Starting Off: The Minnesota State women's basketball team returns home to Taylor Center and continues its NSIC North Division swing after a pair of losses to Minnesota Duluth and St. Cloud State. The Mavericks are set to take on Bemidji State and Minnesota Crookston Friday at 7:30 p.m., and Saturday at 5:30 p.m., Bemidji State currently sits third in the North Division and fifth overall. Minnesota Crookston is currently last in the North Division and last overall in the NSIC. The Mavericks remain atop the NSIC South Division with a two-game lead over the University of Sioux Falls. The Mavericks, however, have fallen to third behind both St. Cloud State and Minnesota Duluth in the overall standings.

Last Time Out: Last weekend the Mavericks faced the best the NSIC had to offer this season and ultimately fell to both. On Friday Jan. 7, the Mavericks squared-off against the Bulldogs of Minnesota Duluth and fell 61-52 in a up and down affair in Romano Gymnasium. On Saturday Jan. 8, the Mavericks wrapped-up the weekend at St. Cloud State in Halenbeck Hall against the Huskies. The Huskies controlled most of the contest and handed the Mavericks their third loss of the season with a final of 66-52.

Mavericks at a Glance: The Mavericks enter the week with an 11-3 overall record and 7-3 in the NSIC. The Mavericks look to get back on track after losing three straight games in the NSIC after having the third best start in program history with 11 consecutive wins.

Stat Pack: As a team this season, Minnesota State averages 79.8 points per game, which is tops in the NSIC and 12th in the nation, in comparison to its opponents 67.7. Additionally, the Mavericks average 39.8 rebounds per game. The Mavericks have also dished out 13.4 assists per game while stealing the ball 206 times. The Mavericks own a plus-9.3 turnover margin, which is first in the conference and sixth in the NCAA.

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 own a record of 769-646 (.543).

Mavericks With The Swipes: The Mavericks' unrelenting full-court pressure has been strong and effective in the 2021-22 season. The Mavericks 206 steals leads the NSIC and is third in the NCAA. The Mavericks average 14.72 steals per game. In comparison, the next closest team is Sioux Falls who has 168 steals with 10.50 per game. Joey Batt and Rylee Menster lead the team in steals with 41 and 33, respectively. Batt and Menster are second and fourth in the NSIC. Batt is currently eighth in the NCAA.

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-9.29 ratio and forced opponents into 335 turnovers compared to their 205. In addition to the turnover margin, the Mavericks have the 17th most forced turnovers in NCAA Division II. The Mavericks have converted the turnovers into 320 points on the other end

Most-Offensive: The Mavericks have been driven by their number one-ranked scoring offense in the NSIC and 12th in the nation. The Mavericks have scored a total of 1,117 points with Augustana being the next closest with 886 points. The Mavericks have averaged just over 79 points per game. The Mavericks also hold a plus-12.1 point-scoring margin, which also leads the NSIC. The scoring onslaught has been spearheaded by sophomore guard Joey Batt as she leads the Mavericks and is third in the conference in scoring with 238 points and 17 points per game.

Walking the Sidelines: Head Coach Emilee Thiesse is in her 10th season at the helm of the Mavericks. She has amassed a 160-102 (.610) overall record, including two NCAA Tournament appearances in the 2012-13 and 2014-15 seasons. In NSIC games, she owns a 121-78 (.608) 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 to be 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 Bemidji State: Bemidji State University is located in Bemidji, Minn. The Beavers are members of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. Bemidji State is currently 8-5 (6-3 NSIC). The Beavers are led by head coach Chelsea DeVille, who is in her 7th season with the team.

As a team this season, Bemidji State has averaged 69.5 points per game in comparison to their opponents 61.8 per game and is seventh in the NSIC in scoring offense and fifth in scoring margin with a plus 7.8 in that category. The Beavers average 36.3 rebounds per contest and dish out 15.9 assists per game.

Bemidji State is led by sophomore forward Rachael Heittola and senior guard Trinity Yoder, who have amassed 213 and 149 points and average 16.4 and 11.5 points per game, respectively. Heittola is sixth in the NSIC in scoring and leads the team on the glass with 95 rebounds. Yoder leads the team in assists with 68 which is second in the NSIC and leads the team in steals with 25 and averages just under two per game.

Friday's game will mark the 51st time these teams have met. In the most recent outing, the Mavericks were defeated by Bemidji State 82-76 on Jan. 3, 2021. The Mavericks own the all-time series with an 35-15 record.

Scouting Minnesota Crookston: University of Minnesota Crookston is located in Crookston, Minn. The Golden Eagles are members of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. Minnesota Crookston is currently 1-14 (0-9 NSIC). The Golden Eagles are led by head coach Mike Roysland, who is in his 16th season with the team.

As a team this season, University of Minnesota Crookston has averaged 55.2 points per game in comparison to their opponents 65.6 per game and is 16th in the NSIC in scoring offense and 16th in scoring margin with a minus-10.4 in that category. The Golden Eagles average 34 rebounds per contest and dish out 9.7 assists per game.

Minnesota Crookston is led by freshman forward Abi Fraaza and senior guard Kylie Post, who have amassed 153 and 113 points and average 10.2 and 10.3 points per game, respectively. Junior guard Emma Carpentar leads the team in assists with 36 in the 2021-22 season. Senior Center Bren Fox leads the team on the glass as she has hauled in 86 rebounds averaging 5.7 per game. Fox is 19th in the NSIC in rebounding.  

Saturday's game will mark the 28th time these teams have met. In the most recent outing, the Mavericks defeated Minnesota Crookston 87-54 on Feb. 26, 2020. The Mavericks own the all-time series with an 20-7 record.

Looking Ahead: The Mavericks set out on a North Dakota road swing as they face both Minot State on Jan. 21 and the University of Mary on Jan. 22. Tip-off for these games is slated for 5:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., respectively.


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