barn. The Gophers will not play Nebraska and Michigan State this season in Minneapolis.

 

Minnesota will hit the road for conference games at Penn State (Jan. 8), at Michigan State (Jan. 11), at Iowa (Jan. 19), at Nebraska (Jan. 26), at Purdue (Feb. 5), at Wisconsin (Feb. 13), at Northwestern (Feb. 16), at Ohio State (Feb. 22) and at Michigan (March 1). The Gophers will not travel to Champaign, Ill., to play the Illini or Bloomington, Ind., to play the Hoosiers this season.

 

The Gophers will open the non-conference portion of their schedule with four of their first five games at Williams Arena, including the season-opening tilt against Lehigh University on Fri., Nov. 8. Minnesota will leave the Twin Cities for four games during the non-conference season, beginning with a trip to Richmond, Va., to finish the home-and-home series. The Gophers defeated Richmond 72-57 last season in Minneapolis.

Minnesota will play three games in Maui at the Lahaina Civic Center as part of the 2013 EA SPORTS Maui Invitational Nov. 25-27. The Gophers open play on Nov. 25 against Syracuse University on ESPN2 and will play either the University of Arkansas or the University of California in the second round. The remaining field includes Baylor, Dayton, Gonzaga and Chaminade.

 

Minnesota will play host to Florida State in the 2013 Big Ten/ACC Challenge on Dec. 3. The Gophers and Seminoles will be meeting for the ninth time in each school’s history, including the second-straight matchup in the Challenge. Minnesota defeated FSU 77-68 last season at the Tucker Center in Tallahassee. In all, the schools have met a total of four times as part of the Big Ten/ACC Challenge.

 

The Maroon and Gold's season officially begins on Fri., Nov. 1, in an exhibition matchup with the Wolves from Cardinal Stritch University, the reigning NAIA Division II National Champions. Minnesota's other exhibition game will be Mon., Nov. 4 against Concordia-St. Paul.

 

Minnesota returns its top two scorers from a team that finished the 2012-13 season 21-13 overall, including a win over UCLA in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

Gophers Announce 2013-14 Women’s Basketball Schedule

The University of Minnesota women’s basketball program, in conjunction with the Big Ten Conference, announced today its schedule for the 2013-14 season. Game times and television rights will be released at a later date.

"We are looking forward to a challenging non-conference and Big Ten schedule this year,” said Minnesota head coach Pam Borton. “We scheduled quality BCS opponents again early in the season, because to be the best you have to play the best competition. Kansas, Auburn, UCLA, and Miami are just a few teams that we will host at Williams Arena.  The Barn is one of the most exciting venues to play in the nation and our fans will really enjoy the quality of our competition this year."

For the first time in four years, Minnesota will open the Big Ten season at home, facing Michigan State on Jan. 4, before heading to Iowa City, Iowa, for a road showdown with Iowa on Jan. 8. The Spartans and the Hawkeyes are two of five teams that Minnesota will play home-and-home series against, with the Maroon and Gold also taking on Northwestern, Indiana and Wisconsin twice over the course of the season.

Minnesota will host Illinois, Purdue and Ohio State in single-game action at Williams Arena, while traveling to Nebraska, Penn State and Michigan during the year.

The conference is entering into the second of a four-year agreement that will rotate the Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament between Hoffman Estates, Ill., and Indianapolis, Ind. The 2014 and 2016 postseason tournaments are set to be held at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis and the 2015 event will be contested at Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates.

Prior to entering Big Ten play, the Gophers will have 14 non-conference games under their belts, including their 2013-14 season opener at Northern Iowa on Nov. 9 and their home opener against UNC Charlotte on Nov. 13. 

After a road contest at Creighton on Nov. 17, Minnesota will play three-straight home games against Kansas, Navy and Loyola Chicago, before heading to Hawaii for the Waikiki Beach Marriott Rainbow Wahine Showdown over the Thanksgiving holiday.

While at the Showdown, the Gophers will face host Hawaii, Chattanooga and Colorado State.

Minnesota returns to Williams Arena on Dec. 5 for the Big Ten/ACC Challenge against Miami, which begins a six-game homestand. In that span, the Gophers will also face North Dakota (Dec. 8), UCLA (Dec. 20), Auburn (Dec. 22), Oakland (Dec. 29) and open the Big Ten slate against Michigan State.

In all, Minnesota will face 16 teams that competed in postseason play last season, including 12 teams that made appearances in the NCAA Tournament.   

The Gophers will also host a pair of exhibition contests at Williams Arena, with the Maroon and Gold taking on Winona State on Oct. 29 and Minnesota State, Moorhead on Nov. 2.

2013-14 Minnesota Women’s Basketball Schedule

Oct. 29 – Winona State (Exhibition) – Williams Arena

Nov. 2 – Minnesota State Moorhead (Exhibition) – Williams Arena

Nov. 9 – at Northern Iowa – Cedar Falls, Iowa

Nov. 13 – UNC Charlotte – Williams Arena

Nov. 17 – at Creighton – Omaha, Neb.

Nov. 20 – Kansas – Williams Arena

Nov. 24 – Navy – Williams Arena

Nov. 26 – Loyola Chicago – Williams Arena

Nov. 29-Dec. 1 – at Waikiki Beach Marriott Rainbow Wahine Showdown

(Hawaii, Chattanooga, Colorado State)

Dec. 5 – Miami – Williams Arena

Dec. 8 – North Dakota – Williams Arena

Dec. 20-22 – Subway Classic

Dec. 20 – UCLA – 12:00 p.m. or 1:00 p.m. – Williams Arena

Dec. 21 – UCLA vs. Auburn – 2:00 p.m.  – Williams Arena

Dec. 22 – Auburn – 2:00 p.m. – Williams Arena

Dec. 29 – Oakland – Williams Arena

Jan. 4 – Michigan State* – Williams Arena

Jan. 8 – at Iowa* - Iowa City, Iowa

Jan. 12 – Northwestern*  – Williams Arena

Jan. 16 – at Nebraska* - Lincoln, Neb.

Jan. 19 – at Indiana* - Bloomington, Ind.

Jan. 23 – Wisconsin* – Williams Arena

Jan. 26 – at Penn State* - University Park, Pa.

Jan. 29 – Iowa* – Williams Arena

Feb. 1 – at Michigan* - Ann Arbor, Mich.

Feb. 9 – Illinois*– Williams Arena

Feb. 12 – at Wisconsin* - Madison, Wis.

Feb. 15 – at Northwestern* - Evanston, Ill.

Feb. 20 – Purdue* – Williams Arena

Feb. 24 – at Michigan State* - East Lansing, Mich.

Feb. 27 – Indiana* – Williams Arena

March 2 – Ohio State* – Williams Arena

BSU announces Olson as assistant women’s basketball coach

Requires Adobe Flash BEMIDJI, Minn. – Bemidji State University head women’s basketball coach Mike Curfman announced the hiring of assistant coach Ella Olson Monday. Olson is familiar with the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference after playing and coaching at University of Minnesota Duluth. At BSU, she will be responsible for recruiting, scouting, defense and will work primarily with the post players.

“It was tough leaving UMD after seven years of playing and coaching, but I am excited about the opportunity to coach here at Bemidji State,” Olson said. “The competiveness of the NSIC is some of the best in the nation. The BSU women’s program has the potential to compete at that level and I’m excited to be a part of the continued growth. Knowing coach Curfman’s experience in the league and seeing him on the recruiting trail, I’m excited to work and learn from him as a young coach.”

Olson played four seasons of Bulldog women’s basketball before moving into the role of graduate assistant coach, a position she held for the past two seasons.

As a player, Olson helped UMD to an NCAA Division II Tournament appearance as a junior and checked into 26 of 27 games during her senior campaign. She qualified for the North Central Conference (NCC) Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll and was a three-time All-NSIC Academic Team member.

In her two seasons as a graduate assistant, the Bulldogs went 32-23 overall and 26-18 in NSIC play and made an appearance in the 2011-12 NCAA Tournament. Her role at UMD included working with all facets of the program.

Olson is in the process of completing a masters degree in education at Minnesota Duluth. She earned her undergraduate degree in elementary education (2011 graduate).

A native of Roberts, Wis., Olson is a 2006 graduate of St. Croix Central High School.

Olson replaces Abby Oakland, who after a season with the Beavers, accepted a job at Southwest Minnesota State University.

The Beavers finished the 2012-13 season with a 11-16 overall mark and a 7-15 conference record to rank seventh in the NSIC North. BSU returns 10 players from a season ago, which includes three starters in seniors Jessie Althoff (F, Becker, Minn.), Morgan Lee (G, Hayward, Wis.) and Kate Warmack (C, East Grand Forks, N.D.). Curfman enters his ninth season as head coach of the Beavers and currently sits third all-time in wins at Bemidji State with 82 victories.

For more information on the Bemidji State women’s basketball program, follow the Beavers on Twitter (@BemidjiStateWBB or @BSUBeavers), like them on Facebook (facebook.com/BemidjiStateWomen’sBasketball or facebook.com/BSUBeavers) or sign up for the TXTUpdates from BSUBeavers.com text-messaging system through the "Mulitmedia" pull down menu on the main page of BSUBeavers.com.

Nestled in Northern Minnesota’s wooded region and located on the shore of Lake Bemidji, Bemidji State University sponsors 15 varsity athletic programs with NCAA Division I men’s and women’s hockey membership in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, while its 13 NCAA Division II programs hold membership in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).

Lynx Forward Maya Moore Named Western Conference Player of the Week

MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL - The WNBA today named Minnesota Lynx forward Maya Moore its Western Conference Player of the Week for games played Monday, August 19 through Sunday, August 25. This is Moore’s second Player of the Week of the season and fourth of her career.

Moore started off the week with a game-high-tying 23 points on 8-for-14 shooting, including 12 in third quarter in Minnesota’s 88-75 loss to Atlanta. She also grabbed nine rebounds and hit four three-pointers, the fifth time this season she has made four or more. She helped the Lynx defeat Connecticut 91-77 on Aug. 22, scoring 17 points while dishing out five assists. She also pulled down five rebounds in Thursday's victory. Moore closed out her week with a career-high 35 points on 15-for-21 from the field, including 3-for-4 from downtown in Sunday's win over Indiana for her 12th 20+ effort of the season. Her 35 points is the top-scoring game in the league this year and the first 30+ effort by any Lynx player since Seimone Augustus tallied 36 points against Atlanta in Game 2 of the 2011 WNBA Finals. Moore also added eight rebounds, three assists and a season-high four steals and two blocks in Minnesota 84-77 victory over Indiana.

This season she ranks tied for third in the WNBA in scoring (a career-high 18.4 ppg), T-15th in rebounding (6.4 rpg), T-16th in assists (3.0 apg), 13th in FG accuracy (49.9%), fifth in three-point accuracy (46.6%), fifth in FT accuracy (89.4%), seventh in steals (1.74 spg) and T-12th in blocks (1.04 bpg). Moore ranks among the WNBA's top 15 in all eight major statistical categories, while no other player appears on more than five of those leader boards.

Chicago’s Elena Delle Donne was named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week.

After Saturday's win against Indiana, the Minnesota Lynx remain atop the Western Conference at 20-7, pacing the league in points per game (83.5). Minnesota holds a one game lead on the Los Angeles Sparks in the Western Conference.

The Lynx travel to New York Tuesday, facing off with the New York Liberty at 6 p.m. (CT). They return home Saturday, August 31 when they take on the Seattle Storm at 7 p.m. (CT). Lower-level tickets are still available for Saturday's game by calling the Lynx at 612-673-8400 or by visiting LynxBasketball.com/LynxTix

NDSU Women’s Cross Country Opens Year with No. 6 Ranking

The North Dakota State women’s cross country team will be ranked sixth in the Midwest region to open the 2013 season, according to the rankings released by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) on Monday.

The No. 6 regional ranking is the highest in school history for the Bison, who return five of their top six runners from the 2012 squad that won a second consecutive Summit League title.

National powers Minnesota, Oklahoma State and Iowa State claimed the top three spots in the Midwest. Tulsa and Northwestern rounded out the top five.

NDSU climbed as high as eighth in the regional rankings in 2012 before ultimately taking seventh at the NCAA Midwest Regional – the highest finish in the school’s Division I era.

This year’s NCAA Midwest Regional will be held on Nov. 15 at the Iowa State University Cross Country Course in Ames, Iowa. The Bison open the season this Friday, Aug. 30, at Rose Creek Golf Course in Fargo, with the women’s race beginning at 6 p.m.

Rank        School                                Conference                2012 Finish

1                Minnesota                        Big Ten                         3
2                Oklahoma State              Big 12                            2
3                Iowa State                       Big 12                            1
4                Tulsa                               Conf. USA                     5
5                Northwestern                  Big Ten                          4
6                North Dakota State         Summit League             7
7                Illinois State                    Missouri Valley            8
8                Saint Louis                      A-10                              10
9                Illinois                             Big Ten                         9
10             Iowa                                 Big Ten                         6
11             Loyola-Chicago               Missouri Valley            11
12             Southern Illinois              Missouri Valley            12
13             Kansas State                    Big 12                           19
14             Bradley                            Missouri Valley            20
15             South Dakota                   Summit League            14

NDSU Announces Contract Extensions for Three Head Coaches

 FARGO, N.D. – The North Dakota State University athletic department announced multi-year contract extensions for three head coaches Thursday, Aug. 22.

Men's basketball coach Saul Phillips accepted a five-year contract with a two-year rollover.  Wrestling coach Roger Kish and softball coach Darren Mueller each accepted three-year contracts with two-year rollovers.

Phillips has a 108-77 record entering his seventh season as head coach.  He led NDSU to a 24-10 finish last season and a second straight appearance in the College Basketball Invitational.  NDSU returned to the Summit League title game for the first time since winning the 2009 league championship.

Kish led the Bison to the Western Wrestling Conference regular season title with 5-0 conference dual meet record in 2013.  He claimed the league's Coach of the Year award after directing NDSU to a 10-8 overall record with three wins over nationally ranked teams.  Kish is entering his third season after leading NDSU to third-place and second-place finishes at the NCAA West Regional the past two years.

Mueller, a three-time Summit League Coach of the Year, guided NDSU to its second and third league championships in 2012 and 2013.  The Bison appeared in four straight NCAA tournaments from 2009 to 2012 including a Super Regional in 2009.  He enters his 13th season as NDSU's head coach with a 422-238 record.

Bison VB Ranked Sixth in Preseason Summit League Poll

The North Dakota State volleyball team has been picked to finish sixth in The Summit League in 2013, according to the poll of league head coaches released Thursday, Aug. 22.

 

After battling for last year’s regular season title and championship, Fort Wayne and IUPUI were picked as co-favorites to win the league.

 

Defending tournament champion Fort Wayne received three first-place votes and tied with reigning regular season champion IUPUI, who earned four first-place tallies.

 

League newcomer Denver was picked third and collected the final first-place vote. South Dakota finished fourth, and South Dakota State edged out NDSU by two points for fifth place. Rounding out the poll were Western Illinois and Omaha.

 

The regular season begins Aug. 30, with all eight league teams competing in non-league tournaments.  Summit League play starts Sept. 27, as four-of-eight teams go head-to-head.  The top six teams in the regular season standings will compete for The Summit League Volleyball Championship at The Jungle in Indianapolis, Nov. 22-24. The tournament champion will earn the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Volleyball Tournament.

 

NDSU won four straight Summit League regular season titles from 2008-11 and has appeared in three of the last five NCAA Tournaments.

NDSU opens the 2013 season at the La Quinta Inn & Suites Invitational in Orem, Utah, with matches against Wichita State, Utah Valley and Arizona State on Aug. 30-31. The Bison make their home debut Sept. 6-7 against Louisville, Wisconsin and Northern Iowa in the Doublewood Inn Classic.

 

2013 Summit League Volleyball Preseason Poll
Place	Team	Points (1st)	2012 Record
1.	Fort Wayne	44 (3)	25-7 (12-4 SL)
	IUPUI	44 (4)	22-10 (13-3 SL)
3.	Denver	39 (1)	17-13
4.	South Dakota	29	14-14 (8-8 SL)
5.	South Dakota State	23	16-13 (8-8 SL)
6.	North Dakota State	21	13-18 (8-8 SL)
7.	Western Illinois	14	11-17 (4-12 SL)
8.	Omaha	10	6-22 (1-15 SL)

NDSU Bison Women’s Basketball Announces 2013-2014 Schedule

FARGO, N.D. - Bison women’s basketball will face eight teams that advanced to postseason action last season in their 29 game regular season schedule released Wednesday morning by sixth season head coach Carolyn DeHoff.

The schedule will feature 14 home games, including a non-conference tilt with SEC member Mississippi State and Missouri Valley Conference member Northern Iowa to go along with 12 other games in the friendly confines of the Bison Sports Arena.

“We like the competition we have created in our non-conference schedule,” DeHoff said. “We will face five of the eight teams that advanced to postseason last year in our non-conference schedule.”

The Bison will open their season with a pair of exhibition games against Minnesota Crookston and Concordia Moorhead at the Bison Sports Arena Oct. 30 and Nov. 2 before hosting Mayville for the regular season opener Nov. 8.

North Dakota State will then travel to the northeastern United States to face Maine and Harvard Nov. 14 and 16.

They will then return home for a single game against Northern Iowa Nov. 20 before opening up a seven game road trip beginning Nov. 23 at Wisconsin-Milwaukee and concluding Dec.14 at North Dakota. Between those two dates the Bison will participate in the Loyola-Marymount Tournament in Los Angeles, Calif. as well as the Air Force Academy Tournament in Colorado Springs, Colo., traveling a total of 5,616 miles.

NDSU will play host to Mississippi State Dec. 17 then participate in the University of Texas-San Antonio tournament to close out 2013 Dec. 28-29.

“Our goal is to prepare our players for the rigors of conference play, both at home and on the road, and we feel that the [non-conference] schedule we have put in place will do that for our players,” DeHoff said.

The Bison will open 2014 with three straight games at the Bison Sports Arena beginning Jan. 2 against Northern Colorado. Fort Wayne will mark The Summit League opener for NDSU Jan. 9 before IUPUI, a WNIT participant last season, comes to Fargo to close out the home stand Jan. 11.

“This year’s conference schedule will be one of the strongest we’ve seen in this league,” DeHoff said. “From top to bottom, there are a number of teams that can and will compete for the conference crown.”

NDSU travels to Nebraska-Omaha and Western Illinois Jan. 16 and 18 before hosting Valley City in a non-conference game Jan. 22 and then continues Summit League play by welcoming South Dakota State and South Dakota to the Bison Sports Arena Jan. 25 and 30.

Denver will come to the Bison Sports Arena the first day of February before NDSU takes a trip to IUPUI and Fort Wayne Feb. 6 and 8. North Dakota State will then host Western Illinois and Nebraska-Omaha in the final home regular season games of the year Feb. 13 and 15. The Bison close out the regular season at South Dakota State Feb. 22, at South Dakota Feb. 27 and at Denver March 1

“We’re excited about the direction the league is going and the fans will see some outstanding competitive games this season,” DeHoff said.

Scheels Bison Block Party Set for August 28

FARGO, N.D. – North Dakota State Athletics will host the annual Scheels Bison Block Party on Wednesday, Aug. 28, providing a great opportunity for fans to meet and mingle prior to the fall sports’ season-opening events.

The Bison Block Party is free and open to the public and will run from 5 to 8 p.m. at Scheels at 1551 45th Street S in Fargo. Thundar, the Gold Star Marching Band and head football coach Craig Bohl will be in attendance.

 

The event will feature a free concert from the Front Fenders, and fans will be treated to complimentary hot dogs, Pepsi and chips. There will also be inflatable games from Games Galore.

 

New this year is a question-and-answer session with Coach Bohl through Twitter. Starting on Monday, Aug. 26, fans can tweet their questions with the hashtag #bohlknows. The best questions will be selected and asked live at the event on Aug. 28.

 

The event will culminate with the unveiling of the new Bison football road uniforms.

NDSU Volleyball To Host Open Scrimmage Thursday, Aug. 22

FARGO, N.D. – The North Dakota State volleyball team will conduct an open scrimmage Thursday, Aug. 22, at the Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse.

The scrimmage will begin at 7 p.m. and is open to the public. Admission is free.

NDSU won four straight Summit League regular season titles from 2008-11 and has appeared in three of the last five NCAA Tournaments.

NDSU opens the 2013 season at the La Quinta Inn & Suites Invitational in Orem, Utah, with matches against Wichita State, Utah Valley and Arizona State on Aug. 30-31. The Bison make their home debut Sept. 6-7 against Louisville, Wisconsin and Northern Iowa in the Doublewood Inn Classic.

UND adds pair of exhibition games north of the border in 2013-14

GRAND FORKS, N.D. – For the second time in three seasons, the University of North Dakota men’s hockey program will travel to Canada for in-season competition.

Head coach Dave Hakstol announced today that UND has added the Great Northwest Showcase in Burnaby, British Columbia, to its 2013-14 schedule. UND will face the University of British Columbia and Simon Fraser University on Jan. 3-4 in a pair of exhibition games at Bill Copeland Sports Centre, the home of Simon Fraser men’s hockey. Princeton University will round out the four-team field.

“We appreciate the invitation and are proud to be a part of this tournament,” said Hakstol. “It is a great opportunity to spread the footprint of NCAA Division I hockey and, at the same time, allows many of our players from Western Canada to return home for two exhibition games.”

The Great Northwest Showcase began in 2012 as a four-game exhibition showcasing top level international university men’s hockey, while promoting the importance of education during an athlete’s competitive career. The event is organized by the Burnaby Mountain Hockey Society, a non-profit organization incorporated in 2010 as the promotional and fundraising body of the SFU men’s hockey program.

Tickets for the Great Northwest Showcase will go on sale in the fall.  Official game times will be announced at a later date.

In 2011-12, UND played a regular season non-conference game against Clarkson at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg. Dubbed the ‘U.S. College Hockey Classic,' the win over Clarkson was UND's first game on Canadian soil in 59 years. Prior to that, the last time UND played a men's hockey game in Canada was Dec. 29-30, 1953, when UND lost a pair of games to host Fort Frances (Ontario).

UMC Football Adds to Coaching Staff

CROOKSTON, Minn. – University of Minnesota Crookston Director of Athletics Stephanie Helgeson and Interim Head Football Coach Mike Fritze have announced the additions of Mike Clark and Levi Bullerman as assistant football coaches for the Golden Eagles. Clark will coach the quarterbacks and wide receivers next season for UMC while Bullerman will coach the defensive line. Clark will also serve as video coordinator while Bullerman will serve as the team’s equipment manager.

Clark is coming to the Golden Eagles from the Sacramento Mountain Lions of the United Football League (UFL) where he served as linebackers coach. Prior to his time with Sacramento, Clark spent two years in the National Football League (NFL), first working as a defensive quality control coach with the Oakland Raiders during the 2010 and 2011 seasons. During the summer of 2012, Clark served as a defensive coaching assistant with the Arizona Cardinals.

“We are looking forward to having Mike become part of our staff,” Fritze said. “His wide range of experience with a number of high profile teams will certainly benefit the student-athletes here at UMC"

Prior to his time in the NFL, Clark spent six seasons at the University of Texas in various capacities. He started out as a volunteer assistant to head strength and conditioning coach Jeff Madden in 2004 before working as an offensive quality control coach under former UT offensive coordinator and current University of Iowa offensive coordinator Greg Davis during the 2005 and 2006 seasons.

For the three seasons following, Clark worked as an offensive graduate assistant working primarily with the Longhorn offensive line. In this role, Clark worked with offensive line coach Mac McWhorter and also helped the offense with game plans and film breakdown in addition to developing comprehensive weekly scouting reports.

During his time at Texas, Clark was a part of three Big 12 South Division Championships, four Bowl Championship Series (BCS) game appearances including the BCS National Championship game at the Rose Bowl in 2009 where the Longhorns lost to the University of Alabama.

During his coaching career Clark has worked under several innovative offensive minds including University of Texas head coach Mack Brown, former Arizona Cardinals head coach and current San Diego Chargers Offensive Coordinator Ken Whisenhunt, Greg Davis and current UT offensive coordinator Major Applewhite.

As a player, Clark was a three-year letterwinner at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, Ark., where he played quarterback. Clark was twice named to the Sun Belt Conference All-Academic Team. He earned his bachelor of science in exercise science from Arkansas State in 2004 and a master’s in higher education administration from the University of Texas in 2009.

Bullerman comes to UMC from Presentation College where he spent the last two seasons as an assistant football coach for the Saints working primarily with the team’s linebackers and special teams. He helped lead Presentation to the most wins in an inaugural season by a NCAA Division III football team in 2011. In 2012, Bullerman helped the Saints’ defense rank in the top 15 in NCAA Division III in fumble recoveries. In addition, two of Bullerman’s linebackers led the team in tackles for 2011 and 2012, while three freshman linebackers finished in the top 10 in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) in 2011. Bullerman also helped Presentation to become the third-ranked kickoff coverage unit in the UMAC in 2011.

“Levi brings a multitude of talents to the table,” Fritze said. “He will coach the defensive line, assist with special teams and academic progress, and handle the equipment coordinator position. He has a wealth of knowledge for his age, and, with his playing days at Southwest Minnesota State, knows the landscape of the conference extremely well. He is a great addition to our staff. We are also thankful that his wife, Alarie and son Levi, Jr., are with us as well.”

In addition to coaching the linebackers, Bullerman also served as academic coordinator for the football team during his time at Presentation, helping eight Saints’ players become Academic All-UMAC selections in 2011. In addition, Presentation had four players named United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) Academic All-Americans in 2012 and helped 16 players achieve a 3.5 GPA or higher in the fall of 2012.

Prior to his time at Presentaton, Bullerman spent the 2010 season at Illinois College in Jacksonville, Ill. Bullerman served as the defensive line coach and assistant strength and conditioning coach for the Blueboys. During his time at Illinois College, the team upset the 2010 Midwest Conference Champions St. Norbert College. In addition, he helped the defense to a top 10 ranking in NCAA Division III in takeaways. The Blueboys also were ranked second in the MWC in sacks. Bullerman had two defensive linemen achieve All-MWC selections in 2010.

Prior to Illinois College, Bullerman worked as an intern for the athletic director and athletic development office at his alma mater of Southwest Minnesota State University.

As a player at SMSU, Bullerman was a five-year member of the Mustang team, originally coming to the team as a quarterback but moving to outside linebacker during spring drills prior to the 2006 season. The Adrian, Minn., native played in all 44 games in his career for the Mustangs, starting the final 33. He finished his career with over 150 tackles, including over 20 tackles for loss, five sacks and three interceptions. Bullerman served as team captain for SMSU and was a member of the team’s first winning season in 10 years as a senior in 2008.

Bullerman earned his bachelor of science degree in physical education from Southwest Minnesota State University in 2010. Bullerman and his wife Alarie have a son, Levi, Jr.

The additions of Bullerman and Clark complete the 2013 staff under Interim Head Coach Fritze. In addition to Bullerman and Clark, the Golden Eagles return Offensive Coordinator and Offensive Line Coach Jeff Cheek, Defensive Coordinator and Linebacker Coach Mark Dufner and Defensive Backs Coach Sean Knox from last year’s staff. Fullbacks, Tights End and Special Teams Coach Robby Case joined the staff during spring practice. Former players Stephen Henderson and Cecil Brown, Jr. will also assist the staff as volunteer coaches. Henderson will work with the running backs and special teams while Brown will assist Knox and the defensive backs.

For more information, visit the Golden Eagle Athletics Web site at www.goldeneaglesports.com.

Timberwolves Set to Tip Off Their 25th Season on Oct. 30

Minneapolis/St. Paul - The Minnesota Timberwolves will tip off their 25th regular season in the NBA by hosting the Orlando Magic at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 30 at Target Center. Full-season memberships for as low as $4 per game are still available by visiting http://www.timberwolves.com or by calling 612-673-1234.

The Timberwolves will open the 2013-14 season with four of their first six games at home, including a visit from Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder (Nov. 1) and the high-scoring Golden State Warriors (Nov. 6). The Wolves will enjoy two four-game homestands with the first occurring from Feb. 8 -19 and highlighted by visits from 2013 Rookie of the Year Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers (Feb. 8), Dwight Howard and the Houston Rockets (Feb. 10), and the Eastern Conference Finalist Indiana Pacers (Feb. 19). The Wolves will also host a four-game homestand from March 5-11, featuring a visit from Carmelo Anthony and the New York Knicks (March 5). Other notable home games include Nov. 22 vs. Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and the new-look Brooklyn Nets, and Dec. 7 vs. LeBron James and the defending NBA champion Miami Heat. Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers visit Target Center on Feb. 4 and March 28 and Blake Griffin and the Los Angeles Clippers are in town on Nov. 20 and Marc
h 31.

The Wolves will play 13 nationally-televised games this season, including five home contests: Dec. 4 vs. San Antonio on NBA TV, Dec. 27 vs. Washington on NBA TV, Feb. 10 vs. Houston on NBA TV, Feb. 19 vs. Indiana on ESPN, and March 5 vs. New York on ESPN.

Minnesota’s 2013-14 local television broadcast schedule will be released at a later date. Following are key facts regarding the Wolves' 2013-14 regular-season schedule.

Key Facts About the Timberwolves 2013-14 Schedule

• By month, the schedule breaks down as follows: October/November (9 home, 9 away = 18 total, December (6 home, 8 away = 14 total), January (8 home, 7 away = 15 total), February (5 home, 6 away = 11 total), March (9 home, 7 away = 16 total), April (4 home, 4 away = 8 total).

• By day, the schedule breaks down as follows: Monday (3 home, 9 away = 12 total), Tuesday (2 home, 4 away = 6 total), Wednesday (19 home, 2 away = 21 total), Thursday (0 home, 1 away = 1 total), Friday (9 home, 8 away = 17 total), Saturday (5 home, 8 away = 13 total), Sunday (3 home, 9 away = 12 total).

• The Wolves enjoy two four-game homestands: Feb. 8-19 (POR, HOU, DEN, IND) and March 5-11 (NY, DET, TOR, MIL). Minnesota's home schedule also includes one three-game homestand: Dec. 30-Jan. 4 (DAL, NO, OKC).

• Minnesota has one five-game road trip: Feb. 22-March 3 (UTAH, POR, PHO, SAC, DEN), and one four-game road trip: Jan. 21-28 (UTAH, GS, POR, CHI).

• Minnesota will play on national television 13 times this season: Eight times on NBA TV (Dec. 4 vs. San Antonio, Dec. 16 at Boston, Dec. 27 vs. Washington, Jan. 24 at Golden State, Jan. 25 at Portland, Jan. 27 at Chicago, Feb. 10 vs. Houston, April 14 at Golden State), and five times on ESPN (Nov. 15 at Denver, Dec. 20 at L.A. Lakers, Feb. 7 at New Orleans, Feb. 19 vs. Indiana, March 5 vs. New York).

• The Wolves will play 20 back-to-backs: nine away-away, five home-away and six away-home. Last year the Wolves had 22 back-to-back sets.

• The Wolves will open their regular-season slate versus Orlando on Friday, Oct.. 30 at Target Center, marking the 13th straight season the club has opened at home. The Wolves are 14-10 in season openers, including 12-4 in season openers at home. Minnesota opened the 2012-13 campaign with a 92-80 win over Sacramento at Target Center.

• The Wolves will play 52 games against Western Conference and 30 games versus Eastern Conference opponents.

• Minnesota will play each Western Conference opponent four times (two home, two away), with the exception of Golden State (one home, two away), New Orleans (two home, one away), Phoenix (two home, one away), and San Antonio (one home-Mexico City, two away). The Wolves will face off against each Eastern Conference team twice (one home, one away).

Timberwolves 2013-14 Opponent Breakdown

Northwest Division

Denver (H: 11/27, 2/12; A: 11/15, 3/3); Oklahoma City (H: 11/1, 1/4; A: 12/1, 2/5); Portland (H: 12/18, 2/8; A: 1/25, 2/23); Utah: (H: 1/18, 4/16; A: 1/21, 2/22).

Pacific Division

Golden State (H: 11/6; A: 1/24, 4/14); L.A. Clippers (H: 11/20, 3/31; A: 11/11, 12/22); L.A. Lakers (H: 2/4, 3/28; A: 11/10, 12/20); Phoenix (H: 1/8, 3/23; A: 2/25); Sacramento (H: 1/15, 3/16; A: 3/1, 4/13).

Southwest Division

Dallas (H: 11/8, 12/30; A: 11/30, 3/19 ); Houston (H: 2/10, 4/11; A: 11/23, 3/20); Memphis (H: 1/31, 4/2; A: 12/15, 3/24); New Orleans (H: 1/1, 1/29; A: 2/7); San Antonio (H: 12/4; A: 12/13, 1/12).

Atlantic Division

Boston (H: 11/16; A: 12/16); Brooklyn (H: 11/22; A: 3/30); New York (H: 3/5; A: 11/3); Philadelphia (H: 12/11; A: 1/6); Toronto (H: 3/9; A: 1/17).

Central Division

Chicago (H: 4/9; A: 1/27); Cleveland (H: 1/13; A: 11/4); Detroit (H: 3/7 A: 12/10); Indiana (H: 2/19; A: 11/25); Milwaukee (H: 3/11; A: 12/28).

Southeast Division

Atlanta (H: 3/26; A: 2/1); Charlotte (H: 1/10; A: 3/14); Miami (H: 12/7; A: 4/4); Orlando (H: 10/30; A: 4/5); Washington (H: 12/27; A: 11/19).