(Crookston, Minn.)- The Golden Eagle Women's Basketball team earned an NSIC sweep over the weekend. After 11 days off, Minnesota, Crookston defeated defending National Champion and #11 ranked Minnesota State 88-74 and followed that performance up with a 76-72 victory over Southwest Minesota State. Leading the Golden Eagles in two of the programs biggest wins was Bri Zabel (F, 6-0, JR, Northfield, Minn.) who averaged 20 points/game. She scored 17 points against the Mavericks. Zabel was 7-13 from the field, grabbed seven rebounds and dished four assists. Against the Mustangs, Zabel put the contest away with 13 seconds left when she hit two free-throws to close out the contest 76-72. Zabel led all scorers with 23 points in the game. She was 5-11 from the field and a staggering 11-12 from the free-throw line. On the weekend Zabel averaged 20 points/game on 12-24 (.500) shooting. She was 3-8 from long range and 13-16 from the free-throw line. She was second on the team in rebounds with 13 (6.5 rebounds/game), assists (8) and tied for the team lead with two steals. Jamie Zelinsky (G, 5-11, JR, Brooklyn Park, Minn.) had a sensational weekend as well. She averaged 19.5 points/game and was 12-24 (.500) from the field. She was a staggering 7-9 (.770) from long range and 8-8 from the free-throw line. On the season, Zabel leads the Golden Eagles in scoring averaging 15.8 points/game and is first on the team in rebounding with 69 (5.8 rebounds/game). Zelinsky is averaging 15.6 points/game, she ranks second in rebounds with 55 (4.6 rebounds/game) and leads the squad with eight blocks. Brittani Wiese (G, 5-7, FR, Albertville, Minn.) rounds out the teams top scorers with 11.7 points/game. She leads the team in steals with 19 and in field-goal percentage at 51 percent (53-104). The Golden Eagles are 6-6 overall and 4-2 in the Northern Sun.
 
Wayne State is led by the duo of Ashley Arlen and Mara Hjelle. Arlen is averaging 17.7 points/ game. She is shooting 48 percent from the field and 52 percent from beyond the arc. Hjelle averages 13.2 points/game. She is the team leader in rebounds/game with 7.3 and blocked shots with 15. The Wildcats are 9-3 overall and 2-3 in conference play. Wayne State dropped two NSIC games last weekend when they fell 54-51 to Minnesota Duluth on January 2 and 83-79 to Bemidji State on January 3.
 
Augustana College is led by Megan Doyle who is averaging 13.8 points/game. She is second on the team in steals with 19, blocks with 11 and rebounds/game with 5.9. Molly Hayes follows Doyle with 11.4 points/game while Kristi Board and Alex Feeney are averaging 11.1 and 10.8 points/game respectively. The Vikings are 10-2 overall and 4-1 in the Northern Sun. Minnesota Duluth handed the Vikings their first conference loss on January 3, 81-63.
 
For more information, visit the Golden Eagle Athletics website at: www.goldeneaglesports.com.  
 
The University of Minnesota, Crookston is a NCAA Division II Institution and a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). The Golden Eagle Equestrian team is a member of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA).