MANKATO, Minn. – The #22 ranked Minnesota State women's basketball team (21-5, 18-2 NSIC) hosts Minnesota Crookston (9-17, 6-14 NSIC) and Bemidji State (6-18, 3-17 NSIC) to close out its regular season at the Taylor Center this upcoming weekend.
 
About the Mavericks
 
All Roads Must Come to an End: After winning 19-consecutive games, the Mavericks finally lost to Northern State in Aberdeen. It was MSU's first loss since Nov. 21, 2023. The Wolves won 92-87. Northern State had four players all with more than 17 points. Minnesota State shot just 36% from the field against the Wolves. Despite the lost, senior guard Joey Batt scored a career-high 33 points against the Wolves.
 
WBCA Rankings: MSU fell to number 22 in the WBCA DII Coaches' Poll after its loss to NSU. The Mavericks climbed to #14 after their historic weekend against Wayne State and Augustana.
 
Batt-er Up: Joey Batt is one of the best guards ever to suit up for Minnesota State. This season, Batt is averaging 15.4 points, three rebounds, 2.3 assists and 3.6 steals per game. She's shooting 45% from the field, 37.5% from three and 79% from the charity stripe in 2023-24. Batt had the best scoring performance of her career against the Wolves, scoring 33 points (11-20 FG, 3-5 3pt, 8-8 FT) and finishing with five rebounds, two assists and four steals. The New Ulm, Minn. native is one of the best pickpockets in the nation, ranking eighth in total steals and fourth in steals per game. She ranks first in the NSIC in both categories and is seventh in points per game. Batt earned NSIC Player of the Week honors for her showing on the road against Augustana and Wayne State back in early Dec. 2023. She averaged 23.5 points in those games, six steals and four assists while shooting 66% from the field. Batt became the second-highest scorer in program history, passing Rhonda House with 1,717 points.
 
Destinee Calling: Junior guard Destinee Bursch had an excellent homestand. Bursch has earned NSIC Player of the Week honors twice this season. The Chaska, Minn. native is averaging 14.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.6 steals per game. Bursch is currently ninth in the NSIC in points, eighth in assists and tenth in steals per game. Earlier this season, against Bemidji State, Bursch crossed the 1,000-career-point threshold, becoming the 25th player in program history to do so.
 
Rising Star: Sophomore Natalie Bremer has arguably been the Mavericks best player in the second half of the season. Bremer leads the team in total scoring and is averaging 15.1 points per game. She had four-straight 20-point games against MSU Moorhead, UMD, Southwest Minnesota State and Sioux Falls. Bremer ranks eighth in points per game in the NSIC. The Lake City, Minn. native is also second in the conference in steals and the league leader in free throw percentage.
 
Like Candy from a Baby: Minnesota State has the best defense in the NSIC. The Mavericks lead the NSIC in steals with a team total of 444. Minnesota State has stolen the ball 229 more times than the next highest in the conference, St. Cloud State. The team also ranks second in the country in steals, averaging 17.1 per game, trailing only Glenville State (18.5). MSU is currently first in the country turnover margin (12.8) and third in turnovers forced (27.7). Minnesota State scores 31 points per game off turnovers. Batt, Bremer, Bursch, Hannah Herzig, Emily Herzberg and Mackenzie Schweim are all in the top 10 in the conference in steals. Overall, the Mavericks have eight players averaging one or more steals per game and four players averaging over two steals.
 
Scoring Leaders: The Mavericks also have the highest scoring offense in the NSIC, averaging 80.3 points per game and outscoring their opponents by an average of 18.5 points. Part of the reason for this is the sheer quantity of shots put up by the team. This season, the Mavericks have shot 382 more shots than their conference opponents. Minnesota State's three B's (Batt, Bremer, Bursch) are all in the top 10 in scoring in the NSIC.
 
Crashed Glass: The Mavericks are also dominant on the offensive glass, grabbing 17 offensive rebounds per game. Minnesota State ranks first in the NSIC in offensive boards and fifth in the nation. Forwards Emily Russo and Ava Stier both rank in the top five in offensive rebounds in the NSIC.
 
Legend on the Sidelines: Mavericks head coach Emilee Thiesse reached the 200-win plateau against Sioux Falls on Dec. 1. She is the second head coach in program history to reach this milestone. 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 167-85 against NSIC opponents and an all-time record of 217-116.
 
About the Golden Eagles
 
Minnesota Crookston has a 9-17 record heading into the weekend. The Golden Eagles sit at tenth in the NSIC with a 6-14 record against conference opponents. UMC has lost 11-straight games.
 
The team is averaging 64 points per game on 38% field goal shooting. The Golden Eagles grab 40 rebounds and dish out 11 assists per game. Minnesota Crookston turns the ball, on average, 17 times per game.
 
The Golden Eagles are led by Emma Miller, who averages 17 points, six rebounds and three assists per game. Miller is currently the fourth leading scorer in the conference. Janie Tormanen is averaging just under 13 points per game for Minnesota Crookston. Tormanen is also averaging six rebounds per game.
 
The Golden Eagles are coached by Natalie Moynihan. Moynihan is in her first season as the head coach of the UMC sideline. The Mavericks hold the all-time series lead over the Golden Eagles, with a 22-7 record against Minnesota Crookston. Minnesota State has won eight of the last 10 matchups and was the team that began the Golden Eagles' 11 game losing streak.
 
About the Beavers
 
Bemidji State sits at the bottom of the NSIC rankings, with a 6-18 overall record and a 3-17 conference record. The Beavers' most recent win was actually over Minnesota Crookston.
 
The Beavers are averaging 59 points per game on 39% field goal shooting. BSU grabs 34 rebounds and passes out 13 assists per game. The team averages 16 turnovers per game.
 
Alyssa Hill is the Beavers' leading scorer. She is averaging 13 points and five rebounds per game.
 
Bemidji State head coach Chelsea Stoltenberg will wrap up her ninth regular season with the Beavers this weekend. Minnesota State leads the Beavers 38-15 in the all-time series, winning nine of the last 10 matchups. Earlier this season, the Mavericks defeated Bemidji State, 79-51.