Mankato, Minn. --- The Minnesota State women's basketball team will host Minot State on Wednesday at 6 p.m., which will mark as the first round in the NSIC/Sanford Health Basketball Tournament.

The Mavericks earned the #2 seed from the south division after wrapping up their regular season schedule this past weekend. MSU finished with a 19-8 overall record and a 16-6 record in NSIC play.

This Past Weekend: The Mavericks wrapped up their regular season schedule by  going 1-1 this past weekend at Sioux Falls and Southwest Minnesota State. 

In Friday's game at USF, the Mavericks fell by the score 74-62, before defeating SMSU on Saturday by the score of 83-64. In the win, senior forward Lexie Ulfers led the way with team-high 21 points, along with five rebounds and four blocks.

Scouting the Beavers: Minot State finished its regular season with 12-16 overall record and a 7-15 record in NSIC play. The Beavers placed seventh in the NSIC north division. MISU is coached by Sheila Green Gerding who is currently in her 20th season and has racked up a 334-222 all-time record at the helm.

Earlier this season, the Mavericks got the best of the Beavers at Taylor Center, as MSU took down MISU by the score of 75-61. It was a tale of two halves in the game, as in the first half the Beavers built a 10-point lead over the Mavericks and were able to shoot  an impressive 52% from the field, while MSU shot just 29% in the first half. In the second half, it was night and day for the Purple and Gold, as they were able erase a six-point halftime deficit and outscore the Beavers by 20 in the second frame. MSU shot 50% from the field in the second half, compared to MISU shooting just 36%.

For the season, Minot State is averaging just under 66 points a game, while it gives up almost 65 points a game, which places them fourth in the NSIC in scoring defense.  The Beavers also rank second in the conference in field goal percentage, shooting 45% from the field. while holding their opponents to 39% from the field. 
MISU also averages 3.6 made three's a game, while it holds a 2.6 rebounding margin and averages a -1.9 turnover margin this season.

The Beavers have two players this year averaging double-figures in sophomore guard Alex Haley and senior forward Christina Boag. Each one is averaging 11.1 points a game, while Haley is also putting up 2.6 assists and is shooting 50% from the field, with Boag leading the team with 6.5 rebounds a game and 45 steals on the year.

Some other key players for the Beavers are senior forward Katie Hardy and sophomore guard Diondra Denton. Hardy is averaging 9.5 points and 5.1 rebounds, while Denton is putting 9.1 points and 4.2 rebounds a game.

A Year Ago at this Time: Last year the Mavericks were able to earn the #2 seed from the south division in the NSIC conference tournament, after finishing second in the NSIC south division standings during the regular season. MSU was able to advance to the semifinals of the tournament after defeating Minnesota Crookston and the University of Mary and before falling to Northern State in the semifinals.

Through the Season: The Mavericks went into halftime leading 18 times this regular season and ended up posting a 15-3 record. When trailing at halftime, MSU went 4-5 in games. 

Potent Offense: The Mavericks rank third in the NSIC in scoring offense, averaging 74 points a game.

Team Rebounding: MSU sits in fifth  in the NSIC this week in total rebounds, as the Mavericks are averaging 40 boards a game. 

Three-Point Shooting: MSU places second in three-point percentage coming into the week, shooting 36% from behind the arc. The Mavericks also sit in fourth in the conference in made threes per game with 7.2 a game. 

Dropping Dimes: The Mavericks currently rank fifth in the NSIC in assists per game, with 15.41 a game.

From Deep: Senior guard Ashley Olson  qualifies for first coming into week in the NSIC in three-point field percentage with 39% (55-110). Olson also ranks sixth in the conference in made three-point field goals per game 2.0, while senior guard Aubrey Davis ranks eighth with 1.9 a game.

Assisting the Way:  Senior guard Aubrey Davis finds herself currently second in the NSIC in assists per game with 4.7, after tallying 12 more assists this past weekend.

Block Party: senior forward Lexie Ulfers currently sits in third in the NSIC in block shots per game with 2.0.

Pick Pocketer: Senior guards Aubrey Davis and Ashley Olson both find themselves in the top-ten in the NSIC in steals per game this week as Davis sits in seventh after tallying 1.8 a game and Olson places in tenth with 1.7 per game.
 
Minnesota State History: The 2014-15 season will mark the 49th season in Minnesota State women's basketball program history, dating back to 1966. During that span MSU has totaled an all-time record of 677-563 (.545).

Walking the Sidelines: Head coach Emilee Thiesse is in her third season at MSU. In her three years here, she has amassed a 68-20 (.772) overall record, including a 2012-13 NCAA Tournament appearance in her first year. She is also 52-14 (.787) in NSIC games.

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