MANKATO, Minn. --- The Minnesota State women's basketball team (5-5, 2-4 NSIC) will spend the weekend in N.D. as it faces off against Minot State (5-7, 0-6 NSIC) , Friday, at 5:30 p.m., before taking on the University of Mary (7-2, 5-1 NSIC) , Saturday, at 5:30 p.m. 
 
Mavericks at a Glance: Minnesota State (5-5, 2-4 NSIC), enters the week after coming up short against Concordia-St. Paul 65-54 last Sunday, despite overcoming a 14-point lead in the third quarter.  

Impact Mavericks: Junior forward Taylor Drost is the leading scorer for the Mavericks, averaging 11.0 points per game, including a career best 21-point outing against the Michigan Tech Huskies. Sophomore forward Rachel Shumski is the second leading scorer on the team averaging 10.3 points per game and is the second leading rebounder for the team averaging 6.8 rebounds per game.  Sophomore forward Brooke Tonsfeldt is averaging the most rebounds with 7.6 per game and also is averaging 2.3 steals per game.

Freshman Fire: Several freshmen are making an early impact for the Mavericks this season.  Center Kristi Fett is averaging 4.1 points per game while also averaging 4.3 rebounds a game and leading the team with 8 blocks. Guard Rylee Menster is averaging 6.1 points per game while shooting 48.8% from the floor and has made the second most free throws on the team with 15.

Stat Pack: As a team Minnesota State is averaging 75 points per game in comparison to its opponents' 66.6. Additionally, the Mavericks average 45 rebounds per game and dish out 16.1 assists per game.

Scouting Minot State:  Minot State is located in Minot, N.D., and is currently 5-7 (0-6 NSIC) on the season. The Beavers are members of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). Minot State is led by head coach Mark Graupe who is in his second season with the program.

As a team this season, the Beavers net 65.7 points per game in comparison to its opponents' 64.8. Minot State also snatches 35.8 rebounds and dishes out 16.5 assists per contest. 

The Beavers are led by senior guard Madison Wald who is averaging 14.6 points and 4.7 rebounds per game.  Senior guard Kari Clements is the second leading scorer for the team averaging 12.4 points per game. 

Friday's game will mark the 8th all-time meeting between these two programs, the most recent of which was a 72-54 win for the Mavericks last season.

Scouting University of Mary:  The University of Mary is located in Bismarck, N.D., and is currently 7-2 (5-1 NSIC) on the season. The Marauders are members of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). U-Mary is led by head coach Rick Nuemann who is in his seventh season as the leader of the program.  

As a team this season, the Marauders net 73.9 points per game in comparison to its opponents' 62.8. U-Mary also snatches 38.1 rebounds and dishes out 15.9 assists per contest. 

The Marauders are led by junior forward Gabbie Bohl who is averaging 19.7 points and 9.8 rebounds per game.  Junior forward Cassie Askvig is the second leading scorer for the team averaging 17.4 points per game as well as 8.2 rebounds per game.  

Saturday's game will mark the 14th all-time meeting between these two programs, the most recent of which was a 90-84 overtime loss by the Mavericks last season. 

Looking Ahead: Minnesota State will return home next weekend to take on Sioux Falls Friday, Jan. 11, at 5:30 p.m., before hosting Southwest Minnesota State Saturday, at 3:30 p.m.