MANKATO, Minn. --- The Minnesota State women's basketball team (5-7, 2-6 NSIC) will return home for the first time in the year 2019 to take on Sioux Falls (10-4, 5-3 NSIC) Friday, at 5:30 p.m., before facing off against Southwest Minnesota State (6-7, 3-5 NSIC) Saturday at 3:30 p.m., at Taylor Center.  Saturday's contest will also play host to Youth Autograph Night/ Mini-Mav Night where the players will be available for autographs at the conclusion of the game.
 
Mavericks at a Glance: Minnesota State (5-7, 2-6 NSIC), enters the week after coming up short against Minot State 93-87 in overtime last Friday.  Saturday, the Mavericks fell to the University of Mary 85-71.  

Impact Mavericks: Junior forward Taylor Drost is the leading scorer for the Mavericks, averaging 11.1 points per game, including a career best 21-point outing against the Michigan Tech Huskies that she also matched against the University of Mary. Sophomore forward Rachel Shumski is the second leading scorer on the team averaging 10.2 points per game and is the second leading rebounder for the team averaging 6.5 rebounds per game.  Sophomore forward Brooke Tonsfeldt is averaging the most rebounds with 7.2 per game and also is averaging 2.2 steals per game.

Freshman Fire: Several freshmen are making an early impact for the Mavericks this season. Center Kristi Fett is averaging 5.6 points per game while also averaging 4.7 rebounds a game and leading the team with 12 blocks. Guard Rylee Menster is averaging 5.8 points per game while shooting 47.9% from the floor.

Stat Pack: As a team Minnesota State is averaging 75.7 points per game in comparison to its opponents' 70.3. Additionally, the Mavericks average 44.7 rebounds per game and dish out 15.8 assists per game and steal the ball 9.7 times per game.  

Scouting Sioux Falls:  Sioux Falls is located in Sioux Falls, S.D., and is currently 10-4 (5-3 NSIC) on the season. The Cougars are members of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). Sioux Falls is led by head coach Travis Traphagen who is in his 11th season with the program.

The Cougars and Mavericks have played once this season, an 80-68 win for Sioux Falls on Dec. 4th.  In that game Rachel Shumski finished with a double-double, 12 points and 13 rebounds, while Brooke Tonsfeldt added 14 points of her own.  The Cougars were led by Kaely Hummel and Mariah Szymanski who each scored 20 points in the contest.  

As a team this season, the Cougars net 72.6 points per game in comparison to its opponents' 57.4. Sioux Falls also snatches 39.1 rebounds and dishes out 14.1 assists per contest. 

The Cougars are led by junior guard Kaely Hummel who is averaging 15.6 points per game.  Junior guard Mariah Szymanski is the second leading scorer for the team averaging 8.4 points per game while freshman guard Hanna Jones leads the team in rebounding with 5.9 per game

Friday's game will mark the 14th all-time meeting between these two programs.

Scouting Southwest Minnesota State:  Southwest Minnesota State is located in Marshall, Minn., and is currently 6-7 (3-5 NSIC) on the season. The Mustangs are members of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). SMSU is led by head coach Tom Webb who is in his third season as the leader of the program.  

The Mavericks and Mustangs met earlier this season, a game that Southwest Minnesota State won 74-73 when a layup attempt came off the glass strong that would have won the game for the Mavericks.

As a team this season, the Mustangs net 69.9 points per game in comparison to its opponents' 70.1. Southwest Minnesota State also snatches 38.7 rebounds and dishes out 11.5 assists per contest. 

The Mustangs are led by junior forward Caleigh Rodning who is averaging 15.1 points and 7.8 rebounds per game.  Sophomore guard Cassie Askvig is the second leading scorer for the team Maleah Reinhart 10.4 points per game.  

Saturday's game will mark the 49th all-time meeting between these two programs.

Looking Ahead: Minnesota State will remain home next weekend to take on Minnesota Duluth, Jan. 18, at 5:30 p.m., before hosting St. Cloud State Saturday, at 3:30 p.m.