2 days Ago By Eric Peterson
MOORHEAD — Minnesota State Moorhead added size and shooting to its women's basketball program. The Dragons announced this week they signed two transfer players in 6-foot-2 forward Brylie Schultz and 5-foot-8 guard Greta Hillukka. Schultz started her college career at NCAA Division II Northern State, while Hillukka played for Mayville State, an NAIA program.
“For now, unless something intriguing pops up, I think our roster is set," said Dragons head coach Karla Nelson. "I’m pretty excited about it. We have good talent and it should be a fun year for us.
” The Dragons posted a 14-16 record this past season, advancing to the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference quarterfinals. Schultz, from Wheaton, Minnesota, played in only five games this past season for the Wolves due to injury, her second season in the program. In 2023-24, she averaged 3.
3 points and 2.5 rebounds per game off the bench. “She has the ability to shoot that 17-footer (jump shot)," Nelson said.
"She moves pretty well. She can put the ball on the floor. She just gives us a little more dimension there.
” Schultz is likely to come off the bench for the Dragons next season, with 6-foot-2 senior Terryn Johnson returning. Johnson started for MSUM in her first three seasons in the program. Hillukka didn't play for Mayville State this past season due to a shoulder injury, but was a key reserve for the Comets during the 2023-24 season in which Mayville State advanced to the NAIA Round of 16.
Hillukka shot 45% (52 of 116) from 3-point range and averaged 6.0 points per game. “She can flat-out shoot the basketball," Nelson said.
“The fact that she can shoot the basketball is going to help us.” The Dragons shot 27% from 3-point range this past season. Hillukka, from Perham, Minnesota, was highly recommended by former Mayville State head coach Dennis Hutter, added Nelson.
Hutter is now the head coach at the University of North Dakota. “What really sold me on her was Hutter was pretty high on her," Nelson said. Hillukka said the Dragons coaching staff, players and university campus all helped play in her decision to join the program.
“All aspects kind of lined up for me," Hillukka said. Hillukka said the NSIC as a league caught her attention when she was looking for a new playing home. “My biggest strength is definitely my ability to shoot the ball," Hillukka said.
“I’m going to be in the gym a lot.” MSUM is slated to return four starters next season, including point guard Ashton Safranski, guard Karlee Fisher, forward Abby Berge and Johnson. In addition, the Dragons have signed five incoming high school recruits.
That 2025 class includes Sydney Dahl from Glenwood, Minnesota; Mara Holle, from Blaine, Minnesota; Abby John, from Barnesville, Minnesota, Julia MacAdams, from Moorhead; and Aubrey Morrison, from Walker, Minnesota. “I’m excited about our freshmen, I think they’re super talented," Nelson said. Nelson said adding experienced players like Schultz and Hillukka will help take some pressure off the incoming freshmen in filling out the playing rotation.
“They’ve been there, done that and you can’t really coach that," Nelson said. “That experience is really going to benefit us. It’s nice to be able to kind of share the load.
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