Looking Ahead: The 11th-ranked Minnesota State Mavericks will travel to Crookston, Minn. to take on the Golden Eagles of Minnesota Crookston, Saturday afternoon. The game is slated for 4 p.m.

What’s in a Win: A win Saturday would mark the 572nd win in program history...A victory would also mark the 45th win away from the Taylor Center..A win Saturday would be the 41st win for the Mavericks under head coach Pam Gohl and fi fth consecutive against the Golden Eagles

MSU-UMC Notables: Saturday’s game against the Minnesota, Crookston will be the 11th match-up between the two teams. MSU has a winning record against the Golden Eagles of 7-3. The fi rst time the two teams met was in 1996, MSU defeated the Golden Eagles, 75-46. The last time the Mavericks lost to Minnesota, Crookston was in 2006 when the Mavericks lost by four points (76-72). In 2009, the Mavericks defeated the Golden Eagles twice, 69-66 and 82-79.

Eagle Knowledge: The Golden Eagles ended their 2008-09 campaign with an overall record of 9-18 and 5-15 in the NSIC. Minnesota, Crookston returns four starters from last season. Top returners for the Golden Eagles are junior guard Jamie Zelinsky who averaged 16 ppg last season and junior forward Bri Zabel who averaged 12.7 ppg last season.
    In the 2009 NSIC Women’s Basketball Pre-Season Coaches Poll, Minnesota, Crookston was ranked 12th with 55 points. The Golden Eagles have started their 2009-10 season 4-6 overall and 2-2 in the NSIC, averaging 70.3 points per game. Junior forward Bri Zabel leads the team averaging 14.9 points per game followed by junior guard Jame Zelinsky who is averaging 14.8 points per game. The Golden Eagles are coached by Mike Roysland (fourth season) assisted by Nate Mahlen and Val Sanners.

MSU-MSUM Notables: Sunday’s game against MSU Moorhead will be the 33rd matchup between the two teams. The Mavericks have a winning record against the Dragons of 19-13. The fi rst time the two teams met was back in 1977 when the Mavericks lost to the Dragons 75-54. In 2009, the Mavericks met the Dragons three times, the last being in the 2009 NCAA Central Region Tournament. Minnesota State defeated the Dragons in all three match-ups last season; 74-55, 89-53, and the last 59-39 to advance in the Central Region Tournament.

Dragon Basics: The Dragons ended their 2008-09 campaign with an overall record of 22-8 and 14-6 in the NSIC placing third. MSU Moorhead returns three starters from last season. Top returners for the Dragons are senior forward Alison Nash-Gerlach who averaged 14.2 ppg and 6.2 rpg last season as well as senior center Meghan Rettke who averaged 13.5 ppg and 9.7 rpg last season.
    In the 2009-10 NSIC Women’s Basketball Pre-Season Coaches Poll, MSU Moorhead was ranked fourth with 142 points. The Dragons have started their 2009-10 season with an overall record of 9-2 and 3-1 in the NSIC, averaging 75.7 points per game. Senior forward Nash-Gerlach leads the team averaging 14.5 points per game followed by sophomore forward Angie Jetvig who is averaging 13.8 points per game. The Dragons are coached by Karla Nelson (ninth season) assisted by Jason Sobolik and Alison Swenson.

All-Time: The 2009-10 season marks the 45th year of women’s basketball as a varsity sport at Minnesota State. MSU currently holds a 571-510 (.528) and has made three NCAA Tournament Appearances in 1986, 2008 and 2009.

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