MANKATO, Minn.   —   Minnesota State women’s basketball team (4-0, 1-0 NSIC) will continue its four-game homestand as it hosts Winona State (7-1, 1-0 NSIC) Friday, and Upper Iowa (3-4, 0-1 NSIC) Saturday.

What’s Next?: The Maverick women’s basketball team is 30-14 all time against Winona State and had dropped three of the last four meetings with the Warriors. MSU  has not lost to Upper Iowa in program history, currently boasting a 10-0 all-time record against the Peacocks.

Looking Back:  The Mavericks are in the midst of a four-game homestand, in which they will see three conference match-ups. MSU downed Concordia-St. Paul last Saturday by a score of 85-66 to improve to 4-0 on the season and 1-0 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. The Mavericks were led by Ali Wilkinson who recorded a game-high 22 points and was able to haul-in seven rebounds.

Just A Reminder: The start time for Saturday’s game has been pushed back from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

A Little About Winona: Winona State is currently 7-1 on the season with its lone loss coming by way of St. Mary. Last weekend the Warriors downed the Peacocks 67-48 to pick up their first conference win of the 2012-13 campaign. Winona State currently has three athletes averaging double-digit points, led by senior Becca Friestleben who is averaging 17.5 points per game. The Warriors are coached by Scott Ballard who is in his eighth season at the helm of the program.

What’s a Peacock: The Upper Iowa University women’s basketball team is currently 3-4 on the season and 0-1 in conference play. The Peacocks are currently on a three-game losing streak, with two of the three losses coming at the hands of Winona State, most recently a 70-40 loss at the hands of the Warriors, last weekend in Winona, Minn. The Peacocks are led by sophomore Whitney Kieffer who is averaging 18.7 points per game. Upper Iowa is coached by Carol Russel who is in her third season as head coach. Russel currently sports a 7-52 record at Upper Iowa, with a mark of 4-41 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.

20-Something: Among active players, there have been four, 20-point games. Junior forward Ali Wilkinson leads the way with three.

20-Point Games by Active Mavericks
12/1/12 Ali Wilkinson vs. Concordia-St. Paul 22 points
2/11/12 Aubrey Davis at Concordia-St. Paul 22 points
1/29/11 Ali Wilkinson vs. Upper Iowa 20 points
1/15/11 Ali Wilkinson at University of Mary 20 points

Home Sweet Home: The Mavericks are 2-0 at home this season, averaging 89 points while giving up 61. The Mavericks are shooting 56% from the floor and 53% from behind the arc at home and average 34 rebounds per contest, owning a +8 rebounding margin.
    Junior guard Ali Wilkinson leads the way for the Mavericks at home, averaging 18.5 points per game and six rebounds per contest in the Taylor Center.

Team Highs at Home
Points: 93, Gustavus Adolphus (11/26)
Tot. Rebs.: 37, Concordia-St. Paul (12/1)
Off. Rebs.:12, Gustavus Adolphus (11/26)
Def. Rebs.: 27, Concordia-St. Paul (12/1)
FG %: 60% Gustavus Adolphus (11/26)
3pt FG%: 65% Gustavus Adolphus (11/26)
FT %: 75% Concordia-St. Paul (12/1)

Away From Home: Minnesota State is 2-0 in games played away from the Taylor Center this season. As a unit, MSU is averaging 85 points per game on the road and 44.5 rebounds.
    Junior forward Ali Wilkinson is leading the Mavericks on the road, averaging a double-double with a 13.5 point and 11.5 rebounds per road game this season.

Team Highs on the Road
Points: 91, Black Hills State (11/16)
Rebounds: 47, S.D. Mines (11/17)
Off. Rebounds: 16, Black Hills State (11/16)
Def. Rebounds: 32, S.D. Mines (11/17)
FG %: 47%, Black Hills State (11/16)
3pt FG%: 39%, Black Hills State (11/16)
FT %: 81%, S.D. Mines (11/17)

I Love The ‘80s: Under Emilee Thiesse, MSU is 3-0 (1.000) when it has scored at least 80 points, when it has limited its opponents to 80 points or less, Minnesota State is 4-0 (1.000) in that same span.

More Threes Please: Minnesota State’s 17 made three-point shots against Gustavus Adolphus, marks a single-game high, breaking the previous record of 16 against the University of South Dakota (1/13/96), the Mavericks won that contest by a score of 104-68.

Leading the League: The Mavericks currently lead the NSIC in five statistical categories, including, scoring offense (87.0 p/g), field goal percentage (.510), assists (21.75 p/g), defensive rebounds (30.00 p/g), and three-point shots made (10.5 p/g).

Dropping Dimes: Junior guard Alli Hoefer scored 14 points and recorded 10 assists in the Mavericks 93-56 win over Gustavus Adolphus, the 10 assists marks a career-high for Hoefer who currently leads the NSIC in assists per game, averaging 6.25 through the first four contests of the 2012-13 campaign

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