What’s Up This Weekend: Minnesota State will bring in the new year with a game against MSU Moorhead on Saturday at 4 p.m. The Mavericks will continue action on Sunday against Minnesota, Crookston at 2 p.m. Both games will be played at the Taylor Center.

MSU Moorhead: The Dragons (7-2, 4-1 NSIC) have lost only one game in the conference to Wayne State. MSU-M averages 73.2 points a game, while giving up an average of 64.4 points. MSU Moorhead averages 42.4 rebounds, shoots a 43.1 field goal percentage and 37.4 percent from beyond the arc. Nine of the 13 players on the team are underclassmen. The Dragons are led by junior Angie Jetvig who leads the conference averaging 19.9 points per game and is tied fourth in the conference with averaging 8.0 rebounds per game. Senior Betsy Dickson averages 8.8 points per game and shoots a 46.9 three-point percentage this season. Karla Nelson is in her 11th season as head coach for the Dragons, with ten consecutive winning seasons.

MSU Moorhead/ Minnesota State history: In a series which dates back to 1977, the Mavericks hold a 20-14 record and have claimed four of the last five games. The two teams split last season as the Dragons won a home 74-82, with Minnesota State winning at the Taylor Center 73-65. Of the last ten times the teams have met, MSU Moorhead has won six games. The longest streak in the series is seven games, held by Minnesota State from 1978-81.
 
Golden Eagles: Minnesota, Crookston (4-5, 1-4 NSIC) is on a three game skid coming into the weekend. The Golden Eagles average 77.3 points per game and are shooting 46.4 percent this season. Crookston averages 6.4 three-pointers a game, shooting 42 percent from downtown. All the Golden Eagles players are from Minnesota, a roster which includes eight of the 13 players are underclassmen. Minnesota, Crookston has four players averaging over ten points per game, including senior guard Jamie Zelinsky, who averages 16.6 points per game. Fellow senior Bri Zabel, averages 14.3 points and 30 minutes a game. Sophomore Laurie Tyson leads Minnesota, Crookston in rebounding averaging 7.1 boards per game. The Golden Eagles are coach by Mike Roysland.

Minnesota, Crookston/ MSU History: The Mavericks record a 8-4 mark against the Golden Eagles. Last season the teams split, each receiving a win on its home court, with Crookston winning 74-88 at home and MSU winning 76-68 at the Taylor Center. Minnesota State has won four of the last five games against the Golden Eagles.

All-Time: The 2010-11 season marks the 46th year of women’s basketball as a varsity sport at Minnesota State. MSU currently holds a 583-526(.525) and has made three NCAA Tournament Appearances in 1986, 2008 and 2009. In 2009, the Minnesota State won its first women’s basketball national championship.

Where We Call Home: The Minnesota State women’s basketball team has called the friendly confines of Bresnan Arena at Taylor Center home for 11 seasons now. MSU is off to a 3-2 this season at the Taylor Center. All-time, the Mavericks are 83-57 (.593) at Taylor Center, including a 16-2 mark in the 2008-09 season.