MANKATO, Minn. --- The Minnesota State women's basketball team (0-0, 0-0 NSIC) will open the season at home with a pair of non-conference games against Bethany Lutheran women's basketball team (0-0, 0-0 UMAC) Tuesday with tip-off scheduled for 6:00 p.m., Then on Saturday, the Mavericks will host UW-Parkside women's basketball team (0-0, 0-0 GLIAC) with tip-off set for 3:00 p.m.
 
Mavericks at a Glance: Minnesota State (0-0, 0-0 NSIC), enters the season coming off an 83-58 exhibition loss to Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa last on November 6th. 

Stat Pack: As a team last season, Minnesota State averaged 78.6 points per game in comparison to its opponents 71.6. Additionally, the Mavericks averaged 43.8 rebounds per game which led the NSIC in both rebounding offense and offensive rebounds. The Mavericks also dished out a conference leading 14.9 assists per game while stealing the ball 13.0 times per game which led the NSIC.

Preseason Outlook: The Mavericks were picked to finish fourth in the NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll after receiving a total of 168 total points. Additionally, Minnesota State was slotted tied for second in the south division with 38 total points.

Minnesota State History: The 2021-22 season marks the 57th season in Minnesota State women's basketball program history, dating back to 1966. During that span, the Mavericks totaled a record of 758-643 (.541).

Walking the Sidelines: Head Coach Emilee Thiesse is entering her 10th season at the helm. She has amassed a 149-99 (.601) overall record, including two NCAA Tournament appearances in the 2012-13 and 2014-15 seasons. In NSIC games, she owns a 114-75 (.603) career record.

Returning Mavericks: The Minnesota State Women's basketball team welcomed back 11 letter winners and four starters from last season's team. Two Mavericks, including sophomore Joey Batt and senior Tayla Stuttley played and started in all 16 games, while seniors Mikayla Nachazel and Maddy Olson started in 10 and 5 games respectively. Olson is the leading returning free throw shooter with 81.3% from the stripe. Two Mavericks averaged more than 10 points per game last season, including Batt who tallied a team-best 13.4 points per game and team high 22 made three pointers to go along with a team high 50 steals. Stuttley posted 12.6 points per game, with 20 made three pointers second on the team, with a team high 38.8% from behind the arc and was third on the team in rebounds with 78 (4.9 rpg). Senior Rylee Mentser returns as well after playing in all 16 contests coming off the bench averaging 6.1 points a game with just over three rebounds per game while also being tied for second on the team with 31 steals. Senior Jinda Guidinger returns after playing in 13 contest, Sophomore Taylor Theusch returns as well after competing in 10 games for the Mavericks last season.

Fresh Faces: Minnesota State will welcome in five newcomers for the 2021-22 campaign with Desiree Kleiman of Maribel, Wis., Molly Ihle of Huxley, Iowa, Destinee Bursch of Chaska, Minn., Morgan Krumwiede of Burnsville, Minn. and Sophie Wood of Lindstrom, Minn.

Player to Watch: Sophomore Joey Batt was named the Mavericks player to watch this season. Last season, Batt led Minnesota State in scoring en-route to being named to the NSIC South Division All-Conference First Team as well as NSIC South Division Defensive Player of the Year. She was also named to the NSIC South Division All Defensive Team.  She finished the season with 214 points, 45 rebounds and 50 steals while also being named to the NSIC All-Academic team of Excellence.

Scouting Bethany Lutheran: Bethany Lutheran College is located in Mankato, Minn., The Vikings are members of the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference. The Vikings are currently 3-1 (0-0 UMAC). Bethany Lutheran is led by head coach Lyle Jones who is in his 20th season with the team.

As a team this season, the Vikings have averaged 68. 2 points per game in comparison to their opponents 67.2 per game. The Vikings average 42.2 rebounds per contest and dishes out 12.3 assists per game.

The Vikings are led by senior forward Hanna Geistfeld and sophomore forward Sara Kottke who average 24.3 and 11.3 points respectively. Geistfeld is also second in the UMAC in scoring and leads the Vikings in rebounds averaging 10 a game. Junior guard Skylar Cotten leads the team with 14 assists on the young season.

Tuesday's game will mark the fourth time these teams have met. In the most recent outing the Mavericks defeated the Vikings 100-63 last year.

Scouting UW-Parkside:  The University of Wisconsin Parkside is located in Kenosha, Wis., and is currently 2-0 (0-0 GLIAC) on the season. The Rangers are members of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC).  Parkside is led by head coach Jen Conely who is in her third season as the leader of the program.  

As a team this season, the Rangers net 74.8 points per game in comparison to their opponents' 73.4. Parkside also snatches 34.5 rebounds and dishes out 18.2 assists per contest. 

The Rangers are led by junior guard Alyssa Nelson and junior forward Hannah Plockelman who average 19.9 and 11.8 points per game so far in 2021-22.  Polockelman also leads Parkside in rebounds with 8.2 per game.  

Saturday's game will mark the sixth all-time meeting between these two programs, the most recent of which was an 91-83 win for the Mavericks during the 2020-21 season.   

Looking Ahead: Minnesota State will begin conference play on the road as they head to St. Paul, Minn., to take on the Golden Bears of Concordia-St. Pual Tuesday, November 23rd with tip-off scheduled for 5:30 p.m., The Mavericks will then head south to San Antonio, Texas to take part in the St. Mary's Thanksgiving Classic. They will square off against Texas A&M University - Kingsville Friday, November 26th with tip-off set for 2:00 p.m., The Mavericks will wrap up the weekend with the host, St. Mary's University on Saturday with tip-off slated for 4:00 p.m.

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