This Week in Women’s Basketball...

The Peacock women’s basketball season comes to an end this Saturday as they host the final two Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference contests inside Dorman Gymnasium in Fayette.  On Friday, the Peacocks welcome Bemidji State to Fayette before Minnesota Duluth makes the trip south on Saturday.  Tipoff inside Dorman Gym is set for 6 p.m.

Seniors Cassandra Deiters and Chelsea Arndt will be honored following their final time suiting up in Peacock Blue on Saturday night.

Scouting the Beavers

The Beavers of Bemidji State University enter Friday’s matchup with a 6-18 record overall which includes a 3-17 mark in NSIC play.  The Beavers currently stand in 13th place in the NSIC standings, two games ahead of Upper Iowa.  BSU just snapped a 10-game losing streak last Friday night when they defeated Southwest Minnesota State, 68-65 in Bemidji, Minnesota.

Bemidji State doesn’t have any scorers which average double digits points per game but are led by Colleen McKay’s 9.4 points per game.  BSU ranks near the bottom in many statistical categories around the NSIC which includes rankings 13th in total defense by allowing their opponents to score 72.5 points per game.

Scouting the Bulldogs

Minnesota Duluth goes into Friday’s game at Winona State with a 14-10 record overall and a 12-8 mark in league play and are currently tied for fourth place in the NSIC standings with Winona State.  The Bulldogs have a lot riding on this weekend as if they finish fourth, they will get to host a first round game in the NSIC/Sanford Health Women’s Basketball Tournament.

UMD enters the weekend riding a three game winning streak and have won five of their last six games.  Lindsay Miller leads the Bulldogs with 13.8 points per game while shooting 36.1% from beyond the three-point arc. 

Minnesota Duluth leads the NSIC in offensive rebounding (13.1 per game) and are fourth in total defense by allowing opponents to score 63.2 points per game and shoot just 31.2% from three point land which is third-best in the conference.

Series History

Since transitioning to NCAA Division II, the Peacocks are 0-5 against Minnesota Duluth and 3-7 when playing Bemidji State.

The Last Meeting

Upper Iowa last met Bemidji State and Minnesota Duluth away from Fayette earlier this season, on December 10-11.  Bemidji State defeated UIU, 79-65 on the 11th after UMD beat UIU the night before, 70-65.