In a counterintuitive move, fifth-seeded Regis University (26-5) will emphasize offense against No. 4 seed Northern State (24-6) of Aberdeen, S.D., at the NCAA Division II North Central Regional today at noon in Grand Forks, N.D.
“I don’t know if we can stop them; we need to outscore them,” Rangers coach Linda Raunig said.
Regis averages 76.4 points; Northern State 73.1.
Eighth-seeded Colorado State University-Pueblo (19-11) meets the top-seeded host, North Dakota (32-0), at 2 p.m.
The Rangers are led by first team all-North Central Region selection Diana Lopez, who is averaging 20.6 points per game. Lindsay Viall averages 12.4, with Aiste Slenyte and Denise Lopez at 11.6 and 11.3, respectively. Point guard Breanne Burley is healthy after recovering from a shoulder separation.
“When she sets a good tempo for our team we’re proficient offensively,” Raunig said.
Northern State is led by all-North Central second-team selection Noelle Hall, a 6-foot-1 center averaging 15.7 points.
Pueblo must defend two North Central Regional first-team selections: North Dakota’s Kristi Boese (15.3) and 6-2 center Ashley Langen (16.5). The Fighting Sioux average 82.6 points.
Pueblo counters with 6-0 center Lauren Westerman (17.7 ppg); 3-point shooting specialist Mary Rehfeld, a freshman from Alaska who scored 20 points in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Tournament win; and three Coloradans: Kerry Lewis of La Junta (10.0 ppg), Karin Hansen of Estes Park (9.5) and Kristin Heinl of Littleton (6.0).
On the men’s side, No. 6 seed Metro State (21-9) takes on No. 3 seed and 15th-ranked Northern State (25-5) in Winona, Minn., Saturday at 11 a.m.
Metro knocked Northern State out of the NCAA Tournament last season before losing in the Elite Eight to eventual national champion Virginia Union.
First-team all-RMAC guard Drew Williamson (16.9 ppg) and teammates Michael Bahl (11.3) and Greg Muth (11.1) lead the Roadrunners. Freshmen Jesse Wagstaff and Marquise Carrington made key contributions in the RMAC Tournament.
