MANKATO, Minn.   —  The Minnesota State women’s basketball team (16-4, 12-4 NSIC) returns to the friendly confines of Taylor Center as it looks to improve on its mark of 9-0 this season in Bresnan Arena as the Mavericks host Bemidji State (9-11,5-11 NSIC) and Minnesota, Crookston (7-13, 4-12 NSIC) in a crucial two game homestand as they look to improve on their current standings in the NSIC, in which they are tied for second with Augustana in both the Southern Division Standings and the NSIC overall standings.
 
Looking Back: The Mavericks completed the weekend sweep this past weekend as they downed the University of Mary 65-61 in overtime on Friday, and followed it up with an 83-82 win over Minot State in the first meeting in program history. Sophomore guard Aubrey Davis paced the Mavericks this past weekend as she averaged 16.5 points per game, 5.0 rebounds per game and recorded three steals on the weekend.
 
A Little on Bemidji State:  The Bemidji State women’s basketball team is currently 9-11 overall with a mark of 5-11 on the circuit. The Beavers split this past weekend at home as they downed Southwest Minnesota State 57-52, Friday evening, but fell to the University of Sioux Falls in overtime on Saturday, by a score of 82-70. Mike Curfman is in his eighth season at the helm of the program and has led the Beavers to a 71-120 overall record. Junior guard Morgan Lee leads the charge for the Beavers, she is averaging 14.2 points and 2.5 rebounds per game.
 
Scouting Minnesota, Crookston: Minnesota, Crookston is currently 7-13 overall and 4-12 in conference play. The Golden Eagles swept the University of Sioux Falls (76-59) and Southwest Minnesota State (76-72) at home this past weekend earning their sixth and seventh wins of the season. The two wins marked the end of a seven game skid dating back to Jan. 5. Minnesota, Crookston is coached by Miky Roysland who is in his seventh year at the head of the Golden Eagle women’s basketball program. Minnesota, Crookston is led by senior guard Brittani Wiese who is averaging 12.3 points and 4.3 rebounds per contest. She is the only Golden Eagle averaging double-digit points.
 
Turning the table: MSU currently leads the NSIC in turnover margin boasting a +6.20 over its opponents. The Mavericks forced then-ranked eighth Augustana to commit 26 turnovers while only committing 10, owning a +16 turnover margin.
In the Polls: The Minnesota State University women’s basketball team has received some love in the USA Today Division II Top-25 coaches poll. The Mavericks started receiving votes in the week one poll and have been ranked as high as No. 20. MSU is currently receiving votes in the latest edition of the poll.

Week                       Pos.
Preseason                  -
Week 1                    RV (10)
Week 2                    RV (27)
Week 3                    RV (39)
Week 4                    RV (95)
Week 5                    RV (88)
Week 6                    24
Week 7                    20
Week 8                    RV (19)
Week 9                    RV (20)
 
Tremendous Turnovers: Through 20 games this season the Mavericks have turned the ball over 320 times, compared to 445 by their opponents, owning a +125 margin in the turnover column. In Taylor Center the Mavericks own a +74 turnover ratio and have committed 138 turnovers compared to 212 by their opponents. In nine games away from Taylor Center, MSU has turned the ball over 156 and has forced 186 by its opponents.
 
Earning it from the Stripe: The Mavericks finished the first half against Minnesota Duluth 1-of-5 (20%) from the charity stripe, since then MSU has converted on 102-of-123 (83%) of its shots from the free-throw line over a four and a half game span.
 
High-Powered Offense: The Minnesota State University women’s basketball team is currently ranked second in the NSIC in scoring offense, averaging 75.9 points per contest, the Mavericks are ranked 12th in the nation in the same category. Glenville State leads the nation in scoring, averaging 97.3 points per game.
 
It’s Good!: The Mavericks have been shooting the ball efficiently in the first half of the 2012-13 campaign, as they are currently ranked second in the NSIC in field goal percentage converting on 42.3% of their shots from the floor, MSU currently sits 45th in the nation in field goal percentage.
 
Leading the Way: Ali Wilkinson leads the Maverick offensive attack averaging 18.3 points per contest, which ranks her 29th in the nation in scoring, Wilkinson sits 11th in the nation in field goal percentage, making 55.4% of her shots from the floor, and also ranks 46th in the country in double-doubles this season with seven.
 
Balanced Attack: The Minnesota State women’s basketball team is currently second in the conference in scoring average, averaging just under 80 points per contest, and junior Ali Wilkinson is third  in the league in scoring, averaging 18.3 points per contest, but there are no Mavericks in the top-30 in the conference in minutes played.
 
League Honors: Junior Ali Wilkinson was named the NSIC Player of the Week Dec. 10 for her efforts against Winona State and Upper Iowa helping the Mavericks to an overall record of 6-0 and a mark of 3-0 in league play. Wilkinson posted 55 points and hauled in 27 rebounds while converting on 19-31 (61%) of her shots from the field and recorded seven assists, seven steals, two blocks and only committed one turnover in the two contests.
 
Starting Strong: The Purple and Gold started the 2012-13 campaign with a mark of 7-0 before falling to the University of Sioux Falls, Dec. 15. The 7-0 start marked  the best starting mark since the 2008-09 season when the Mavericks started 17-0, MSU went on to win a national title during that campaign.
 
20-Something: Among active players, there have been 11, 20-point games. Junior forward Ali Wilkinson leads the way with nine.
 
20-Point Games by Active Mavericks
1/26/13 Ali Wilkinson vs. Augustana 22 points
1/15/13 Ali Wilkinson vs. Concordia-St. Paul 23 points
1/12/13 Aubrey Davis vs. MSU Moorhead 23 points
1/4/13 Ali Wilkinson vs. Augustana 35 points
12/19/12 Ali Wilkinson vs. Dakota State 27 points
12/14/12 Karlee Gengenbacher vs. SW Minnesota State 22 points
12/8/12 Ali Wilkinson vs. Upper Iowa 24 points
12/7/12 Ali Wilkinson vs. Winona State 31 points
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 9-0 at home this season, averaging 78.2 points while giving up 58. The Mavericks are shooting 45% from the floor and 34% from behind the arc at home and average 38 rebounds per contest, owning a +4 rebounding margin.
        Junior Ali Wilkinson leads the way for the Mavericks at home, averaging 19.9 points per game and 8.6 rebounds per contest in Taylor Center.
 
Team Highs at Home
Points: 93, Gustavus Adolphus (11/26)
Tot. Rebs.: 52, Upper Iowa (12/8)
Off. Rebs.:24, Upper Iowa (12/8) 
Def. Rebs.: 28, , Upper Iowa (12/8)
FG %: 60% Gustavus Adolphus (11/26)
3pt FG%: 65% Gustavus Adolphus (11/26)
FT %: 94% Augustana (12/7)
 
Away From Home: Minnesota State is 7-4 in games played away from Taylor Center this season. As a unit, MSU is averaging 74 points per game on the road and 37.6 rebounds while its opponents are averaging 71.1 points and 39.6 rebounds per contest..
 
Team Highs on the Road
Points: 91, Black Hills State (11/16)
Tot. Rebs.: 47, S.D. Mines (11/17)
Off. Rebs.: 16, Black Hills State (11/16)
Def. Rebs.: 32, S.D. Mines (11/17)
FG %: 48%, Southwest Minnesota State (12/14)
3pt FG%: 46%, SW Minnesota State (12/14)
FT %: 84%, Augustana (1/4)
 
I Love The ‘80s: Under Emilee Thiesse, MSU is 8-0 (1.000) when it has scored at least 80 points. Minnesota State only allowed two opponents to reach 80 points, as Concordia-St. Paul recorded 83 in a win over the Mavericks in St. Paul on Jan. 15, but defeated Minot State 83-82 in Minot, N.D. on Feb. 2.
 
My Better Half: Minnesota State is 12-0 this year when leading at halftime.
MSU has taken a lead into halftime in 12 games this season, the Mavericks are 1-0 when they are tied going into intermission and 3-4 when they are trailing after the first half.
 
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.
 
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.
 
Changing of the Guard: Head coach Emilee Thiesse is in her first year at the helm of the MSU women’s basketball team Thiesse began her head coaching career with seven straight wins, eight current head coaches who began their coaching career at Minnesota State with a win.
 
Lori Meyer (softball): 7-0 loss at lost Texas Tech, 1985
Jim Makovsky (wrestling): 35-8 win over Iowa Central,1993
Matt Margenthaler (men’s basketball): 86-76 loss at Wisconsin Parkside, 2001
Nate Owens (women’s swimming) 163-64 win at Northern Iowa, 2004
Dennis Amundson (volleyball): 3-2 win over Michigan Tech, 2005
Peter McGahey (women’s soccer): 3-2 home win over Metro State, 2008
Matt Magers (baseball): 6-4 loss at Southwest Baptist (Mo.), 2009
Eric Means (women’s hockey): 5-2 win at Maine, 2009
Christie Williams (women’s tennis): 9-0 win vs. Bethany, 2012
 
Mike Hastings (men’s hockey): 4-1 win at Alabama-Huntsville, 2012
Emile Thiesse (women’s basketball): 91-61 win over Black Hills State, 2012
 
On The Road Again: The Minnesota State women’s basketball team finished the 2011-12 season with a 7-7 road record. The seven wins breaks a streak of two consecutive seasons that the Mavericks tallied only four road wins, after posting a 4-8 road record during the 2010-11 campaign, and a mark of 4-10 in road games during the 2009-10 season. MSU began the 2012-13 campaign with two road wins, and look to continue to improve its record away from Taylor Center.
 
Where We Call Home: The Minnesota State women’s basketball team has called the friendly confines of Bresnan Arena at the Taylor Center home for 13 seasons.  All-time, the Mavericks are 111-65 (.626) at the Taylor Center, including a 9-0 mark in the 2012-13 season.
 
Where We Stand in Terms of Career: Junior Ali Wilkinson currently leads all active Mavericks with 942 points.  Following Wilkinson is sophomore Aubrey Davis who has 425 career points 20 games into her sophomore campaign. Wilkinson also leads active Mavericks with 610 career rebounds, sophomore Jamie Bresnahan is second on the team in rebounding, and has hauled in 287 through the first 20 games of the 2012-13 season.
 
The Conference We Call Home: Minnesota State belongs to the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.  The conference is made up of 16 teams from Minnesota, South Dakota, North Dakota, Iowa and Nebraska.  The Mavericks went 13-9 in the NSIC last year as they finished in fifth place.
        MSU has a lifetime 239-204 (.539) record against NSIC opponents including winning records against eight of its conference foes.
 
 For the complete release in PDF form, click HERE./documents/2013/2/5/Feb._5_Notes.pdf?id=3977