Winter Sports Wrap-up

The women's basketball team overcame injuries of several key players to make to the NAIA Division II National Tournament for the first time in school history. A talented freshman class, along with experienced upperclassmen, struggled through the UMAC regular season with a 2-6 record and fourth place finish. However, they played their best ball when it counted the most, defeating Presentation College in the UMAC Tournament Play In game, then upsetting No.1 seed Northland College (72-71) and No. 2 seed Northwestern (53-52). By winning the UMAC Tournament they advanced to the national tournament, where they lost to Sterling (Kan.) College (74-47). The Saints finished 13-14 overall.

The team was led by Jackie Plesha (Fr, PG, Biwabik, MN) with 13.4 ppg and Allison Sanderberg (Fr. F, Duluth Denfield) with 12.6 ppg. Plesha also led the team in steals (2.5 pg), while Sanderberg led the team in rebounds (7.0 rpg) and blocked shots (49). Both players missed five games during the season with knee injuries.

Plesha and Sanderberg were named to the UMAC All Conference Team, with Amanda Norman (Jr, G, Mountain Iron, MN) and Erin Olson (Jr. C, Anoka, MN) voted Honorable Mention. Sanderberg was also named UMAC Player of the Week three times during the season. Norman and Olson were named NAIA Scholar Athletes and Norman, Cathy Renner (Jr, F, Embarrass, MN) and Tasha Monsaas-Daly (Sr. C, Apple Valley, MN) were recipients of the Bill Bradley Scholastic All American award.

View a photo of the Women's basketball team at nationals

The men's basketball team had aspirations of improving on last year's second place UMAC Tournament finish, having lost only one senior from the squad. But that senior NAIA Honorable Mention All American Nate Rudlong, proved harder to replace then expected. The Saints played a grueling pre-season schedule, losing their first nine games before regrouping to finish 8-16. They played well enough in the UMAC to finish in second place with a 5-3 record and earn a first round bye in the UMAC Tournament. For the second year in a row the Saints knocked off UMAC leader Northwestern during the regular season but lost to Presentation in the semi-finals to end their season.

Matt Inda (So, PG, Madison, WI) and Scott Johnson (Fr. F, North Branch, MN) were named to the UMAC All-Conference team with Colin Ellefson (So, C, Duluth East) an honorable mention. Tom Leister (Jr, F, Granite Falls, MN) and Ellefson were recipients of the Bill Bradley Scholastic award. Team MVPs were Matt Inda and Nate Przybelski (Sr, G, Green Bay, WI). Danny Nyberg (Fr, G, Cromwell, MN) was voted Most Improved Player and Alan Laemmrich (So, C, Neenah, WI) won the Hustle Award.

Johnson led the Saints in scoring (11.3 ppg) and field goal percentage (54.6 percent) and Ellefson was the leading rebound (6.4 rpg). Inda was the assist and steals leader with 3.2 and 2.1 respectively.

The hockey team was optimistic going into the season, with 17 juniors and seniors returning off last year's 9-17-1 season and new head coach Cory Borys in place. But the team was seldom able to put three solid periods together and went 5-22-0 overall and 1-13-0 in the NCHA.

Cory Lonke (Fr, G, Cloquet HS) emerged as the starting goalie for the Saints. Lonke recorded 463 saves and a save percentage of .862. Sean Andrews (Sr. F, Vernon, BC) lead the team in points (23) and assists (16). Nick Dolentz (Sr, F, Hermantown, MN) led the team in goals (10), power play goals (6) and was second in points (22). Kenny Kolquist (Fr, F, Duluth Central) was second in goals scored (7) and power play goals (5).

The Saints placed 11 players, the most in the league, on the NCHA All-Academic Team. The players include Andrews (third-time selection) , Kyle Antilla (third, Sr, F, Aurora, MN), Jason Brabec (Jr, F Willow River, MN), Greg Buell (So, G, Silver Bay, MN), Jake Byrnes (So, D, Silver Bay, MN), Dolentz (third), Scott Forrest (third, Sr, F, Cloquet, MN), Rob Kehr (Jr, D, Holland, MI), Phil McDonald (Sr, D, Owatonna, MN), Alec Nelson (third, Sr, F, Hibbing, MN), Nick Nelson (second, Jr, D, Webster, WI), Neil Runbeck (Sr, D, Mounds View, MN). McDonald was also voted as NCHA Player of the Week for the week Dec. 17.