MANKATO, Minn. --- The Minnesota State women's basketball team, after qualifying for the NSIC Women's Basketball Tournament, will face off against the St. Cloud State Huskies in the first round. This is the second consecutive season the Mavericks have qualified for the tournament and last year the team advanced to the semi-final game against the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs.

Mavericks at a Glance: Last weekend, the Mavericks split a pair of games against the Concordia-St. Paul Golden Bears at Taylor Center. With the results, Minnesota State moved to 9-6 (8-5 NSIC) as the team prepares for the first round of the NSIC Women's Basketball Tournament.

Stat Pack: As a team, Minnesota State is averaging 79.3 points per game, which ranks first in the NSIC, in comparison to its opponents' 71.7. Additionally, the Mavericks average 44.6 rebounds per game, second best in the conference, and dish out 14.8 assists per game while stealing the ball 13.1 times per game which is again the top mark in the conference.

Impact Mavericks: Sophomore guard Joey Batt is the leading scorer for the Mavericks averaging 13.9 points per game and 3.2 steals per game which leads the NSIC. Senior forward Rachel Shumski is the second leading scorer for the Mavericks averaging 13.2 points per game while adding a team high 7.1 rebounds per game. Senior wing Tayla Stuttley is the third leading scorer for Minnesota State averaging 12.3 points per game to go along with 4.8 boards per game. 

About St. Cloud State: Last weekend, St. Cloud State split a pair of games against the previously unbeaten Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs. The Huskies are led by 13th year head coach Lori Fish and are 10-4 (7-3 NSIC) this season. 

St. Cloud State's top offensive threat is junior guard Brehna Evans who is averaging 16.3 points per game while also averaging 3.5 rebounds per game. Tori Wortz (14.6 ppg, 5.0 rpg) is the second leading scorer for the Huskies while Nikki Kilboten (11.0 ppg) leads the team in rebounding with 6.4 boards per contest.

As a team, St, Cloud State averages 67.2 points per game compared to their opponents 55.2 points per game. The Huskies average 39.7 rebounds per game and average 4.4 blocks per contest.

This game will mark the 107th competition between the Mavericks and Huskies. Last season, Minnesota State and St. Cloud State played one game in St. Cloud, Minn., which the Huskies won by a score of 84-77.

Looking Ahead: The winner of Friday's game will advance to the second round of the NSIC Women's Basketball Tournament and face the winner between the Augustana Vikings and the Minnesota State University Moorhead Dragons.