Saturday, November 25
St. Cloud, Minn.
2:00 P.M. CT
St. Cloud State
vs
Northern Michigan
Photo by: Hannah Lindsey, UW-Parkside
St. Cloud State Women’s Basketball Returns Home for Two GLIAC Matchups
11/24/2023 12:13:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Huskies look to continue strong start and stay undefeated on the season
ST. CLOUD, Minn. – St. Cloud State Women's Basketball (2-0, 0-0 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference) returns to Halenbeck Hall for a pair of weekend games against schools from Michigan. On Saturday the Huskies will take on Northern Michigan (4-0, 0-0 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) and on Sunday they will welcome Michigan Tech (3-1, 0-0 GLIAC) to town. Tipoff for both games is set for 2:00 p.m. CT.
St. Cloud State has the opportunity to move to 4-0 after this weekend which is something they have not done since the 2014-2015 season – the team finished 16-12 that year.
FOLLOW THE HUSKIES
Tickets to the games are available at scsutickets.com. Both games will be streamed live for free on the NSIC Network (Saturday's Stream | Sunday's Stream) and broadcasted on the Varsity Network app. Steve Linzmeier, the Voice of St. Cloud State Basketball, can be heard on the livestream and the radio broadcast. Live stats will be covered by St. Cloud State. Links to all coverage options can be found on the St. Cloud State Women's Basketball schedule page.
LAST TIME OUT
St. Cloud State was on the road last weekend and faced off against UW-Parkside. The Huskies would trail by as many as 12 points in the first half, but started to catch fire from beyond the arc. SCSU would cut the deficit to five points heading into the break. Senior Forward Dru Henning (Mukwanago, Wis.) would knock in two three-pointers on her way to an eight-point first half. freshman guard Alana Zarneke (Appleton, Wis.) cashed in two three-pointers of her own to give her six points at halftime.
The Huskies found themselves trailing three points heading into the fourth quarter despite draining four of their 12 made threes on the afternoon. Eight fourth quarter points by senior guard Makenna Vanzant (Farmington, Ark.) sparked a 27-point fourth quarter bombardment by the Huskies where they shot a blistering 70% from the field and calmly made 10-free throws on their way to a 71-64 victory. Vanzant would finish the game as one of four Huskies in double figures along with Henning, Zarneke, and sophomore guard Jada Eggebrecht (Phillips, Wis.).
SERIES HISTORY
St. Cloud State holds an 8-2 record all-time against Northern Michigan including a 55-51 victory last year. Senior guard Tori Peschel (Sauk Centre, Minn.) stuffed the stat sheet posting 13 points on 5-7 shooting, five rebounds, three assists, one block, one steal and one made three-pointer. Dru Henning also chipped in 13 points along with four rebounds in the victory. Henning would effortlessly knock in two clutch free throws to give the Huskies a one-point lead with 45 seconds left in the game and then go on to hit a dagger three-pointer with 13 seconds left to give the Huskies a four-point victory.
Against Michigan Tech, St. Cloud State holds a 4-7 all-time record in their 11 meetings. In last year's matchup, the Huskies fell 82-49. The Huskies turned the ball over 14 times which led to 27-points for Michigan Tech. Eggebrecht and Peschel each put up 10 points in the loss.
SCOUTING NORTHERN MICHIGAN
The Wildcats come into Saturday's tilt riding high on a four-game winning streak and have an average margin of victory of 14 points including a 19 point victory over Southwest Minnesota State a week ago. Northern Michigan is led by senior guard Makalyee Kuhn who is averaging 18.5 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game. Kuhn is also shooting 48.8% from the field, 50% from three-point land, and 96.8% from the free throw line. Kuhn has led the Wildcats in scoring in three of their four games and has exceeded 20 points in two of those games.
Junior guard Mackenzie Holzwart has also been a big-time contributor for Northern Michigan. Holzwart is coming off a week where she was awarded GLIAC Defensive Player of the Week. In two contests this past week, Holzwart recorded eight steals, one block, and 18 rebounds. She also leads all GLIAC guards with 5.3 defensive rebounds per game. Holzwart is averaging 10 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 2.0 steals on the year.
In last year's matchup, Kuhn dropped 19 points for the Wildcats, but was held to 3-13 shooting. Holzwart was also inefficient for Northern Michigan as she only scored six points on 2-12 shooting. Both players recorded two steals and grabbed seven and five rebounds respectively.
Casey Thousand heads into her second season as the Wildcats head coach. Thousand posted a 15-13 record in her inaugural season with Northern Michigan. Thousand was on the Wildcats coaching staff for three years before leaving to be the head coach at the University of Illinois Springfield. Thousand would return back to Northern Michigan after three seasons.
SCOUTING MICHIGAN TECH
Michigan Tech comes to town following a 74-67 loss to Ashland, but still holds a 3-1 record on the year with an average margin of victory of 17 points.
Michigan Tech has four players scoring in double figures on the year, notably freshman Alyssa Wypych. Wypych averages 14.5 points per game for the Huskies on 44.2% from the field and 40.9% from three-point range. Senior guard Alex Rondorf is not far off of Wypych with averages of 14.3 point per game with shooting splits of 78.3% from the field, 64.3% from three, and 100% from the free throw line. Rondorf also pulls in 6.8 rebounds per game for the Huskies.
In last year's victory over St. Cloud State, Rondorf nearly recorded a double-double with 12-points, nine rebounds, three steals, one block and two made three pointers.
Sam Clayton is the Huskies head coach and is in her fifth season with the program. During her tenure, Clayton has a 95-45 record including two appearances in the GLIAC championship game where Michigan Tech came out victorious in one of the two games. With Clayton at the helm, Michigan Tech has exceeded double-digit victories in four of her five seasons.
Michigan Tech will be on the road against Minnesota Duluth on Saturday before taking on SCSU on Sunday.
HUSKIES HOOPS PREVIEW
Head coach Lori Fish enters her 16th season at the helm of the SCSU Women's Basketball program that owned an impressive 17-10 (14-8 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference) record last season, finishing the season second in the North Division of the NSIC and tied for fourth overall. The Huskies were picked to finish fifth in the 2023-24 NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll and sophomore guard Jada Eggebrecht (Phillips, Wis.) was named the preseason player to watch by the NSIC.
With a roster of 10 underclassmen, we will rely heavily on our seniors to help prepare our young team for what it takes to work hard every day and compete in the toughest conference in Division II," said coach Fish.
Eggebrecht looks to build off her impressive true freshman campaign in which she earned Second Team All-NSIC honors. She started all 27 games for the Huskies and played a team-high 30.1 minutes per game while averaging 14.3 points, 2.4 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game and shot 44.7% from the field, 39.5% from three and 88.9% from the free throw line. She also led the team in field goals attempted (333), three pointers made (49), three pointers attempted (124) and free throw percentage (88.9%) while ranking second on the team in field goals made (149), field goal percentage (44.7%) and points per game (14.3).
"Jada had an outstanding freshman campaign, and we are excited to see how she elevates her game after the offseason and knowing what it takes to play in the NSIC," said coach Fish.
SCSU returns five seniors – guard Morgan Drahiem (Hortonville, Wis.), forward Dru Henning (Mukwonago, Wis.), forward Jasmine Litt (Pulaski, Wis.), guard Tori Peschel (Sauk Centre, Minn.) and guard Makenna Vanzant (Farmington, Ark.) and five sophomores – Eggebrecht, forward Kora Forsline (Aurora, Minn.), forward Madi Herkenhoff (Albany, Minn.), forward Ashley Sawicki (Waunakee, Wis.) and guard Alyssa Stamer (Hutchinson, Minn.) from last year's team. Eggebrecht, Henning and Peschel were starters. The Huskies added five freshmen – guard Kyla Hendricks (Green Bay, Wis.), forward Paige Lambe (Verona, Wis.), forward Abigail O'Reilly (Elgin, Minn.), guard Grace Roesch (Sauk Rapids, Minn.) and guard Alana Zarneke (Appleton, Wis.) to the squad during the offseason.
St. Cloud State Women's Basketball season tickets for the 2023-24 season are available. Fans can purchase season tickets by visiting scsuickets.com or by calling 1-877-SCSUTIX / 320-308-2137. The season ticket package includes tickets to 16 regular season home games played in Halenbeck Hall. Single game tickets are also available for purchase.
For all the latest on St. Cloud State Women's Basketball, stay tuned to SCSUHuskies.com and follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
St. Cloud State has the opportunity to move to 4-0 after this weekend which is something they have not done since the 2014-2015 season – the team finished 16-12 that year.
FOLLOW THE HUSKIES
Tickets to the games are available at scsutickets.com. Both games will be streamed live for free on the NSIC Network (Saturday's Stream | Sunday's Stream) and broadcasted on the Varsity Network app. Steve Linzmeier, the Voice of St. Cloud State Basketball, can be heard on the livestream and the radio broadcast. Live stats will be covered by St. Cloud State. Links to all coverage options can be found on the St. Cloud State Women's Basketball schedule page.
LAST TIME OUT
St. Cloud State was on the road last weekend and faced off against UW-Parkside. The Huskies would trail by as many as 12 points in the first half, but started to catch fire from beyond the arc. SCSU would cut the deficit to five points heading into the break. Senior Forward Dru Henning (Mukwanago, Wis.) would knock in two three-pointers on her way to an eight-point first half. freshman guard Alana Zarneke (Appleton, Wis.) cashed in two three-pointers of her own to give her six points at halftime.
The Huskies found themselves trailing three points heading into the fourth quarter despite draining four of their 12 made threes on the afternoon. Eight fourth quarter points by senior guard Makenna Vanzant (Farmington, Ark.) sparked a 27-point fourth quarter bombardment by the Huskies where they shot a blistering 70% from the field and calmly made 10-free throws on their way to a 71-64 victory. Vanzant would finish the game as one of four Huskies in double figures along with Henning, Zarneke, and sophomore guard Jada Eggebrecht (Phillips, Wis.).
SERIES HISTORY
St. Cloud State holds an 8-2 record all-time against Northern Michigan including a 55-51 victory last year. Senior guard Tori Peschel (Sauk Centre, Minn.) stuffed the stat sheet posting 13 points on 5-7 shooting, five rebounds, three assists, one block, one steal and one made three-pointer. Dru Henning also chipped in 13 points along with four rebounds in the victory. Henning would effortlessly knock in two clutch free throws to give the Huskies a one-point lead with 45 seconds left in the game and then go on to hit a dagger three-pointer with 13 seconds left to give the Huskies a four-point victory.
Against Michigan Tech, St. Cloud State holds a 4-7 all-time record in their 11 meetings. In last year's matchup, the Huskies fell 82-49. The Huskies turned the ball over 14 times which led to 27-points for Michigan Tech. Eggebrecht and Peschel each put up 10 points in the loss.
SCOUTING NORTHERN MICHIGAN
The Wildcats come into Saturday's tilt riding high on a four-game winning streak and have an average margin of victory of 14 points including a 19 point victory over Southwest Minnesota State a week ago. Northern Michigan is led by senior guard Makalyee Kuhn who is averaging 18.5 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game. Kuhn is also shooting 48.8% from the field, 50% from three-point land, and 96.8% from the free throw line. Kuhn has led the Wildcats in scoring in three of their four games and has exceeded 20 points in two of those games.
Junior guard Mackenzie Holzwart has also been a big-time contributor for Northern Michigan. Holzwart is coming off a week where she was awarded GLIAC Defensive Player of the Week. In two contests this past week, Holzwart recorded eight steals, one block, and 18 rebounds. She also leads all GLIAC guards with 5.3 defensive rebounds per game. Holzwart is averaging 10 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 2.0 steals on the year.
In last year's matchup, Kuhn dropped 19 points for the Wildcats, but was held to 3-13 shooting. Holzwart was also inefficient for Northern Michigan as she only scored six points on 2-12 shooting. Both players recorded two steals and grabbed seven and five rebounds respectively.
Casey Thousand heads into her second season as the Wildcats head coach. Thousand posted a 15-13 record in her inaugural season with Northern Michigan. Thousand was on the Wildcats coaching staff for three years before leaving to be the head coach at the University of Illinois Springfield. Thousand would return back to Northern Michigan after three seasons.
SCOUTING MICHIGAN TECH
Michigan Tech comes to town following a 74-67 loss to Ashland, but still holds a 3-1 record on the year with an average margin of victory of 17 points.
Michigan Tech has four players scoring in double figures on the year, notably freshman Alyssa Wypych. Wypych averages 14.5 points per game for the Huskies on 44.2% from the field and 40.9% from three-point range. Senior guard Alex Rondorf is not far off of Wypych with averages of 14.3 point per game with shooting splits of 78.3% from the field, 64.3% from three, and 100% from the free throw line. Rondorf also pulls in 6.8 rebounds per game for the Huskies.
In last year's victory over St. Cloud State, Rondorf nearly recorded a double-double with 12-points, nine rebounds, three steals, one block and two made three pointers.
Sam Clayton is the Huskies head coach and is in her fifth season with the program. During her tenure, Clayton has a 95-45 record including two appearances in the GLIAC championship game where Michigan Tech came out victorious in one of the two games. With Clayton at the helm, Michigan Tech has exceeded double-digit victories in four of her five seasons.
Michigan Tech will be on the road against Minnesota Duluth on Saturday before taking on SCSU on Sunday.
HUSKIES HOOPS PREVIEW
Head coach Lori Fish enters her 16th season at the helm of the SCSU Women's Basketball program that owned an impressive 17-10 (14-8 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference) record last season, finishing the season second in the North Division of the NSIC and tied for fourth overall. The Huskies were picked to finish fifth in the 2023-24 NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll and sophomore guard Jada Eggebrecht (Phillips, Wis.) was named the preseason player to watch by the NSIC.
With a roster of 10 underclassmen, we will rely heavily on our seniors to help prepare our young team for what it takes to work hard every day and compete in the toughest conference in Division II," said coach Fish.
Eggebrecht looks to build off her impressive true freshman campaign in which she earned Second Team All-NSIC honors. She started all 27 games for the Huskies and played a team-high 30.1 minutes per game while averaging 14.3 points, 2.4 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game and shot 44.7% from the field, 39.5% from three and 88.9% from the free throw line. She also led the team in field goals attempted (333), three pointers made (49), three pointers attempted (124) and free throw percentage (88.9%) while ranking second on the team in field goals made (149), field goal percentage (44.7%) and points per game (14.3).
"Jada had an outstanding freshman campaign, and we are excited to see how she elevates her game after the offseason and knowing what it takes to play in the NSIC," said coach Fish.
SCSU returns five seniors – guard Morgan Drahiem (Hortonville, Wis.), forward Dru Henning (Mukwonago, Wis.), forward Jasmine Litt (Pulaski, Wis.), guard Tori Peschel (Sauk Centre, Minn.) and guard Makenna Vanzant (Farmington, Ark.) and five sophomores – Eggebrecht, forward Kora Forsline (Aurora, Minn.), forward Madi Herkenhoff (Albany, Minn.), forward Ashley Sawicki (Waunakee, Wis.) and guard Alyssa Stamer (Hutchinson, Minn.) from last year's team. Eggebrecht, Henning and Peschel were starters. The Huskies added five freshmen – guard Kyla Hendricks (Green Bay, Wis.), forward Paige Lambe (Verona, Wis.), forward Abigail O'Reilly (Elgin, Minn.), guard Grace Roesch (Sauk Rapids, Minn.) and guard Alana Zarneke (Appleton, Wis.) to the squad during the offseason.
St. Cloud State Women's Basketball season tickets for the 2023-24 season are available. Fans can purchase season tickets by visiting scsuickets.com or by calling 1-877-SCSUTIX / 320-308-2137. The season ticket package includes tickets to 16 regular season home games played in Halenbeck Hall. Single game tickets are also available for purchase.
For all the latest on St. Cloud State Women's Basketball, stay tuned to SCSUHuskies.com and follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
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