MANKATO, Minn. --- The Minnesota State women's basketball team (9-3, 6-2 NSIC) will take to the road to play the first two games of a four-game road trip this weekend.  Friday night, the Mavericks will travel to Sioux Falls, S.D., to face off against the #14 Cougars with tip-off scheduled for 5:30 p.m.  Then on Saturday, MSU will travel to Marshall, Minn, to match up with the Southwest Minnesota State Mustangs, tip-off scheduled for 4:00 p.m.
 
Mavericks at a Glance: Minnesota State (9-3, 6-2 NSIC), enters the week with a 9-3 record after picking up a pair of wins over Bemidji State and the University of Mary last weekend.  With those wins, the Mavericks have won eight of their last 10 games.

Stat Pack: As a team, Minnesota State is averaging 79.9 points per game in comparison to its opponents' 68.3. Additionally, the Mavericks average 43.3 rebounds per game and dish out 15.3 assists per game while stealing the ball 13.2 times per game.

Impact Mavericks: Senior guard Kirstin Klitzke is the leading scorer for the Mavericks, averaging 11.5 points per game as well as averaging 2.7 rebounds per game.  Junior forward Tayla Stuttley the team's second leading scorer, averaging 10.2 points per game as well as a team leading 2.9 assists per game.  Junior forward Rachel Shumski is the leading rebounder for the Mavericks, averaging 6.2 boards per game while adding 8.9 points per game. 

Youth Movement: Several underclassmen are making an early impact for the Mavericks this season. Center Kristi Fett is averaging 8.3 points per game while also averaging 5.3 rebounds a game.  Freshman guard Shea Fuller is averaging 6.5 points per game this season while sophomore forward Mikayla Nachazel has averaged 3.1 points and 2.5 rebounds per game off the bench.  Freshman guard Joey Batt is averaging 7.9 points per game to go along with 1.8 steals per contest.

Bench Squad: The bench players for the Mavericks have outscored their opponents 462-216 to date this season.

Scouting #14 Sioux Falls:  Sioux Falls is located in Sioux Falls, S.D., and is currently 13-2 (6-2 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 12th season as the leader of the program.  The Cougars are currently ranked 14th in the WBCA Coaches Poll.

As a team this season, the Cougars net 76.3 points per game in comparison to their opponents' 65.8. Sioux Falls also snatches 37.7 rebounds and dishes out 14.7 assists per contest. 

The Cougars are led by senior guard Kaely Hummel who averages 17.7 points per game and 2.1 rebounds per game. Senior forward Jacey Huinker is the leading rebounder for the Beavers, averaging 8.6 boards per game to go along with 5.9 points per contest.

Friday's game will mark the 16th all-time meeting between these two programs, the most recent of which was a 66-61 home loss for the Mavericks earlier this season. 

Scouting Southwest Minnesota State:  Southwest Minnesota State is located in Marshall, Minn., and is currently 6-7 (1-7 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 fourth season as the leader of the program.  

As a team this season, the Mustangs net 68.3 points per game in comparison to their opponents' 67.6. SMSU also snatches 41.2 rebounds and dishes out 10.1 assists per contest. 

The Mustangs are led by junior guard Maleah Reinhart who is averaging 15.6 points per game as well as 5.0 boards per game. Junior center Abuk Akoi is the team leader in rebounds per game, averaging 8.4 to go along with 8.3 points per contest.

Friday's game will mark the 51st all-time meeting between these two programs, the most recent of which was an 76-60 home win for the Mavericks earlier this season. 

Looking Ahead: Next weekend, Minnesota State will wrap up the four-game road trip with games against Minnesota Duluth and St. Cloud State.  Friday night, the Mavericks will take on the conference leading Bulldogs with tip-off scheduled for 5:30 p.m.  Saturday, MSU will face off against the Huskies with tip-off scheduled for 3:30 p.m.