MANKATO, Minn. --- The Minnesota State women's basketball team looks to extend its two-game win streak on the road in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) play at Minnesota Duluth on Friday at 6:00 p.m. The Mavericks will conclude the road trip at St. Cloud State on Saturday. Tip-off is set for 4:00 p.m.

Mavericks at a Glance: Minnesota State (8-14, 6-10 NSIC) enters the weekend on a two-game win streak. Last weekend, the Mavericks held off Minnesota Crookston, 64-54, before charging past Bemidji State, 65-33. 

Impact Mavericks: Senior Claire Ziegler fuels Minnesota State with a team-high 12.3 points and 7.6 rebounds per game. Senior Claire Jordan is also averaging double digits in scoring with 10.0 points per contest. Junior Monica Muth adds 7.8 points and team-high 2.1 assists per game. 

Stat Pack: Minnesota State is ranked third in the NSIC in rebounding (40.2) and first in offensive rebounds (14.6). The Mavericks are slotted eighth in the NSIC in scoring with 66.2 points per contest. MSU is also passing out 10.7 assists per game. 

Heating Up: Last week, senior Claire Ziegler averaged a double-double with 14.3 points and 10.7 rebounds per game. She recorded a team-best 19 points and game-high 12 rebounds at Concordia-St. Paul. Ziegler then posted her fourth straight double-double with a team-high 12 rebounds with 11 points against Minnesota Crookston. The Mankato, Minn., native has recorded six double-doubles this season and 16 in her career. 

Ziegler by the Numbers: Senior Claire Ziegler ranks in the top-20 in four statistical categories in the NSIC this season. The forward is sixth in rebounds per game (7.6), 10th in steals per contest (1.4), 15th in blocked shots per game (1.4), and 18th in points per contest  (12.3).  

Looking Back: Minnesota State picked up four wins in the month of January including a 3-1 record at Taylor Center. The Mavericks outscored their opponents by 4.3 points and collected 42.1 rebounds per game. Minnesota State scored a season-high 84 points at U-Mary on Jan. 13 and limited Bemidji State to a season-low 33 points on Jan. 27. 

Senior Claire Ziegler led the Mavericks with 14.1 points and 9.4 rebounds per game. Senior Claire Jordan also reached the double digit scoring plateau with 12.8 points per game. The  Green Bay, Wis., native dropped a career-high 30 points against Southwest Minnesota State on Jan . 20.  
 
Pursuing 1,000: Senior Claire Ziegler is looking to become the 22nd member of the MSU 1,000-Career Point Club. The Mankato, Minn., native has totaled 914 points in 88 career games. Lisa Walters (84-88) is the all-time leader with 2,072 career points.

Creating Possessions: The Mavericks generated a season-best 18 steals last week against Bemidji State. Junior Monica Muth generated a game-high and career-best five steals. Sophomore Taylor Klug and freshman Brooke Tonsfeldt also contributed a career-best four steals each. 

Suffocating Defense: Minnesota State limited Bemidji State to a season-low 33 points last weekend. That is the fewest amount of points allowed by MSU since the 49-29 win over Minnesota Duluth on Jan. 22, 2011.

Scouting Minnesota Duluth: Minnesota Duluth (11-8, 8-7 NSIC) is located in Duluth, Minn. The Bulldogs have dropped their last four games and most recently fell at Wayne State, 76-70. Minnesota Duluth is led by third year head coach Mandy Pearson. 

As a team, the Bulldogs are totaling 66.3 points per game in comparison to their opponents' 61.7. Minnesota Duluth also adds 38.0 rebounds and 16.0 assists per contest. 

The last time these two teams met last season, Minnesota Duluth bounced Minnesota State in the first round of the NSIC Tournament, 83-73. The Bulldogs lead the all-time series, 30-28. 

Scouting St. Cloud State: St. Cloud State (12-7, 9-6 NSIC) is located in St. Cloud, Minn., and enters the week on a three-game losing skid. Most recently, the Huskies dropped a 76-74 decision at Augustana. St. Cloud State is led by Lori Fish who is in her ninth season. 

As a unit, the Huskies are averaging 65.3 points per game in comparison to their opponents 57.9. St. Cloud State is also pulling down 37.1 rebounds and handing out 13.7 assists. 

The last time these two programs met last season, Minnesota State topped St. Cloud State, 83-55. However, the Huskies hold the edge in the all-time series, 55-39.  

Looking Ahead: Minnesota State returns to Taylor Center to take on Upper Iowa on Feb. 9. Tip-off is set for 6:00 p.m.

-30-