Starting Off: The 24th-ranked Minnesota State women's basketball team (9-0, 5-0 NSIC) has had a perfect start to the 2021-22 season as it has remained perfect in the wins and loses column thus far. The Mavericks return home to Taylor Center after they won an overtime thriller at Augustana last Friday with a final score of 91-86. The Mavericks then traveled to Wayne State where they defeated the Wildcats on Saturday with a 11-point victory to improve to 9-0 on the season. The Mavericks square-off against Sioux Falls Friday December 17th with tip set for 7:30 p.m., Then, on Saturday December 18th they wrap up the weekend with a contest against Southwest Minnesota State with tip-off set for 5:30 p.m.

Back in the Polls: The Mavericks return to the WBCA polls this week as they have been tabbed as the 24th-ranked team in the nation. The last time the Mavericks were in the top-25 was back at the end of the 2013-14 season where they finished ranked  20th.

Mavericks at a Glance: The Mavericks enter the week after starting the season 9-0. The last time the Mavericks started a season 9-0 or better was in the 2008-09 season where the Mavericks won the NCAA Division II national championship. Sioux Falls was picked to finish fourth in the preseason poll directly behind the Mavericks. The Cougars are just one game behind the Mavericks in the south division standings and tied with Southwest Minnesota State in third with a 4-1 NSIC South Division record. The Mavericks look to create separation this weekend in crucial NSIC match-ups.

Stat Pack: As a team this season, Minnesota State averages just over 84 points per game, which is tops among the NSIC and fifth in the nation, in comparison to its opponents 64.4. Additionally, the Mavericks average 39.4 rebounds per game. The Mavericks have also dished out 14.3 assists per game while stealing the ball 15.4 times per game which is first in the NSIC and tied for third in the nation. 

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 767-643 (.544).

Mavericks With The Swipes: The Mavericks defensive pressure has been immense in the 2021-22 season. The Mavericks lead the NSIC in steals with 139 which equals out to 15.44 per game. In comparison, the next closest team is Augustana who has 84 steals with 10.50 per game. Rylee Menster and Joey Batt lead the team in steals with 26 and 24, respectively. Menster and Batt are third and fifth in the NSIC in steals where they average 2.9 and 2.3 steals per game. Also, Menster and Batt rank 17th and 29th in the nation in steals.

Turnover Machine: The Mavericks potent pressure on the defensive side of the court has been outstanding in the 2021-22 season. The Mavericks boast an NSIC-best turnover margin with a plus 11.33 ratio and has forced opponents into 237 turnovers compared to their 135. With that margin it puts the Mavericks second in the nation in turnover margin. In addition to the turnover margin, the Mavericks have the eighth-most forced turnovers in NCAA Division II. 

Mavericks Hitting From Deep: The Mavericks as a team are shooting well from downtown as they are fourth in the NSIC in three-point field goal percentage shooting just over 34%. The Mavericks are second in the NSIC in three-point field goals made per game as they have hit a total of 71 so far in the 2021-22 season which averages out to 7.9 per game. Taylor Theusch leads the team and is fifth in the conference in three pointers made. She has made 28 and averages 2.3 per game.

Most-Offensive: The Mavericks strong start has been driven by their number one-ranked scoring offense in the NSIC and fifth in the nation. The Mavericks have scored a total of 761 points in there 9-0 start. They have averaged just under 84 points per game. The Mavericks also hold a plus 18.1-point scoring margin which also leads the NSIC and is good for 19th in the country. This bus has been driven by sophomore guard Joey Batt as she leads the Mavericks and is second in the conference in scoring with 167 points and 18.6 per game.

Applying the Pressure: The Maverick defense has been putting the pressure on their opponents early and often. The Mavericks have forced their opponents into 237 turnovers, tops in the NSIC, compared to 135 of their own in the 2021-22 season.  The Mavericks have turned those turnovers into 239 points on the other end. The Mavericks average only 15 turnovers a game compared to their opponents 26.3.

Walking the Sidelines: Head Coach Emilee Thiesse is in her 10th season at the helm of the Mavericks. She has amassed a 158-99 (.614) overall record, including two NCAA Tournament appearances in the 2012-13 and 2014-15 seasons. In NSIC games, she owns a 119-75 (.613) career record.

Player to Watch: Sophomore Joey Batt was named the Mavericks Player to Watch this season by the NSIC. 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 Sioux Falls: University of Sioux Falls is located in Sioux Falls, S.D. The Cougars are members of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. The Cougars are currently 7-3 (4-1 NSIC). Sioux Falls is led by head coach Travis Traphagen who is in his 14th season with the team.

As a team this season, the Cougars have averaged 71.6 points per game in comparison to their opponents 69.2 per game and is third in the NSIC in scoring and first in field goal percentage (44.5%). The Cougars average 41.1 rebounds per contest and dishes out 14 assists per game.

The Cougars are led by freshman guard Megan Fannin and senior forward Krystal Carlson who average 17.9 and 10.8 points per game, respectively. Fannin leads the NSIC in three-point field percentage (43.1%) and second in three-point field goals per game (2.8). Junior guard Dallie Hoskinson leads the team in assists with 36 in the 2021-22 season. Hoskinson leads the way on the glass for the Cougars as she has snatched 62 rebounds so far this season and averages 6.2 per contest. Hoskinson also leads the Cougars and is fourth in the NSIC in steals with 26 and averages 2.9 per game.

Thursday's game will mark the 18th time these teams have met. In the most recent outing the Mavericks defeated the University of Sioux Falls 71-67 on January 31st, 2021. Sioux Falls owns the all-time series with an 11-6 record.

Scouting Southwest Minnesota: Southwest Minnesota State is located in Marshall, Minn., and is currently 7-2 (4-1 NSIC) on the season. The Mustangs are members of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. Southwest Minnesota State is led by head coach Tom Web who is in his sixth season as the leader of the program.  

As a team this season, the Mustangs net 70.8 points per game, which is fifth in the NSIC, in comparison to their opponents' 62.3. Southwest Minnesota State also snatches 39.2 rebounds per game and dishes out just under 11.7 assists per contest. 

The Mustangs are led by senior guard Meleah Reinhart and senior guard Sadie Stelter in scoring with 15.6 and 12.6 points per game so far in 2021-22. Stelter also leads the team in assists with 23 and averages 2.6 per game. In addition, Stelter is the leading rebounder for the Mustangs as she has pulled in 48 which is good for 5.3 per game.

Saturday's game will mark the 65th meeting all-time between these universities. In the last meeting, the Mavericks defeated the Mustangs 63-52 on December 11th, 2021. The Mavericks own the all-time series record with a mark of 43-21.

Looking Ahead: The Mavericks remain home after the holiday break as they play host to Concordia-St. Paul on January 2nd with tip-off scheduled for 4:00 p.m.

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