MANKATO, Minn.   —   Minnesota State looks to return to its winning ways this weekend when it travels to face Winona State Friday at 6 p.m., before wrapping up the month Saturday against Upper Iowa University at 6 p.m.

Win Streak Snapped: Minnesota State (12-5, 8-5 NSIC) went 0-2 last week, suffering its first loss since Dec. 9, as the Mavericks lost 72-71 Friday night against Bemidji State before falling 56-54 the following night against Minnesota Duluth. Four Mavericks averaged double-digits over the weekend as freshman forward Jamie Bresnahan paced the team with 12.5 points per game.  She shot 47.8 percent from the field while also pulling down 4.0 rebounds per contest.  Senior forward Laura Weber scored 12.0 points per game while grabbing a team-best 7.0 rebounds per contest.  Senior guard Jennie Noreen tallied 11.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per game while leading the Mavericks with five three pointers made (5-12, 41.7 3FG%).  The fourth and final Maverick averaging more than ten points was freshman guard Aubrey Davis who contributed 11.0 points and 3.0 rebounds per game.   

Upcoming Opponents: Friday, Minnesota State looks to bounce back from its 0-2 record from the previous week when it faces Winona State.  Sitting 11-8 overall, 6-7 in the NSIC, the Warriors have lost their last two games having won their previous four games before the two-game slide.  WSU enters the game against MSU off a 57-55 loss against Augustana.  The Mavericks own a 29-13 record in the all-time series between the schools but have only won once in the last four meetings as they won earlier this season, 66-55.  MSU outscored Winona State, 43-22 in the second half of that game as they battled back to earn the win at the Taylor Center.  Noreen led the way with 19 points while adding four assists, three rebounds and four steals.  Saturday, the Mavericks face Upper Iowa which sits at the bottom of the NSIC with a 1-16 overall record and a 1-12 conference record.  The Peacocks lone win came on Jan. 8 in a 62-44 win against Concordia as they will play Southwest Minnesota State Friday before hosting the Mavericks.  MSU holds a 9-0 record in the all-time series between the two schools with the most recent win coming earlier this season on Dec. 16 in a 83-67 contest at the Taylor Center.  The Mavericks were led in the first meeting this season by Weber who recorded a career-high 23 points on 11-of-15 from the field while earning a double-double recording 11 rebounds.

Scouting the Warriors: The Warriors, coached by Scott Ballard, are led by Michelle McDonald who is fifth in the NSIC with 15.3 points per game.  McDonald is connecting on 53.9 percent of her attempts while also leading the team with 6.8 rebounds per game.  The Warriors are led from long range by Becca Friestleben who is 37-of-97 (39.6 3FG%) from downtown which is 14th-best in the NSIC.  Setting up the Warrior scorers is Katie Wolff who is fifth in the NSIC with 3.7 assists per game.  Wolff is also tied with Friestleben for second-most points on the team with 8.7 per contest.  The Warriors average 64.0 points per game on 42.4 percent from the floor while allowing opponents 54.8 points on 40.1 percent shooting.

Scouting the Peacocks: The Peacocks, coached by Carol Russell, are led by two players averaging double-digit scoring.  Whitney Kieffer leads the team with 14.1 points (eighth-most in the NSIC) and 6.4 rebounds per game.  Kieffer is shooting 35.9 percent from the floor, 77.8 percent from the free-throw line, while leading the team with 2.06 steals per game which is fourth-most in the conference.  Joining Kieffer in double-digit scoring is Jeri Jacobson who averages 13.1 points and is second on the team with 6.2 rebounds per game.  Jacobson leads the Peacocks with 33 assists and is second with 25 made three pointers (25-55, 45.5 3FG%).  UIU is averaging a league-low 59.8 points per game while shooting a league-worst 33.1 percent from the field.  The Peacocks are allowing opponents 73.6 points per contest on 42.5 percent shooting.

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