MANKATO, Minn. --- The Minnesota State women's basketball team is set to take on No. 12 Augustana in the quarterfinals of the NSIC / Sanford Health Tournament at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Sunday. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m.

Survive and Advance: The Mavericks (13-16, 10-12 NSIC) went on the road and bounced Minnesota Duluth, 65-59, in the first round of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Tournament. Senior Claire Jordan led Minnesota State with a game-high 19 points. Senior Claire Ziegler tallied her third straight double-double with a team-best 13 rebounds and 11 points. 

Finishing Strong: Minnesota State enters the quarterfinals on a five-game win streak and has won seven of their last nine games. Over that stretch, the Mavericks won four games at Taylor Center and have outscored their opponents by 9.6 points per game. Three players have averaged double figures in scoring during the stretch: senior Claire Ziegler (12.6), sophomore Taylor Klug (12.2), and senior Claire Jordan  (12.0). 

Impact Mavericks: Senior Claire Ziegler leads Minnesota State in points per game (12.4) and rebounds (8.1). Sophomore Taylor Klug is averaging 10.3 points and ranks sixth in the NSIC in steals per game with 1.5. Senior Claire Jordan is also netting double figures with 10.4 points per game. 

Stat Pack: Minnesota State is ranked fourth in the NSIC in rebounding (39.2) and first in offensive rebounds (14.0). The Mavericks are also totaling 66.2 points per game which ranks seventh in the NSIC.  

Mavericks in the NSIC Tournament: Since the 2012-13 season, Minnesota State is 8-5 in NSIC Tournament games and reached the championship game in the 2012-13 season. This season marks the first time since the 2014-15 season that MSU has advanced past the first round. Minnesota State finished the 2014-15 campaign falling to Northern State, 58-52, in the NSIC Tournament semifinals. One week later, the Mavericks season came to a close in the NCAA Central Regional falling to Fort Hays State, 74-57, in Hays, Kansas.

Looking Back: Earlier this season, Minnesota State fell to No. 12 Augustana on the road, 79-60, in its most recent encounter. Senior Claire Ziegler fueled the Mavericks with 12 points, six rebounds, and two steals. Sophomore Taylor Klug added 12 points, while junior Monica Muth chipped in 11 points and seven rebounds. 

All-NSIC Second Team: Seniors Claire Jordan and Claire Ziegler were named to the All-NSIC Second Team earlier this week. 

Jordan, a native of Green Bay, Wis., has appeared in and started 27 games this season averaging 10.4 points per game in 24.8 minutes per contest. She has reached double figures in scoring in her last three games and 12 total times this season. Jordan's season was highlighted by a career-high 30 point game against Southwest Minnesota State on Jan. 20. The guard shot 70.6% from the field (12-17) and 60.0% (3-5) from downtown against the Mustangs. Earlier this season, Jordan also received NSIC Myles Brand Award honors. 

Ziegler, a native of Mankato, Minn., has appeared in 25 games including 24 starts and leads Minnesota State in scoring (12.4 ppg) and rebounding (8.1 rbg). She has recorded a double-double in her last three games and 11 total times this season. Ziegler ranks in the top-20 in four statistical categories in the NSIC this season. The forward is sixth in rebounds per game (8.1), seventh in steals per contest (1.5), 17th in points per game (12.4), and 17th in blocked shots per contest (.9). Additionally, she has reached the double-figure scoring plateau 20 times this season.

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 991 points in 94 career games. Lisa Walters (84-88) is the all-time leader with 2,072 career points

Facing the Top-25: The Mavericks are 0-2 this season when facing a Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) top-25 opponent. Most recently, Minnesota State fell to No. 12 Augustana, 79-60, on Jan. 5. 

Scouting Augustana: Augustana (24-3, 19-3 NSIC) is located in Sioux Falls, S.D., and enters the week ranked No. 12 in the WBCA Poll. Most recently, the Vikings rolled past Bemidji State, 94-57, in the first round of the NSIC Tournament. Dave Krauth leads Augustana in his 28th season. 

As a team, Augustana sets the standard in the NSIC with 81.0 points per game in comparison to their opponents 61.5. The Vikings are also pulling down 38.8 rebounds per contest which ranks fifth in the NSIC. 

Minnesota State has dropped its last six games against Augustana. The Vikings also lead the all-time series, 46-29. 

-30-