MANKATO, Minn. – Minnesota State women's basketball returns to the Taylor Center for the first time this calendar year, hosting a pair of NSIC North matchups against Minnesota Duluth and Bemidji State. The Mavericks will welcome the Bulldogs on Friday, Jan. 16, with tip-off set for 7:30 p.m., before closing the weekend against the Beavers on Saturday, Jan. 17, at 5:30 p.m.
About the Mavericks
MSU remaind unbeaten at 16–0 overall and 10–0 in NSIC play, continuing a dominant start to the season. Minnesota State has extended its home winning streak to 30 games, which stands as the fourth-longest active streak across all NCAA divisions and the longest in Division II women's basketball. The Mavericks are ranked No. 2 in the WBCA Coaches Poll for the sixth consecutive week and sit atop the NSIC standings. Last week, MSU headed north and earned a pair of road victories, defeating the University of Mary 92–60 before closing the weekend with a 95–56 win over Minot State.
As a team, the Mavericks lead both the NSIC and the nation in scoring offense, averaging 96.8 points per game, which is 7.7 points higher than second-ranked Union (Tenn.), whom Minnesota State defeated 112–94 on Nov. 9. Union enters the week averaging 89.1 points per contest. MSU is shooting 47.6 percent from the field, 33.3 percent from three-point range, and 76.2 percent from the free-throw line, while averaging 40.3 rebounds per game, including 16.0 on the offensive glass. Leading the conference, the Mavericks also total 18.7 assists and 22.4 steals per game, continuing to showcase their high-tempo, pressure-driven style of play.
Reaching a historic milestone, Natalie Bremer surpassed the 2,000 career-point mark against UMary, scoring 21 points in the victory. She now sits at 2,021 career points, placing her within 51 points of Lisa Walters' all-time program record of 2,072. Bremer also ranks seventh nationally among active players in career points and leads all Division II scorers in that category. Against the Marauders, she shot an efficient 61.5 percent from the field and went a perfect 2-for-2 from beyond the arc, while adding three rebounds and three steals.
Bremer followed up the performance with another 21-point outing against Minot State, shooting 52.9 percent from the field and pulling down three rebounds. On the season, she ranks second in the NSIC and fifth nationally in scoring at 21.8 points per game. Defensively, Bremer also sits second in the conference in steals per game at 2.7, trailing only teammate Hannah Herzig.
A dominant two-way presence for the Mavericks, Herzig totaled 21 points across two games last week, scoring nine against UMary and 12 versus Minot State. She also continues to climb the program record books, ranking sixth in Maverick history with 240 career steals. Against the Marauders, Herzig matched a career-high with eight rebounds, collecting five on the offensive end and three defensively, while recording eight steals for the second time this season. She followed that performance by going a perfect 4-for-4 from the field and 4-for-4 from the free-throw line against the Beavers, adding one rebound, two assists, and two steals. On the season, Herzig leads the NSIC with 53 total steals, averaging 3.3 per game, which ranks 17th nationally in Division II.
Making the start in both contests last weekend, sophomore Lucy Leininger provided a steady presence for the Mavericks, totaling 16 points and four rebounds. She connected on 62.5 percent of her shots from the field against UMary, matching a season-high 10 points in the contest. On the season, the 5-foot-11 forward is averaging 5.7 points, 1.4 assists, and 2.0 rebounds per game.
In her 100th career appearance, senior Mackenzie Schweim turned in a productive outing against Minot State. She shot an efficient 66.7 percent from both the field and three-point range, finishing with 14 points against the Beavers. With the performance, Schweim raised her season total to 170 points and is now averaging 10.6 points per game, surpassing her scoring output from each of her previous three seasons with the Mavericks.
About the Bulldogs
Minnesota Duluth enters the weekend with a 12–2 overall record and an 11-game winning streak. The Bulldogs sit second in the NSIC standings and remain perfect in conference play at 10–0. Last week, UMD picked up a pair of victories, defeating Sioux Falls 57–42 before narrowly edging Southwest Minnesota State 69–65 at home.
The Bulldogs are led by head coach Mandy Pearson, who has guided the program since the 2015–16 season. Entering the matchup, Pearson owns a 150–67 record in NSIC play. While Minnesota Duluth has not yet cracked the WBCA Coaches Poll Top 25, the Bulldogs have received votes in each of the last two weeks.
As a team, UMD averages 73.8 points per game while shooting 44.6 percent from the field, 33.3 percent from beyond the arc, and 78.1 percent from the free-throw line. The Bulldogs also post 37.3 rebounds, 3.6 blocks, 14.5 assists, and 7.9 steals per contest.
Sophomore guard Claire Bjorge has started all 14 games this season and leads the team with 13.6 points per game, shooting 46.4 percent from the field. She earned NSIC Player of the Week honors earlier this season after a 25-point performance against Minnesota Crookston, followed by a 17-point outing against Minnesota State Moorhead.
Forward Lexi Karge, a Mankato, Minn. native, has been a steady contributor off the bench, appearing in all 14 games. She averages 10.2 points and a team-high 5.4 rebounds per contest.
Myra Moorjani ranks second on the team in scoring at 13.2 points per game and has recorded 42 assists this season, placing her among the NSIC's top 10 assist leaders.
MSU has won its last two matchups against the Bulldogs, both inside Romano Gymnasium, snapping a nine-game losing streak in the series. Last season, the Mavericks earned an 82–64 victory. In the most recent meeting inside the Taylor Center, Minnesota Duluth came away with a 75–64 win. Overall, the Bulldogs hold a narrow 41–34 advantage in the all-time series.
About the Beavers
This season, the Beavers hold a 7–7 overall record and are 4–6 in NSIC play, including a 3–3 mark on the road. Last week, BSU hosted Southwest Minnesota State but fell in a tightly contested 75–69 matchup. The Beavers rebounded in their second game of the weekend, earning a 76–70 victory over Sioux Falls. Prior to the win against USF, Bemidji State had dropped five straight games, sliding into the lower half of the NSIC standings.
Bemidji State is led by head coach Chelsea Stoltenberg, the 10th head coach in program history. Now in her 11th season at the helm, Stoltenberg holds a 54–165 all-time record in NSIC play.
As a team, the Beavers average 68.7 points per game while shooting 40.5 percent from the field, 31.3 percent from three-point range, and 80.2 percent from the free-throw line, which leads the NSIC. BSU also averages 32.4 rebounds, 2.9 blocks, 10.0 assists, and 6.6 steals per contest.
Kassandra Caron and Evyn Eppinga pace the Beavers offensively, with Caron averaging 18.7 points per game and Eppinga adding 15.5 points per contest. The senior from Eden Prairie, Minn., Caron totaled 36 points, 13 rebounds, three assists, and one block over the two-game weekend. She currently ranks 13th in the NSIC in blocks per game at 0.8. Eppinga leads the Beavers' guards in rebounding this season with 56 total boards.
Aubrey Heyer has started all 14 games for Bemidji State and averages 4.8 points and 7.0 rebounds per game. Her physical presence on the glass ranks her eighth in the conference, as she averages 1.4 offensive and 6.1 defensive rebounds per contest.
Minnesota State holds a 40–15 advantage in the all-time series against the Beavers and has won the last five matchups, averaging 85.8 points per game during that stretch. Most recently, the Mavericks defeated BSU 92–64 inside the Taylor Center in Jan. 2025. The last Bemidji State victory over Minnesota State came in Jan. 2021, when the Mavericks fell by six points.
