Mankato, Minn. --- #13 Minnesota State hosts Winona State at Taylor Center in its last regular season home game, Thursday at 7:30 p.m., before it travels to Upper Iowa for a Saturday tip-off at 4:00 p.m, to wrap its regular season schedule.


Last Time Out:  The Mavericks went 2-0 on the road last weekend as they secured one of the top two seeds in the NSIC South Division and a first-round bye in the NSIC Tournament. MSU defeated Wayne State 94-80, before extending its winning streak to seven with an 83-61 win over Augustana.  

About Winona State: The Warriors are 10-16 (4-16 NSIC) and are coached by Ana Wurtz, who is in her first season as head coach.

Winona State is averaging 60.8 points and 32.1 rebounds per game this season, while shooting .416 from the field.

Lauren Fech is leading the Warriors with 11.6 points and 4.6 rebounds per game. Alex Dornfeld is averaging 10.8 points and 8.3 rebounds per game.

Thursday's game marks the 68th meeting between both teams. The last match up between the Mavericks and the Warriors was December 1st, 2022 where Minnesota State prevailed on the road, 88-69. The Mavericks lead the all-time series 44-23.  

About Upper Iowa: The Peacocks are 10-15 (6-14 NSIC) and are coached by Justin Maass, who is in his fifth season as head coach.

Upper Iowa is averaging 66.7 points and 37.3 rebounds per game this season, while shooting .388 from the field.

Lydia Haack leads the Peacocks with 17.3 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. Katie Thornstrom is averaging 13.3 points and 4.6 rebounds per game.

Saturday's game marks the 32nd. meeting between both teams. The last match-up between the Mavericks and the Peacocks was on December 3rd, 2022 where Minnesota State prevailed at home 83-54. The Mavericks lead the all-time series 31-0.  

Stat Pack: As a team Minnesota State is averaging 84.3 points, 40.1 rebounds, 17.5 assists, 2.3 blocks and 17.5 steals per game. Junior Joey Batt is averaging 16.9 points, sophomore Destinee Bursch is averaging 14.5 points per game and freshman Natalie Bremer is averaging 14.5 points a game.


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 10th on the all-time scoring list at Minnesota State with 1,327 points, trailing Joanne Noreen who has 1,335 points at the 9th spot.

Taking it Away: Minnesota State junior Joey Batt is ranked third with 250 steals in her career. She currently has 77 for this 22-23 season. She is trailing Anne Chrsitopherson at the second spot with 286 steals of MSU's all time steals-list.

Grand Larceny: Minnesota State currently leads NCAA Division II in steals per game with 17.5 a game. In total the Mavericks have recorded 419 steals this season.

NSIC's Player of the Week: Freshman Natalie Bremer was named twice 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.

(2/13/2023) Bremer averaged 21.5 points, 3.0 steals and 2.5 rebounds per game, while shooting 70.8% from the field. She notched a career-high 26 points against Wayne State as she connected on 10-of-12 shots from the field. Bremer followed up with a 16-point performance against Augustana that helped snap AU's 10-game winning streak.

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 800-654 (.550).

Walking the Sidelines: Head Coach Emilee Thiesse is in her 11th season at the helm of MSU Women's Basketball. She has amassed a 191-109 (.636) overall record, including three NCAA Tournament appearances in the 2012-13, 2014-15 and the 2021-22 seasons. In NSIC games, she owns a 141-82 (.632) career record.

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


Rank Category Total
1st steals per game       17.5
1st turnover margin      12.62
4th scoring offense       84.3
13th winning percentage 87
16th assists per game        16.6
18th assist/turnover ratio 1.15
56th turnovers per game   14.4

 
Individually, the following Mavericks are ranked in the top-50 in the nation:

Rank Name Category  Total
28th Molly Ihle (assist-to-turnover ratio)   2.38
31st Taylor Theusch (assist-to-turnover ratio) 2.36
7th Joey Batt (steals per game)                   3.21
6th Joey Batt (steals)                               77

Home Sweet Home:   Over the last four years, the Mavericks have played to a 39-7 (.847) 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 has earned a bye in the first round of the NSIC Tournament the Mavericks will compete in the second round of the NSIC Tournament with its opponent and date to de determined. The NSIC Tournament will be held at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D.

-30-