MANKATO, Minn. --- The No. 12 Minnesota State women's basketball team improved to 6-1 on the season with a 3-0 mark in league play with a 101-66 win over Upper Iowa Friday evening and earned a 67-59 win over Winona State on Saturday to extend its home winning streak to 20 games. The Mavericks currently boast the nation's seventh-best scoring average, posting 89.1 points per game.
MSU was led by senior Ali Wilkinson (Blue Mounds, Wis.), the senior forward posted back-to-back 20 point games, as she tallied 22 points and six rebounds against Upper Iowa and finished the weekend with a 24-point, nine rebound effort against Winona State.
Collectively, the Mavericks connected on 45% of their shots from the field, 31% from behind the arc, 76% from the charity stripe and only committed 17 turnovers to their opponents 43. MSU dished-out 43 helpers to Upper Iowa and Winona State's combined 30.
Scouting the Wildcats: No. 17 Wayne State is coached by Chris Kielsmeier, who is in his sixth season at the helm of the Wildcat Basketball Program, he currently boasts a 126-35 overall record. WSC is currently 10-0 on the season, with a mark of 3-0 in conference action, including a 70-65 win over Augustana.
The Wildcats are led by junior Jordan Spencer, who is averaging 20.2 points and 7.5 rebounds per contest. WSC is connecting on 50% of its shots from the field and 37% of its shots from behind the arc through its first 10 contest of the 2013-14 campaign.
Scouting the Vikings: The No. 10 Vikings are coached by David Krauth, who is in his 24th season as head coach and has a 499-217 record to his name. A season ago Augustana finished the season ranked fourth in the WBCA Top-25 Poll, after claiming the NCAA Division II Central Region title.
Augie is led by a pair of guards in Emily Schulte and Shaunteva Ashley, who are averaging 14.6 and 13.7 points per game. Collectively, the Vikings are shooting 43% from the field and 35% from behind the arc, respectively. Augustana's only loss came at the hands of the Wayne State Wildcats, who claimed a 70-65 win in Wayne, Neb., earlier this season.
100: Senior forward Ali Wilkinson competed in her 100th game this past weekend for the Mavericks. Of those 100 games, Wilkinson has started 69, and is shooting 51% from the field and averaging 12.6 points per game.
Your Language is Offensive: The Mavericks will enter this weekend boasting the league's best offensive average, tallying 89.1 points per game and will face the league's fourth and fifth offensive teams in Wayne State and Augustana, who are averaging 84.1 and 83.7 points per game, respectively.
In the Polls: The Minnesota State University women's basketball team continued its ascent and is tied for No. 12 in the Women's Basketball Coaches Association Top-25 Poll released Tuesday, the Mavericks finished the 2012-13 campaign ranked No. 17, which was a season-high.
No. 12 marks the highest WBCA ranking under second-year head coach Emilee Thiesse.
Week Pos. (1st Place Votes)
Preseason 23
Week 1 24
Week 2 17
Week 3 13
Week 4
T12
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