UMC Women host Bemidji State & MN Duluth in NSIC

(Crookston, Minn.)- The University of Minnesota, Crookston Women’s Basketball team returns to Lysaker Gymnasium this Friday and Saturday to host Bemidji State University and Minnesota Duluth in a pivotal NSIC weekend. The Golden Eagles will square off with the Beavers on Friday at 6 p.m. and with the Bulldogs on Saturday at 4 p.m. UMC is currently tied for ninth place in the NSIC and one game out of eighth place which would qualify the team for the conference tournament.

MINNESOTA, CROOKSTON – (10-10, 7-9 NSIC) The Golden Eagles are looking to make a run at post season play. This past weekend, UMC swept the University of Mary and Northern State to move into a ninth place tie with MSU Moorhead in the NSIC. Minnesota, Crookston was led by the consistent play of Jamie Zelinsky (G, 5-11, Sr, Brooklyn Park, Minn.). She led all players with 21 points at Mary. She was 7-13 from the field and a perfect 7-7 from the free-throw line. She dished three assists and grabbed two steals. Against Northern State, she followed Bri Zabel’s (F, 6-0, Sr, Northfield, Minn.) game-high 24 points with 19 points and seven rebounds in 39 minutes of play.On the weekend, she averaged 37.5 minutes/game and shot 55% (15-27) from the field. She shot a perfect 9-9 from the free-throw line and tied a team-high with 14 defensive rebounds. She finished second on the team with five assists, two blocked shots and four steals while averaging 20 points/game. She is now 27 points from becoming the Golden Eagle’s all-time leading scorer.

BEMIDJI STATE- (5-15, 2-14 NSIC) Colleen McKay (Sr., Barnum, Minn.) tallied 17 points, four rebounds, two blocks and three steals as the Beavers fell to University of Minnesota Duluth, 63-51 on Saturday in Bemidji, Minn. McKay helped the Beavers to as much as a 14 point lead in the first half but a 21-0 run late in the first was enough to do in the Beavers as they were unable to retake the lead from UMD and were put away on free throws late.

MINNESOTA DULUTH- (11-9, 9-7) The University of Minnesota Duluth women’s basketball team took its winning ways on the road Saturday afternoon, using a strong performance from freshman guard Katrina Newman to oust Bemidji State 63-51, completing a sweep of the season series. Newman led the Bulldogs (11-9 overall, 9-7 Northern Sun) with 16 points on 8-12 shooting, helping UMD disarm the Beavers in the regular season battle.

For more information, visit the Golden Eagle Athletics website at: www.goldeneaglesports.com.