What’s Up This Weekend: The Minnesota State Mavericks (12-13, 9-12 NSIC) head south to play its final game of the season against the Mustangs of Southwest Minnesota State Saturday evening at 6 p.m.

Scouting the Mustangs: Southwest Minnesota State (7-18, 6-15 NSIC) has been winless in February, as it has lost seven-straight games. Three of the past four games have been decided by three points or less. Although SMSU is 5-5 on its home court, it has struggled on the road by going 1-10. The Mustangs average 59 points per game, shoot 38 percent from the floor, 32 percent from downtown and shoot 70 percent from behind the free throw line. Senior guard Tori Fink is averaging 12.4 points per game to lead SMSU’s offensive attack. Fink is a 1,000 career point scorer at Southwest Minnesota State. Junior Abby Kenealy is averaging 11.2 points and 4.9 rebounds per game. Senior Laura Kramer is leading the team in rebounds averaging 6.8 per game and is shooting 44 percent from the floor.

SMSU/ MSU History: The Mavericks record a 21-14 mark against the Mustangs all-time. MSU came out ahead 69-46 in the January meeting between the two schools. Jennie Noreen scored a career-high 31 points against the Mustangs in the first meeting of the season, with  Ali Wilkinson adding a13 point, 11 rebound performance. Last Season the Mavericks managed sweep the series with a 74-62 win at the Taylor Center and a 70-54 victory at  Southwest Minnesota State. Minnesota State has won eight of the last ten meetings between the two schools. The Mavericks currently hold an eight game winning streak in the series, which is the longest between the two schools.

Last Weekend: Last Saturday Minnesota State beat Bemidji State 75-73 on a last second shot by Andrea Walsh. The senior Walsh guided the Mavericks win with eight points and five assists in the first half, ending the game with 21 points and nine assists. Four Mavericks reached double-digit points in the game to help secure the two-point victory. Freshman Alli Hoefer would score a career-high of 13 points, with Ali Wilkinson matching the 13 points. Wilkinson would earn her twelfth double-double of the season, with 13 points and 14 rebounds in the game. Friday the Mavericks lost to UMD 71-61, with Wilkinson scoring 17 points and Walsh would score 16 points against the Bulldogs.

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