DULUTH, Minn. – Coming off a season-opening loss on Tuesday night, the St. Scholastica women's basketball team gets back to action this weekend when it takes part in the MIAC/UMAC Challenge, hosted by the College of Saint Benedict on Friday and Saturday.

Game Times:
Friday vs. St. Catherine – 6 p.m.
Saturday at Saint Benedict – 3 p.m.

GameDay Media:
Live Video | Live Stats

Last Action:
The Saints led for 26 minutes in the season opener against the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire on Tuesday night, before the Blugolds took the lead the for good with 12 minutes to go in a 68-58 loss. Laura Amys (South Range, Wis./Superior HS) and Mariah Hovick (Prior Lake, Minn./Prior Lake HS) each scored 10 points to pace the Saints.

St. Scholastica Saints (0-1)
The Saints have many new faces on this year's team, many of whom will be key contributors … Freshman point guard Mariah Hovick (Prior Lake, Minn./Prior Lake HS) had 10 points and also led the team with six rebounds and five steals against the Blugolds … Four of her six rebounds were on the offensive glass … Both seniors also had solid games on Tuesday, with Laura Amys (South Range, Wis./Superior HS) registering 10 points, five rebounds and four assists … Taylor Fellbaum (Minong, Wis./Northwood HS) scored all nine of her points in the first half … The Saints outscored a much taller Eau Claire team in the paint 22-20.

St. Catherine Wildcats (0-0)
St. Catherine lost star center Laura Kalbfell to graduation, but have a young nucleus led by senior Megan Zillmer and sophomore Kristen Lee … Head Coach Gary Rufsvold brought in a solid group of recruits to help fill the void of graduated seniors … St. Kate's finished tied for 10th in the conference last season … Nine of the 19 losses last season were by seven points or less … The Wildcats are picked to finish ninth, according to the preseason MIAC Coaches' poll.

Last Meeting: (CSS All-Time Record vs. St. Catherine: 0-0)
First known meeting between the two teams.

Saint Benedict Blazers (0-0)
The Blazers lost six seniors from last season's squad that placed third in the MIAC … The seniors gone, include All-MIAC guard Amy Stifter, who averaged 14.4 points and 4.1 rebounds per game last season, and All-MIAC forward Heather Gillund, who averaged 12.2 points and 4.1 rebounds per game … Both scored more than 1,000 points in their careers … Senior captains Cassie Dorschner and Sam Larsen will try to lead St. Ben's back to the MIAC title, which would give them three titles in four years … The Blazers have been picked to finish third in the MIAC Preseason Coaches' poll.

Last Meeting: (CSS All-Time Record vs. Saint Benedict: 2-12)
The teams last met in 2002 with St. Ben's coming out on top 69-55. The Blazers have won seven straight in the series and Head Coach Stacy Deadrick has yet to beat St. Ben's.