MORRIS, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Morris women's basketball team continues Upper Midwest Athletic Conference play as it hosts North Central University for its first home game of 2026 on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m., followed by a road matchup at the University of Northwestern on Saturday at 1 p.m.
 
All conference games can be found on the UMAC Sports Network app or by clicking here. To follow live stats of UMM vs NCU click here and the live stats of UMM at UNW can be found here.
 
Minnesota Morris began UMAC action last week at Martin Luther College, where the Cougars pulled out an 80–75 overtime victory. Gianna Klarenbeek led the team with 26 points, including six three-pointers. It was Itzel Salazar's three-pointer in overtime that gave the Cougars the lead with 19 seconds remaining, helping UMM start conference play 1–0.
 
Maddy Grove has totaled 257 points so far this season, ranking second in the UMAC. Klarenbeek surpassed the 100-point mark in the last contest, pushing her season total to 116. Shelby Mortenson and Anna Myers have also reached triple digits with 114 and 103 points, respectively. Klarenbeek ranks third in the conference with 45 assists, averaging 3.2 per game.
 
Defensively, Mortenson leads the team with 80 rebounds, followed by Klarenbeek with 69. As a team, the Cougars have recorded 174 steals, the third-most in the UMAC, with Grove leading UMM with 37. Minnesota Morris has blocked 45 shots this season, leading the conference, with Mortenson totaling 11 blocks and Claire Stark adding nine.
 
North Central enters the week with an 8–7 overall record and a 1–1 mark in conference play. To open UMAC action last week, the Rams fell to the University of Wisconsin–Superior 84–60 before defeating Northwestern 70–62. Last season, NCU finished seventh in the conference and was selected sixth in the preseason coaches poll. David Rohrbach is in his second season as head coach. Nini Davenport leads the team with 214 points, followed by Brycelyn Brewster with 200. Defensively, Jackie Lindsay leads the Rams with 89 rebounds.
 
Last season, the Cougars went 2–0 against the Rams, winning the most recent contest 63–47. Grove led the way with 22 points, while Mortenson recorded a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds. UMM held a one-point lead entering the final quarter but exploded for 22 points while holding NCU to just seven to secure the win.
 
Northwestern enters the second week of conference play with a 5–9 overall record and a 0–2 mark in the UMAC. Last week, the Eagles fell to Bethany Lutheran College 67–48 before dropping a 70–62 decision to North Central. UNW finished the 2024–25 season second in the conference and was selected fifth in the preseason coaches poll. Head coach Aaron Kahl is in his 16th season with the program. Ella Frazier leads the Eagles with 152 points, while Lydia Schmitter is close behind with 149 and leads the team in scoring average at 14.9 points per game. Carli Elrod leads UNW defensively with 68 rebounds.
 
Last season, the Eagles defeated the Cougars in both matchups. In the most recent meeting, UNW edged UMM 67–64. The game was tied entering the final quarter, with both teams battling for position. The Eagles built an eight-point lead with three minutes remaining, and although the Cougars cut the deficit to one, they ultimately fell short. Grove led UMM with 28 points and 11 rebounds.