UMAC Game of the Week: Minnesota Morris vs. Wisconsin-Superior - Women's Basketball
The UMAC Game of the Week runs each week during the conference regular season and breaks down one key matchup from one sport.
The Matchup
Saturday, Jan. 19 - University of Minnesota Morris at University of Wisconsin-Superior, women's basketball, 3 p.m. in Superior, Wis.
***UPDATE***
Wisconsin-Superior wins 71-50
What's at Stake
- Title race - Pending outcomes Wednesday evening, at the halfway point of the season there could be a three-way tie atop the standings at 7-1 that would include both the Cougars and Yellowjackets. That makes Saturday's game critical for the second half of the season and the race for the conference title. It will also be used for any potential tiebreakers that could occur.
- Second chance - Wisconsin-Superior won the first matchup of the season between the squads 59-52 which was its closest margin this season. Minnesota Morris had a one-point lead at the half. The Cougars will look to even the series on the road Saturday.
- Winning streaks - Prior to Wednesday night's games, Minnesota Morris is riding a five-game conference winning streak that it looks to keep going, while Wisconsin-Superior looks to extend its conference home-game winning streak alive as the 'Jackets have yet to surrender a loss on its home floor to a UMAC opponent since joining the league in 2015-16.
Previously in Action
- Minnesota Morris defeated Northland College 90-54 on the road Saturday. The Cougars will finish out the first half of the conference slate Wednesday with a 5:30 p.m. tip off at home against the University of Northwestern.
- Wisconsin-Superior collected a non-conference win against Finlandia University 83-66 on Monday evening at home. The Yellowjackets are off Wednesday from conference play.
Need to Know
- More Streaks - Wisconsin-Superior saw its 53-straight UMAC conference unbeaten streak end on Jan. 5 after a loss to Bethany Lutheran College. The Yellowjackets' streak began when they joined the UMAC in 2015-16. Prior to the Yellowjackets' joining the league, the Cougars had won at least a share of six-straight regular season title.
- Rebounding - Rebounding will play a big factor in the game for both teams. The Yellowjackets lead the league with a 23.3 rebounding margin and avearge a UMAC-best 43.6 rebounds per game. The Cougars are just seventh in rebounding offense (35.4) and fifth in rebounding defense (36.6). Minnesota Morris will need to be aggressive on the boards to limit second-chance opportunities or transition points for the Yellowjackets.
- Double-digit margins - Prior to Wednesday night, all of the Cougars' conference contests have been decided in double-digits except those against Bethany Lutheran and Wisconsin-Superior. Only the Yellowjackets' game against the Cougars was a single-digit margin of victory. This game should be another close one and shows the strength of the top band of teams in the conference so far this season.
Players to Watch - Minnesota Morris
- Kendra Raths, Sr., F - All-UMAC last season; UMAC Stats: 15.6 ppg, 53.6 FG%, 1.3 bpg
- Elli Stevenson, Sr., G - All-UMAC last season; UMAC Stats: 13.7 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 82.1 FT%, 4.4 apg, 2.7 spg
- Abby VanKempen, Jr., F - UMAC Stats: 14.3 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 56.5 FG%, 2.6 apg, 2.3 spg, 0.9 bpg
Players to Watch - Wisconsin-Superior
- Emily Carpenter, Jr., G - UMAC Stats: 8.9 ppg, 5.3 apg, 3.0 ast/TO (1st)
- Hannah Norlin, Sr., F - All-UMAC last season; 2x D3Hoops Team of the Week, USBWA National Player of the Week; UMAC Stats: 13.6 ppg, 8.9 rpg (1st), 45.3 FG%, 1.6 bpg
- Eva Reinertsen, Jr., F - UMAC Stats: 15.3 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 56.8 FG%, 2.0 apg, 1.4 spg
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2018-19 Game of the Week Archives