NAIA National Tournament

ST. JOSEPH’S VS. MINNESOTA-DULUTH

Time, site: Thursday, 10:15 p.m. EST, at Oman Arena, Jackson, Tenn.

Records: St. Joseph’s 24-4, Minnesota-Duluth 25-5.

Series: First meeting.

Key players: St. Joseph’s – C Kendra Coates (18.5 ppg, 8.7 rpg), F Billie L’Heureux (15.1 ppg, 8.0 rpg), F Stephanie Carter (11.5 ppg), F Jill Bourget (8.7 ppg, 6.0 rpg), G Lisa Olsen; Minnesota-Duluth – C Dina Kangas (29.6 ppg, 12.9 rpg), F Kelli Ritzer (15.3 ppg, 6.7 rpg), G Amy Ericson (7.5 ppg, 4.9 rpg), G F Jennifer Koll (6.9 ppg, 3.7 rpg)

Outlook: Contrasting styles. St. Joe’s likes the up-tempo game while the Bulldogs will slow it down and punch it inside time and time again. A big battle underneath will involve Coates vs. Kangas. Both are 6-foot seniors seeking to extend their careers to at least one more game. Kangas is an NAIA All-American and is second in the nation in scoring. Minnesota-Duluth is ranked 14th nationally and have won 16 straight games. The Monks of Standish are ranked 17th nationally and have won five straight. A common opponent is St. Scholastica of Duluth, Minn., which M-D beat twice and St. Joe’s lost by 9.