DULUTH, Minn. (
csssaints.com) – The St. Scholastica women's basketball team begins its 2016-17 campaign at the Gustavus Adolphus College Classic this weekend in St. Peter.
Where:
Gus Young Court – St. Peter, Minn.
When:
Friday at Gustavus Adolphus – 6 p.m.
Saturday vs. Buena Vista – 1 p.m.
Live Stats: https://gustavus.edu/athletics/wbb/LIVE/xlive.htm
Social Media:
Twitter:
www.twitter.com/CSSsaints
Instagram:
www.instagram.com/csssaints
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/css.saints
St. Scholastica Saints
Roster | 2015-16 Stats
2015-16 Record: 10-15, 7-9 UMAC
Upper Midwest Athletic Conference: Standings | Stats
Key Returners:
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Michala Walther (Roseville, Minn./Concordia Academy) –
Guard – Team's Rookie of the Year last season … Led the team in 3-pointers made (35), assists (56), and minutes played (751) … Second on the team in scoring (10.3 ppg.), field goals made (90), and steals (32).
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Holly VanKempen (Elbow Lake, Minn./West Central HS) –
forward– Led the conference in blocks (47) … Led the team in field goal percentage (.476), free throws made (62), rebounds (167) … Third on the team in scoring (8.2 ppg.)
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Emelia Miner (Hutchinson, Minn./Hutchinson HS) –
Guard – Second on the team in assists (50), and 3-pointers made (21).
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Sam Brannen (Ramsey, Minn./Anoka HS) –
Guard – Third on the team in assists (38) and steals (23).
Key Losses:
-
Brittani Brennan (Ashland, Wis./Ashland HS) –
Forward – First Team All-UMAC selection last season … Led the team in scoring at 12.2 points per game … In league games she was sixth in the UMAC, averaging 13.1 points per game … Led the conference making 82 percent of her free throw attempts.
Coach Deadrick: Head Coach
Stacy Deadrick enters her 23
rd season guiding the CSS women's basketball team … Deadrick enters the season 15 wins shy of 300 for her career.
Season Openers: The Saints defeated the University of Dubuque 71-69 to open the 2015-16 season, which snapped a five-game losing skid in season openers … CSS is 2-4 against the MIAC in season openers since the 1994-95 season, but have lost the last three.
Find a Way to Close Out Games: In each of their final four losses last season, the Saints led at halftime and failed to score 20 points in the second half in three of those games … CSS was outscored by 65 points in the fourth quarter of games last season and by only six points in the other three quarters combined … In the exhibition game against the University of Jamestown on Sunday, the Saints led by 12 at the end of the third quarter, only to lose by three after recording only eight points in the final period.
Make the Freebies: St. Scholastica struggled from the free throw line last season … After making 74 percent in the 2013-14 and 76 percent in 2014-15, the Saints made only 65 percent last season, their lowest percentage since the 2008-09 season.
Top 5 Games to Watch
11/26 – vs. Saint Mary's
Home opener for the Saints … The Cardinals are picked to finish third in the MIAC … CSS has not played SMU since the early 1980s.
12/3 – at Northwestern
Key conference road game on the opening weekend of UMAC play … Three of the last four wins vs. UNW have come in St. Paul.
12/10 – vs. Northland
Home conference opener.
1/7 – vs. UW-Superior
First meeting against Bridge Rival and reigning UMAC Champions.
2/17 – at Minnesota Morris
Final weekend of the regular season … Game to likely have postseason implications … CSS won at Morris last season.
UMAC Preseason Poll
1. UW-Superior – 63 points (7 First Place Votes)
2. Northwestern – 54 (1)
3. Bethany Lutheran – 51 (1)
4. Minnesota Morris – 46
5. St. Scholastica – 42
6. Martin Luther – 28
7. Northland – 24
8. Crown – 12
9. North Central – 11
Upcoming Opponents
Gustavus Adolphus Gusties
2015-16 Record: 20-7, 14-3 MIAC
The Gusties are predicted to finish second in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) this season … Gustavus defeated Saint Benedict in last year's MIAC Quarterfinals, which was their first postseason win since 2012 … The Gusties will be led by two-time all-conference selection Mikayla Miller … Miller has led the team in scoring the past two seasons and already sits eighth all-time in program history for most three-point field goals with 85 … Also back is senior forward Hannah Miller, who started all 27 games a season ago.
Buena Vista Beavers
2015-16 Record: 15-12, 8-6 IIAC
The Beavers are picked to finish seventh in the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC), according to the preseason coaches' poll … Buena Vista will have to find a way to replace four of last year's five starters … Forward Jordan Tynes is the lone returning starter as she averaged 7.1 points and 4.9 rebounds per game last year … The Beavers lost First Team All-IIAC choice Jasmyn Flynn-Graves and second team selection Lexi Fisher to graduation.
Series Records:
-Gustavus leads CSS 5-0
(Last Meeting: 71-58 GAC – 11/30/14)
-First-ever meeting vs. Buena Vista
Series History: The Saints have never beaten Gustavus Adolphus and have lost by double-figures in each of the last four meetings.
Looking Ahead: The Saints are at Concordia College-Moorhead on Tuesday, November 22.
