DULUTH, Minn. (csssaints.com) – The St. Scholastica women's basketball team will open its season Saturday at home against Augsburg College at the Reif Gymnasium.
 
Where:
Reif Gymnasium
 
When:
Saturday at 3 p.m.
 
Watch: http://www.csssaints.com/ssn
 
Live Stats: http://www.csssaints.com/ssn
 
Social Media:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/csssaints
Instagram: http://instagram.com/csssaints
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/css.saints
 
St. Scholastica Saints
Roster | 2013-14 Stats
2013-14 Record: 16-10, 11-3 UMAC
Upper Midwest Athletic Conference: Standings | Stats
 
The Saints finished second in the UMAC last season behind the University of Minnesota Morris and was eliminated in the UMAC Tournament semifinals by eventual champion University of Northwestern … The Saints return four of five starters and have an experienced heading into this season.
 
Who's Back: The Saints return four starters and a total of eight players from last year's squad … Junior Kelsey Sorenson-Giffrow (Braham, Minn./Braham HS (Minn. Duluth)) and senior Mariah Hovick (Prior Lake, Minn./Prior Lake HS) each averaged over 10 points per game last season at 10.4 and 10.3, respectively … Sorenson-Giffrow was a second team All-UMAC in her first season with the Saints in 2013-14 … She led the conference in free throw percentage and 3-point percentage … Hovick was named First Team All-UMAC last season … She led the team in free throws made and steals per game and was third in the league in field goal percentage and assists … Junior forward Danica Schellbach (Rush City, Minn./Rush City HS) and senior guard Elena Huber (Northfield, Minn./Northfield HS) are two more starters that return … Schellbach was second on the team in blocked shots a season ago after leading the team her freshman season … Huber finished second on the team in 3-point field goals … Junior Brittani Brennan (Ashland, Wis./Ashland HS), senior Sammy Doucette (Colfax, Wis./Colfax HS (UW-River Falls)) and senior Emily Glomski (Ras Tanura, Saudi Arabia/Dhahran HS) also return for the Saints.
 
Who's Gone: The Saints lost Forward Erin Frase (Phillips, Wis./Phillips HS (UW-River Falls)) to graduation … Frase led the team in scoring at 10.9 points per game last season and was a two-time First Team All-UMAC choice … In 10 of the final 12 games of the regular season, Frase scored in double-figures and scored 20-plus in three of the final six games … Caitlin McKernon (Coon Rapids, Minn./Fridley HS) led the team with 20 blocked shots last season.
 
Newcomers: Coach Deadrick brought in five freshmen … The talented freshmen class will add some solid depth for the Saints this season … Expect forwards Holly VanKempen (Elbow Lake, Minn./West Central HS) and Jenna Langer (Long Prairie, Minn./Long Prairie-Grey Eagle HS) to see plenty of action early as well as guard Sam Brannen (Ramsey, Minn./Anoka HS).
 
A Record-Setting 2013-14: The Saints set a program record with 11 UMAC wins during the 2013-14 season … CSS also set a program record by shooting .42.7 from the field last season.
 
Strong out of Conference: For only the fourth time in the last 10 seasons, St. Scholastica recorded five non-conference victories during the regular season in 2013-14.
 
Consistent at the Free Throw Line: Kelsey Sorenson-Giffrow (Braham, Minn./Braham HS (Minn. Duluth)) had a streak of 23 consecutive made free throws at one point during the 2013-14 season … The Saints as a team set a program record by shooting 73.9 percent from the charity stripe last season
 
The Final Chapter: Senior guard Mariah Hovick (Prior Lake, Minn./Prior Lake HS) is 14^th on the program's all-time scoring list entering this season and is 115 points shy of becoming the 12^th CSS women's basketball player to record 1,000 career points … Hovick has led the team in assists in each of her first three seasons.
 
Series History: The Saints are 4-2 all-time against the Auggies … Augsburg has won the previous two meetings by an average of 15.5 points … CSS has not beaten Augsburg since 2002.
 
Top 5 Games to Watch
11/25 vs. UW-Superior
UWS and CSS will play each other for the final time as non-conference opponents … UWS joins the UMAC in 2015-16.
11/29 at UW-Stout
The Saints defeated the Blue Devils last season for the first time since 2002.
12/8 at Concordia-Moorhead
The Saints are winless (0-3) all-time against the Cobbers
1/16 vs. Northwestern
The Eagles are the defending UMAC Tournament Champions and eliminated the Saints last season.
2/6 vs. Minnesota Morris
The Cougars are the defending UMAC Regular Season Champions and have been picked to win it again this season.
 
UMAC Preseason Poll
1. 48 Points – University of Minnesota Morris (6 First Place Votes)
2. 43 Points – College of St. Scholastica (2)
3. 36 Points – University of Northwestern
4. 32 Points – Martin Luther College
5. 26 Points – Bethany Lutheran College
6. 16 Points – North Central University
7. 13 Points – Northland College
8. 10 Points – Crown College
 
Opponent this Weekend
Augsburg College Auggies
The Auggies have already started its season by defeated the UMAC's North Central University 61-32 on Saturday … Augsburg also plays Crown College on Thursday at home before playing the Saints … The Auggies have been picked to finish ninth in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) this season … They will have to replace All-MIAC performer Jill Tichy, who averaged 14.5 points per game last season … The Auggies do return their top four rebounders from a season ago … The leading returning scorer is sophomore forward Jessica Lillquist, who averaged 10.4 points per game last season … Abbey Luger led Augsburg against North Central with 16 points.