Conference Road Weekend Looms For Women's Basketball
Women's Basketball re-enters conference play this weekend determined to keep up the high level of play that has the 2018 NIAC Finalists out to a 2-0 start. Last weekend in non-conference action, the Blazers faced two big challengers from tough Mon-Dak opponents at the Devil's Lake Classic; losses of a combined 69-points to NDSCS Wildcats and Lake Region State Royals, but those losses didn't do anything to defeat CMU.
Shirliz Apiyo has had a hot hand for the Blazers this month, starting with her career-high 28-point outing in a 89-34 win in Minnesota over AFLBS. A spark plug off the bench for Women's Basketball in her rookie season, the sophomore is doing much more than streak scoring and showing quick hands on the defensive end of the court in her second season with CMU. Against the Wildcats, Apiyo scored a game-high 13 and added 6 steals last Sunday and will look to get back to even higher numbers in both statistical categories tonight when CMU clashes with the Red River Rebels.
It is the start of a significant rebuild for the once great MCAC Women's Basketball program. With six of their fourteen conference games already played, the 1-5 Rebels are looking to continue to grow and make strides forward as they complete the first half of the 2018-19 campaign and begin the road toward to Championship Tournament in late February.
The Rebels have been led by two star rookies in Cyzelle Mas and Cayla Sagun in the first half of the season. A strong shooter, Mas averaged 23.5 points per game in her opening weekend of NIAC action, and showing quickness around the basket with 10 rebounds and 6 steals in back to back games.
There is little respite for the road warrior Blazers, who after running with the Rebels tonight, get back on a bus charter Saturday morning for an afternoon NIAC contest against the Turtle Mountain Community College Mighty Mikinocks in Belcourt, North Dakota. The Mikinocks also carry an undefeated record in conference action through contests.
A key to how Saturday's game may unfold can be found in non-conference action where both CMU and Turtle Mountain have tipped-off with Dakota College at Bottineau during their 2018-19 calendar. In late October, the LadyJacks visited Winnipeg and defeated CMU by 15-points. The Mikinocks visited Bottineau in early November and though their margin of defeat was 39-points, they managed to produce the same amount of offense as CMU did against their Mon-Dak opponent; 57 points.
The Blazers return to home court next weekend when they host the Rebels on Friday night and the Mikinocks on Saturday afternoon.
Print This Article
