UMD Women’s Hoops to Celebrate Six Seniors in Weekend Matchup Versus Sioux Falls

Taytum Rhoades, Madelyn Granica, Gus Boyer, Abby Johnson, Taya Hakamaki, and Ella Gilbertson are all preparing for their final stretch as Bulldogs.

DULUTH, Minn.- Like the UMD men’s team, it’s a similar story for the UMD women’s basketball team this weekend.

They’ll look to achieve revenge versus the Mustangs while also pick up another win against the Cougars.

Saturday’s game will be special to the team as they salute six seniors.

Taytum Rhoades, Madelyn Granica, Gus Boyer, Abby Johnson, Taya Hakamaki, and lastly, Ella Gilbertson are all preparing for their final stretch as Bulldogs.

Head Coach Mandy Pearson summarized as a group how much those players have meant to the program and to her.

“They’ve been incredible. It’s fun for me because I’ve been able to keep Taytum and Madelyn around for five years now. The Covid effect for us has been positive for many reasons and that’s one of them as I was able to keep them around for that 5th year. I’ve enjoyed them. They’re fun. They make me laugh. They give me a lot of crap so yeah it’s going to be a bittersweet day on Saturday for me,” said Pearson.

The Bulldogs currently sit sixth in the NSIC standings. UMD would need to crack the top four in order to receive a first round bye.

UMD’s contest against Southwest is at 5:30 on Friday. Then on Saturday, they tip things off with Sioux Falls at 3:30.