In the UND women's basketball team's home opener last season, Northern State shocked the Sioux with a 71-65 victory to snap a 41-game regular-season winning streak.
It's a game the Sioux haven't forgotten as they prepare for today's 6 p.m. matchup against Northern State in Aberdeen, S.D.
"They tripped us up last year," UND center Ashley Langen said. "I think it's going to be a good test."
Northern State is 2-0 this season with wins against Colorado School of Mines and Colorado Christian.
"They're very good," UND coach Gene Roebuck said. "They run the same offensive sets, so they know coming into the year that they're ready to hit the floor running. We need to be on our toes."
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Northern State outscored UND 30-6 in the paint last year while holding Langen to just six points.
Sioux posts Kierah Kimbrough and Langen are off to a strong start this season, though. Kimbrough has 36 points in two games, while Langen has 35.
"It should be a good trip to get away from Grand Forks as a team," Langen said. "I think if we start getting mentally prepared right now, it should be a good game."
The Sioux men, who are 0-2 this season with losses to Adams State and Colorado-Colorado Springs, also visit Northern State today. Game time is 8 p.m.
No decision on
Chappell, Murray
The status of UND running backs Ryan Chappell and Josh Murray is uncertain for Saturday's Division II playoff game against Grand Valley State.
"It's a wait-and-see thing right now," UND coach Dale Lennon said.
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Chappell and Murray both were injured in UND's 44-2 win against Winona State in the first round of the playoffs last Saturday.
Prior to his injury, Chappell ran for 176 yards and two touchdowns against Winona State.
If Chappell and Murray were unable to play, the starting running back would likely be Steven Battle, who rushed for 80 yards on 19 carries in fill-in duties against Winona State.
Rankings reveal
tough schedule
Before the season, UND men's hockey coach Dave Hakstol described the early schedule as "a bear."
This week's national rankings point that out.
All six of UND's opponents so far are ranked in the USCHO.com poll. Michigan State is No. 5, Boston College No. 14, Northeastern No. 20, Michigan Tech No. 19, Colorado College No. 4 and Wisconsin No. 12.
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Northeastern broke into the rankings for the first time as the Wildcats are riding a five-game unbeaten streak.
This weekend's Sioux opponent is Minnesota-Duluth, ranked No. 15. In fact, the next time UND will play against a team not ranked in the top 20 this week is Jan. 18, when it travels to Mankato.
Upcoming opponents are No. 3 Denver (Nov. 30-Dec. 1), No. 13 Minnesota (Dec. 7-8), No. 8 New Hampshire (Dec. 28-29), No. 10 St. Cloud State (Jan. 5-6) and No. 19 Michigan Tech (Jan. 11-12).
Of the 35 games on UND's schedule, only six come against someone not ranked in this week's poll.
NDSCS run ends at nationals
The North Dakota State College of Science volleyball team's run to the national tournament ended Friday after a pair of losses in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Former East Grand Forks Senior High hitter Sara Berger was one of the top players for the Wildcats. Berger was second on the team with eight kills in a loss to No. 2 Johnson County Community College (Overland Park, Kan.), and she led the Wildcats with 10 kills in a loss to Iowa Lakes Community College.
Both matches ended in sweeps.
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"It was a great effort, the girls worked really hard," Science coach Jane Passa said. "The best way to describe this year is 'Wow.' I was fortunate to have great players, and I'm so proud of everything they did."
Briefly
-- Volleyball: The National Junior College Athletic Association named Amie Salvhus of Northland Technical and Community College to the NJCAA all-Region 13 team. Salvhus had more than 1,000 assists this season alone. She is a two-year starting setter for the Pioneers and has broken the school record for most assists in a single season and most career assists. Salvhus is a former Win-E-Mac athlete.
-- Baseball: Three area high school seniors have signed letters of intent at North Dakota State. They are pitcher-infielders Josh Greene of Devils Lake and Anthony Kliniske of Grafton and pitcher Spencer Johnson of Thief River Falls.
-- Men's basketball: Trent Graves, a forward from Colton, S.D., signed a letter of intent at Minnesota-Crookston.
-- Volleyball: Kate Holmquist, a Middleton, Wis., native, signed a letter of intent at Minnesota-Crookston. Holmquist is a setter-defensive specialist.
-- Women's basketball: Crookston High School's Macy Hanson has signed a letter of intent at Minnesota-Crookston.
-- Women's basketball: Crookston High School's Molly Simmons has signed a letter of intent at the University of Mary.
