MANKATO, Minn. – Minnesota State women's basketball begins the 2023-24 season on the road, traveling to Billings, Mont. to compete in the Montana State Billings Tournament. Play begins on Friday Nov. 3 at 5:45 p.m. CT against the Florida Tech Panthers. The Mavericks battle Texas Woman's University on Saturday at 1:15 p.m. and Texas A&M – Kingsville on Sunday at 2 p.m.

About the Mavericks

Preseason Outlook: Minnesota State was picked to finish first in the NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll, receiving 196 votes, including 14 first place votes. The Mavericks were ranked #2 in the WBCA Division II women's basketball preseason poll.

Stat-sheet Stuffers: The Mavericks were the highest scoring offense in the NSIC last season, averaging 83.7 points per game. The team averaged 16.1 assists per game, had a 44% field goal percentage and a 31% 3-point percentage. Minnesota State dominated the NSIC in turnovers, forcing 499 steals. The team's 16.1 steals per game was the best in NCAA Division II. The Mavericks also ranked third in the NSIC in total rebounds, collecting 1,194 missed shots last season. Minnesota State won the NSIC South Division in 2022-23.

Familiar Faces: Minnesota State women's basketball returns 13 of its players from last season, including all five of the team's starters. Senior point guard Joey Batt started in all 31 games in 2022-23 and averaged 16.3 points, 3.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists and three steals per game with a 45-percent field goal percentage. Junior guard and former NSIC Incomer of the Year Destinee Bursch averaged 15 points, 2.5 boards, and 2.1 steals a game, shooting 49-percent from the floor and 32-percent from three. Natalie Bremer averaged 14.6 points, three rebounds and two steals per game last season as a freshman and is looking to continue to find success on the court in 2023-24. Seniors Emily Herzberg and Taylor Theusch averaged 9.2 and 8.1 points per game last season, respectively. Emily Russo and Ava Stier led the Mavericks in rebounds per game last season, averaging 4.8 and 4.6 points per game last season.

New in Town: The Mavericks welcome three newcomers to the roster this season. Jasmine Barney is a freshman from North Liberty, Iowa. She was a three year letterwinner at Iowa City Liberty High School and reached 1,000 career points as a senior. Shantell Harden is a freshman from St. Louis Park, Minn. As a team captain for St. Louis Park High School, Harden scored 25 or more points eight times as a senior and holds the school single season scoring record. She was also named honorable mention all-state after reaching 1,000 career points. Bailey Conrad will be a junior after two seasons at Concordia-Nebraska. Conrad played 28 games in 2021-22 with 26 starts and averaged 4.6 points and a conference leading 4.5 assists per game.

Player to Watch: New Ulm, Minn. native, Batt, was named the NSIC Player to Watch for the Mavericks coming into the 2023-24 season. Batt won her second-straight NSIC Defensive Player of the Year in 2022-23 and was named to the All-Conference Team and NSIC All-Tournament Team last season. She led the number one-scoring team in the NSIC in both points and assists. Batt tied her career-high in points, scoring 32 points at Southwest Minnesota State. Batt led the Mavericks with 23 points and three assists in the team's NCAA Tournament victory over Central Missouri last season. Her 94 total steals was fifth best in NCAA Division II.

Walking the Sidelines: Mavericks head coach Emilee Thiesse begins her 12th season at the helm of Minnesota State women's basketball. Thiesse has amassed a 196-111 (.638) record, the second most wins in program history. Coach Thiesse's teams have made the NCAA Tournament four times (2012-13, 2014-15, 2021-22 and 2022-23). She has a record of 149-83 against NSIC opponents.

Putting it All in Perspective: The Minnesota State women's basketball team begins its 59th season in program history, dating back to 1966. In their first 58 years, the Mavericks have a record of 804-654 (.551).

About the Panthers

The Panthers of Florida Tech are members of the Sunshine State Conference. Last season, the Panthers went 3-21 with a conference record of 1-19. This marks the first matchup between Minnesota State and Florida Tech.

Florida Tech averaged 59 points per game, shooting 35-percent from the floor and 28-percent from three. The Panthers grabbed 32 rebounds and dished out 12.5 assists per game.

The Panthers were led in scoring by Tai Roberts who averaged 12.7 points per game. Roberts also led the team in assists and steals per game, averaging 2.6 dimes and 1.7 takeaways per game.

Florida Tech women's basketball is led by head coach John Reynolds. 2023-24 will be his 37th season. Reynolds has been with the Panthers since 1986-87, serving as an assistant coach in the team's inaugural season in 1986-87. He was named the head coach the following year.

About the Pioneers

Texas Woman's University women's basketball had an excellent 2022-23 campaign, going 26-6 with a 19-3 conference record in the Lone Star Conference. The Pioneers lost in the LSC Basketball Championship Final to Angelo State and fell in the NCAA South Central Regional to Lubbock Christian. Saturday's game will be the first matchup between Minnesota State and TWU.

The Pioneers averaged 68 points a game last season, with a 42-percent field goal percentage and a 29-percent three-point percentage. TWU brought in 38.5 rebounds and dished out 11.6 per game.

Texas Woman's returns two of its top three scorers from last season. Junior Ashley Ingram averaged 14.3 points per game last season, the highest on the team. Ingram was an efficient shooter, shooting 52-percent and collecting 6.8 rebounds with 2.1 assists and one block per game. Scout Huffman averaged eight points per game last season with a 47-percent field goal percentage and a 33-percent three-point shooting percentage.

The Pioneers are coached by Beth Jillson, the all-time winningest coach in program history. 2023-24 marks Jillson's 17th season at the helm of the team.

About the Javelinas

The Texas A&M – Kingsville Javelinas basketball team went 18-11 in 2022-23, with a 15-7 conference record. The Javelinas are also members of the Lone Star Conference. Texas A&M – Kingsville fell to Lubbock Christian in overtime in the Lone Star Conference Tournament to end its season last year. This will be the second time the Mavericks have played the Javelinas after Minnesota State grabbed victory in 2021, 78-59.

The Javelinas averaged 63 points, 34 rebounds and 14 assists per game last season. They shot 42-percent from the field and 34-percent from three-point range in 2022-23. Texas A&M – Kingsville forced nearly six steals and blocked two shots a game last season.

Texas A&M – Kingsville received its offense from several key contributors last season. Mia Rivers, the Javelinas' leading scorer (10 points/game) returns. Rivers also averaged five rebounds, five assists and one steal per game in 2022-23. Jayde Tschritter and Georgia Ohiaeri both return after averaging 9.8 and 9.7 points per game last season, respectively. Ohiaeri was the leading rebounder for the Javelinas, with six per game. Tschritter is the best three-point shooter returning from last season, shotting 37-percent from deep in 2022-23.

Texas A&M – Kingsville is led by fourth-year head coach Michael Madrid.