Starting Off: The Mavericks are set for their final week of regular season competition as they have a home and away contest. Starting off, the Mavericks head south to Fayette, Iowa on Thursday to take on the Peacocks of Upper Iowa with tip-off set for 5:30 p.m. The regular season finale for the Mavericks is scheduled for Feb. 19 at home in Taylor Center against the Warriors of Winona State with tip-off set for 1:30 p.m.

Last Time Out: This past weekend, the Mavericks picked up a pair of NSIC South Division wins. Friday, the Mavericks took down Wayne State in convincing fashion with a 95-58 win. Saturday saw Minnesota State take care of Augustana in a tough fought battle with the Mavericks earning the 80-72 victory. 

Mavericks at a Glance: The Mavericks enter the week with an 18-5 overall record and 14-5 mark in the NSIC. Minnesota State enters this week still holding the top-spot in the NSIC South Division and third overall in the conference. The Mavericks currently hold a two game lead over the Golden Bears of Concordia-St. Paul in the South. The Mavericks with wins this past weekend secured a first-round bye in the NSIC tournament. If the Mavericks earn one more victory they will be crowned the South Division Champions.

Stat Pack: As a team this season, Minnesota State averages 78.7 points per game, which is tops in the NSIC and 16th in the nation, in comparison to its opponents 67.9. Additionally, the Mavericks average 37.7 rebounds per game. The Mavericks have also dished out 14.5 assists per game.The Mavericks own a plus-10.08 turnover margin, which is first in the conference and fourth 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 776-648 (.544).

Picking Pockets: The Mavericks' full-court pressure has been both strong and successful throughout the 2021-22 season. The Mavericks 342' steals leads the NSIC and is fifth in the NCAA. The Mavericks average 14.9 steals per game. In comparison, the next closest team is Sioux Falls who has 239 steals with 9.56 per game. Joey Batt and Maddy Olson lead the team in steals with 62 and 54, respectively. Batt and Olson are second and fourth in the NSIC. 

Turnover Generator: The Mavericks' potent pressure on the defensive side of the court has been outstanding during the 2021-22 season. The Mavericks boast an NSIC-best turnover margin with a plus-10.0 ratio and forced opponents into 555 turnovers compared to their 325. In addition to the turnover margin, the Mavericks have the seventh most forced turnovers in NCAA Division II. The Mavericks have converted the turnovers into 551 points on the other end.

Most-Offensive: The Mavericks have been driven by their No. 1-ranked scoring offense in the NSIC and 16th in the nation. The Mavericks have scored a total of 1,810 points with Concordia-St. Paul being the next closest with 1,663 points. The Mavericks have averaged just over 78 points per game. MSU also holds a plus-10.8 point-scoring margin, which is second in the NSIC. The scoring has been spearheaded by sophomore guard Joey Batt, she leads the Mavericks and is eighth in the conference in scoring with 352 points and 15.3 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 166-104 (.614) overall record, including two NCAA Tournament appearances in the 2012-13 and 2014-15 seasons. In NSIC games, she owns a 128-80 (.615) 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 Upper Iowa: Upper Iowa University is located in Fayette, Iowa. The Peacocks are members of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. Upper Iowa is currently 7-17 (4-14 NSIC). The Peacocks are led by head coach Nate Oakland, who is in his third season with the team.

As a team this season, Upper Iowa has averaged 64.9 points per game in comparison to their opponents 68.2 per game and is 13th in the NSIC in scoring offense and 13th in scoring margin with a minus-3.3 in that category. The Peacocks average 39.3 rebounds per contest and dish out 12.1 assists per game.

Upper Iowa is led by sophomore guard Lydia Hack and sophomore guard Jessica Musgrave, who have amassed 300 and 283 points and average 12.5 and 12.3 points per game, respectively. Hack leads team in assists with 94 and in steals with 40. Musgrave leads the Peacocks on the glass as she has hauled in 176 boards which is sixth in the conference. 

Thursday's game will mark the 30th time these teams have met. In the most recent outing, the Mavericks defeated the Peacocks 88-48 on Dec. 2, 2021. The Mavericks own the all-time series with a 29-0 record.

Scouting Winona: Winona State University is located in Winona, Minn., The Warriors are members of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. Winona is currently 12-12 (9-11 NSIC). The Warriors are led by head coach Scott Ballard, who is in his 18th season with the team.

As a team this season, Winona State averages 63.8 points per game in comparison to their opponents 64.2 per game and is 14th in the NSIC in scoring offense and 10th in scoring margin with a minus-0.4 in that category. The Warriors average 32.5 rebounds per contest and dish out 12.0 assists per game.

Winona State is led by senior forward Taylor Hustad and senior guard Emily Kieck, who have amassed 291 and 272 points and average 13.2 and 11.3 points per game, respectively. Hustad leads the team in rebound and steals. She has hauled in 160 rebounds averaging 7.3 per game and has accrued 29 steals averaging 1.3 per game. Kieck leads the team in assists as she has racked up 101 and is sixth in the NSIC in that category.

Saturday's game will mark the 66th time these teams have met. In the most recent outing, the Mavericks defeated Winona State 76-67 on Dec. 4, 2021. The Mavericks own the all-time series with a 42-23 record.

Looking Ahead: The Mavericks have earned a first-round bye and get ready for the second round of the NSIC/Sanford Health Tournament that takes place Feb. 26 through Mar. 1 in Sioux Falls, S.D., inside the Sanford Pentagon.