Mankato, Minn. --- Mankato, Minn. --- #5 Minnesota State hosts this weekend St. Cloud State Friday at 5:30 p.m. and #23 Minnesota Duluth Saturday at 3:30 p.m. in NSIC action.

Last Time Out:  The Mavericks rallied from a 12-point fourth quarter deficit to defeat Concordia St. Paul on New Years eve, 84-77.  Four different Mavericks had double-digits in points. Freshman Natalie Bremer led all Mavericks with 15 points, four rebounds and three blocks, while Stier notched 14 points and six rebounds. Junior Emily Herzberg scored 11 points, while sophomore Destinee Bursch added 10 points and five steals. As a unit, Minnesota State shot 39.1% from the field and scored 36 points off turnovers. MSU also recorded 16 assists, 35 rebounds and 16 steals.   

About St. Cloud State: The Huskies are part of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference and hold a record of 9-3 (6-2 NSIC). The team is coached by Lori Fish who is in her 15th season as head coach. 

The Huskies are averaging 65.7 points and 35.9 rebounds per game this season, while shooting .419 from the field. 

Katrina Theis is leading the Huskies with 15.2 points and 8.0 rebounds per game. Jada Eggebretch is averaging 14.7 points and 2.3 rebounds per game. 

Saturday's game marks the 109th meeting between both teams. The last match up between the Mavericks and the Huskies was January 8th of 2022 where St. Cloud State prevailed at home 66-56. The Huskies lead the all-time series 65-43.   

About Minnesota Duluth: The Bulldogs are part of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference and hold a record of 11-2 (8-0 NSIC). The team is coached by Mandy Pearson who is in her 8th season as head coach. 

The Bulldogs are averaging 65.7 points and 32.7 rebounds per game this season, while shooting .432 from the field. 

Brooke Olson is leading the Bulldogs with 18.3 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. Ella Gilbertson is averaging 10.5 points and 3.5 rebounds per game. 

Saturday's game marks the 70th meeting between both teams. The last match-up between the Mavericks and the Bulldogs was on February 28th of 2022 where Minnesota Duluth prevailed at home 69-66. The Bulldogs lead the all-time series 37-32.   

Stat Pack: As a team Minnesota State is averaging 85.9 points, 41.0 rebounds, 16.6 assists, 2.5 blocks and 16.6 steals per game. Junior Joey Batt is averaging 17.6 points, sophomore Destinee Bursch is averaging 14.9 points per game and freshman Natalie Bremer is averaging 14.2 points a game. 

Preseason Outlook: The Mavericks are picked to finish first in the NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll receiving a total of 216 points along with eight first-place votes. 

1,000 Career Points: Minnesota State junior Joey Batt scored 31 points in MSU's 80-71 win over UW-Parkside. In doing so, Batt became the 23rd member of the Minnesota State 1,000 Point Club. Batt who ranks 17th on the all-time scoring list at Minnesota State with 1,132 points.  She tails Tiffany Moe (2006-10) for 16th all-time on the school's chart.  Moe scored 1,147 points during her career as a Maverick.

NSIC's Player of the Week: Freshman Natalie Bremer was named the NSIC South Division Player of the Week (12/5/2022) for her performance in MSU's two wins over Winona State and Upper Iowa. Bremer averaged 20 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.0 steals in two Maverick wins. Bremer scored 21 points while shooting 8-of-13 from the field, including a 3-of-7 showing from the three point line against Winona State. In her first start of the season, Bremer recorded 19 points, six rebounds and three steals against Upper Iowa. 

Minnesota State junior Joey Batt was named the NSIC South Division Player of the Week for her efforts against Augustana and Wayne State (12/12/22). Batt averaged 17.5 points, 5.0 assists, 4.0 steals and 3.0 rebounds in MSU's two wins, while shooting 56.0% from the field. Batt notched 20 points and five assists against Augustana, before posting 15 points, five assists and five steals against Wayne State. 

Minnesota State History: The 2022-23 season marks the 58th season in Minnesota State women's basketball program history, dating back to 1966. During that span, the Mavericks own a record of 786-650 (.547). 

Walking the Sidelines: Head Coach Emilee Thiesse is in her 11th season at the helm of MSU Women's Basketball. She has amassed a 179-107 (.625) overall record, including three NCAA Tournament appearances in the 2012-13, 2014-15 and the 2021-22 seasons. In NSIC games, she owns a 132-81 (.610) career record. 

Nationally Speaking: Statistically, the Mavericks rank in several national categories, including:

1st in steals per game (16.6)

2nd in turnover margin (11.58)

4th in scoring offense (85.9)

4th in turnovers per game (25.92)

T-11th in winning percentage  (91.7)

22nd in assist-turnover ratio (1.16)

24th in assists per game  (16.6)
 
Individually, the following Mavericks are ranked in the top-25 in the nation:

T-5th - Taylor Theusch (assist-to-turnover ratio), 4.25

7th – Joey Batt (Steals per game), 3.25

T-15th -  Joey Batt (Steals) 39

Home Sweet Home:   Over the last four years, the Mavericks have played to a 34-6 (.85) winning percentage inside the friendly confines of the Taylor Center. 

Inside the polls:  The Mavericks have been ranked in every WBCA poll this year, reaching a ranking as high as #4 on Dec. 13. 

Coming up: Minnesota State continues its NSIC schedule on the road facing Minnesota Crookston on Friday, January 13 at 5:30 p.m., and Bemidji State on Saturday, January 14 at 3:30 p.m. 

-30-