Mankato, Minn. --- The Minnesota State women's basketball team will tip-off its 2014-15 regular season this weekend. The Mavericks will host a pair of nonconference opponents in #20 Central Missoiri on Friday at 7 p.m., before turning their attention to Metropolitan State on Sunday at 4 p.m.

The Mavericks, who are looking to improve on their 23-6 record from a year ago, began their season with a pair of exhibition games against Creighton and UW-Eau Claire. MSU lost at Creighton, 85-68 last Wednesday before coming back home to beat UW-Eau Claire, 86-47.

Scouting the Jennies: This will mark the fourth meeting between the two schools in program history as the Mavericks are leading the all-time series, 2-1. However, CMU owns the latest bragging rights as they took down MSU in last year's season opener, 96-88 in Warrensburg, Mo. 

The Jennies are coached by Dave Slifer, who is entering his 10th season at the job. Last year, CMU finished with 26-5 overall record and a 17-2 MIAA conference record, which was good enough for them to finish first in the conference at the end of the regular season. The Jennies made it to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, before being ousted by Concordia-St. Paul, 85-60. 

#20 Central Missouri returns three starters from last years squad. Leading the way offensively for the Jennies. is junior guard Shelby Winkelmann. She is the returning leading scorer for the Jennies as she averaged 10.8 points a game while connecting on 42% (28-66) of her shots from beyond the arc and logging 25.3 minutes a game.  The enforcer down low for the Jennies is senior forward Revonnia Howard. The senior averaged close to a double-double last season as she posted 9.9 points and 9.4 rebounds a game, while shooting 49% (130-264) from the field.

Scouting the Roadrunners: This meeting with Metropolitan State will mark the fifth all-time meeting between the two schools in program history. The Mavericks own a 3-1 overall record over the Roadrunners, as the last game occurred a year ago with MSU coming out victorious in the game, 75-63.

Metropolitan State out of Denver, Colo. is coached by Tanya Haave who is entering her fourth year at the helm. Last year the Roadrunners tied for sixth in the Rocky Mountain Conference (RMAC) with a 12-10 conference record and a 13-14 overall record. 

MSU Denver lost four starters from last years team. The lone returing starter for the Roadrunners is senior center Deni Jacobs. A year ago, she averaged 6.3 points and 5.0 rebounds a game, including two double-doubles, while connecting on 46% (65-140) of her shots from the field .

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