MANKATO, Minn. – The Minnesota State women's basketball team (19-4, 16-1 NSIC) have the opportunity to extend its winning streak to a program-best 18 games this weekend on its home court.

The Mavericks play Wayne State (5-14, 2-14 NSIC) on Friday, Feb. 9 at 5:30 p.m. at the Taylor Center in Mankato. On Saturday, Minnesota State will take on the Vikings of Augustana (6-14, 5-11 NSIC). The Mavericks have won six-straight games against both Wayne State and Augustana.
 
About the Mavericks
All Tied Up: Last weekend, the Mavericks tied the longest win-streak in program history with road wins over Southwest Minnesota State and Sioux Falls. After opening the first quarter with a 13-point lead, Minnesota State found themselves only up by three heading into halftime. The Mavericks put up 28 points in the third quarter, giving them the edge over SMSU, 87-67. The Cougars fought all the way through, but the Mavericks defense stood strong in the fourth quarter, holding the Cougars to just seven points in the last 10 minutes. Minnesota State beat the Cougars 82-55. With the win over USF, the team tied the 2008-09 National Championship team for the longest winning streak in program history, with 17 consecutive wins.
 
Top Spot: Minnesota State enters the weekend still in sole possession of the top spot in the NSIC. The Mavericks have won 17 straight games and have accumulated a 16-1 conference record. UMary and Southwest Minnesota State are 12-4, both sitting behind MSU in second place. The Mavericks have the chance to clinch the NSIC Conference Title this weekend. It would be the third regular season conference title in program history. Minnesota State won its first conference title in 1985-86 when they won the NCC. The Mavericks' other conference title was in 2008-09.
 
Rising the Ranks: The Mavericks jumped five spots to #17 in the WBCA NCAA Division II Top-25 Coaches' Poll this week.
 
Rising Star: Sophomore guard Natalie Bremer has taken a huge leap in the second half of the season. Bremer leads the best team in the NSIC in scoring, averaging just under 15 points per game, shooting 46% from the field and 87% from the free throw line. She grabs four rebounds and averages 2.4 steals per game. Bremer has been on a heater lately, scoring 15+ points in the last seven games, including four-straight 20+ point performances. The Lake City, Minn. native scored a season-high 22 points and grabbed nine rebounds against the Mustangs.
"She cannot be overlooked on any scouting report; You can't look past that kid," said Mavericks head coach Emilee Thiesse. "She is so deadly in so many areas for us. On defense, she can disrupt passing lanes, she makes plays for us on defense that don't always make the stat sheet and that is so valuable."
 
Leading Batt: Senior guard Joey Batt has been one of the best players in the conference this season. After sitting out the first five games of the season due to injury, Batt is averaging 14.2 points per game on 42/33/79 shooting splits. Batt is also a premier defender, averaging nearly four steals per game, which leads the team. Batt earned NSIC Player of the Week honors for her showing against Augustana and Wayne State. She averaged 23.5 points in those games, six steals and four assists while shooting 66% from the field. She leads the NSIC in steals and is 9th in the country. Batt became the second-highest scorer in program history, passing Rhonda House with 1,681 points.
 
Destinee Is Calling: Destinee Bursch is another star for this Mavericks basketball team. Bursch is averaging 14.5 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game. Bursch was named the NSIC Player of the Week for her excellent performance against Bemidji State and Minnesota Crookston. The junior guard had a 20-point double-double against Bemidji State and a 25-point game in a dominant win against Minnesota Crookston. In the game Against the Beavers, the Chaska, Minn. native crossed the 1,000-career-point threshold, becoming the 25th player in program history to do so.
 
Like Candy From a Baby: The Mavericks lead the NSIC in steals with a team total of 391. Minnesota State has stolen the ball 223 more times than the next highest in the conference, Wayne State. The team also ranks second in the country in steals, averaging 17 per game, trailing only Glenville State (19.2). MSU is currently second in the country turnover margin (12.6) and third in turnovers forced (27.8). Minnesota State scores 31 points per game off turnovers. Batt, Bremer, Hannah Herzig, Emily Herzberg and Mackenzie Schweim are all in the top 11 in steals in the NSIC. Overall, the Mavericks have nine players averaging one or more steals per game and four players averaging over two steals.
 
Crashing the Glass: Minnesota State is one of the best offensive rebounding teams in the country. On average, the Mavericks grab just under 17 offensive rebounds per game. This is the best in the NSIC and the sixth in the nation. Emily Russo and Ava Stier rank second and third in the conference in offensive boards per game.
 
A 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 163-84 against NSIC opponents.
 
About the Wildcats
Wayne State (Neb.) is 14^th in the NSIC. The Wildcats are 2-14 in conference play and have lost three-straight games. One of the Wildcats' recent losses was in overtime and another was in double overtime. WSC averages 61 points per game shooting 39% from the field, 28% from three and 72% from the free throw line. The team averages 33 rebounds, 12 assists, nine steals and three blocks per game. The Wildcats turn the ball over just under 15 times per game.

Britney Ho is Wayne State's best player. She averages 12.7 points with a 44% field goal percentage, shooting 82% from the free throw line. Ho is also the team's leading rebounder, grabbing 4.5 boards per game.

The Wildcats are coached by sixth-year head coach Brent Pollari. Pollari has a 57-69 record as the Wayne State head coach. The Wildcats lead the all-time series against the Mavericks, 20-17.
 
About the Vikings
Augustana is 6-14 with a 5-11 record. The team is currently 12^th in the NSIC and has lost three of its last four. The Vikings score 61 points per game, shooting 37% from the field, 30% from beyond the arc and 71% from the free throw line. They average 37 rebounds, 13 assists, six steals and four blocks per game. Augustana turns the ball over around 14 times per game.

The Vikings have three players averaging over 10 points per game. Michaela Jewett is Augustana's leading scorer, averaging 15 points per game on 40/37/68 shooting splits. Jewett averages seven rebounds, two assists and one block per game. Lauren Sees averages 14.2 points, three rebounds, about three assists and one steal per game. Jennifer Aadland is scoring 10.5 points, eight rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game.

Jillian Flores Bennett is the head coach of Augustana. "Coach Flo" is in her first year at Augustana. The Vikings lead the all-time series lead against MSU, 52-35.