MANKATO, Minn. — The Minnesota State women's basketball team will take on No. 8 seed Minnesota Duluth in the opening round of the NCAA Division II Tournament on Friday, March 13, at 5 p.m. MSU will host the Central Region Tournament, with all games scheduled to be played inside the Taylor Center in Mankato.

About the Mavericks
Minnesota State enters the NCAA Tournament with a 29–2 overall record this season after an impressive 27–1 regular season in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play. 

The Mavericks carried that momentum into the NSIC Tournament at the Sanford Pentagon, opening postseason play with a 94–87 victory over St. Cloud State in the quarterfinals on Saturday, Feb. 28. MSU followed with a dominant 80–56 semifinal win over University of Mary. In the championship game, the Mavericks battled Concordia–St. Paul in a tightly contested matchup before falling 79–71 on Tuesday, March 3. 

Despite the loss in the conference title game, MSU remained among the nation's elite and was ranked No. 5 in the latest WBCA national poll.

Earning the No. 1 seed in the 2026 NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Tournament Central Region Tournament, Minnesota State marked another milestone season for the program. It also represents just the second time in program history the Mavericks have hosted the Central Region Tournament, with the previous occurrence coming during their 2009 national championship season.

Under Emilee Thiesse, MSU has now advanced to the NCAA Tournament seven times. Overall, this year's appearance marks the 11th NCAA Tournament berth in program history for the Mavericks, who hold a 17–8 record in NCAA Tournament play. Minnesota State has also captured two national championships, winning titles in 2009 and 2024, further cementing the program's status as one of the premier teams in Division II women's basketball.

Minnesota State Mavericks women's basketball has been one of the most dominant offensive teams in the country this season, averaging 92.1 points per game, which leads the nation in scoring offense. The Mavericks are shooting .453 from the field, .330 from three point range, and .772 from the free throw line, showcasing a balanced and efficient attack across all areas of the floor.

Minnesota State also averages 39.4 rebounds and 17.1 assists per game, demonstrating strong ball movement and a consistent presence on the glass. The Mavericks have been especially effective at turning defense into offense, generating 35.7 points per game off turnovers, a major factor behind their high powered attack.

On the defensive end, MSU has been just as impressive. The Mavericks force 32.7 turnovers per game, the second highest mark in Division II, while averaging a nation leading 20.4 steals per contest. That relentless defensive pressure, paired with an up tempo offense, has helped the Mavericks build a +24.9 scoring margin this season, the second largest in Division II.

Mackenzie Schweim played a key role during the NSIC Tournament. In the quarterfinal matchup against SCSU, Schweim scored 19 points and grabbed four rebounds, marking a career high in points in a game. She followed that performance with 14 points, including two three pointers, and five rebounds in the semifinal win over UMary. Schweim continued her steady play in the championship game against Concordia–St. Paul, contributing 14 points on six made field goals.

Her performances throughout the tournament earned her a spot on the NSIC All Tournament Team. A Mankato, Minn. native, Schweim has started all 31 games this season and averages 11.9 points per game, the second highest mark on the team.

Senior guard, Natalie Bremer delivered several standout performances during the NSIC Tournament. Against St. Cloud State, Bremer led the team with 30 points, knocking down four three pointers and going a perfect 8-8 from the free throw line. In the semifinal matchup against the Mauraders, she recorded 26 points on 9-15 shooting while finishing 7-7 from the line. That performance also cemented her as the all-time leading scorer in school history, surpassing the previous mark across both the men's and women's programs.

Bremer continued her strong play in the championship game against CSP, posting 22 points and 10 rebounds for her first double double of the season. She was also named to the NSIC All Tournament Team and currently ranks sixth in Division II in scoring, averaging 21.9 points per game this season.

Providing a spark off the bench, sophomore Rhyan Holmgren delivered key offensive production during the NSIC Tournament. Holmgren scored 13 points in the quarterfinal matchup against St. Cloud State and followed with 12 points and three steals in the semifinal victory over the University of Mary. The sophomore guard has been a consistent contributor throughout the season with her scoring ability and defensive presence.

Hannah Herzig, a Lino Lakes, Minn. native, made a strong impact on both ends of the floor against St. Cloud State, recording five steals and five assists. Herzig leads the team defensively with 3.10 steals per game, showcasing her ability to disrupt opposing offenses and create transition opportunities.

Senior forward Ava Stier made a strong impact on both ends of the floor throughout the tournament. She recorded 11 points and six steals in the semifinal win over the Marauders, then delivered another standout defensive performance in the championship game against the Golden Bearsl, finishing with five steals and 10 rebounds while helping anchor the defense.

Addison Hoof made her presence felt defensively in the NSIC Championship game, recording four steals and adding four points. The performance marked a career high in steals for the freshman guard.

About the Bulldogs
Minnesota Duluth enters the NCAA Tournament with a 20–8 overall record under the direction of head coach Mandy Pearson. The Bulldogs opened the NSIC Tournament with a 63–45 victory over Winona State in the quarterfinal round before falling to eventual tournament champion Concordia-St. Paul in the semifinal, 81–65.

Minnesota Duluth is no stranger to postseason play. The Bulldogs are making their 16th appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Their most recent trip came during the 2022–23 season when UMD advanced all the way to the NCAA Division II National Championship game before falling to Ashland, 78–67.

Throughout the season, Minnesota Duluth has averaged 71.8 points per game while shooting .443 from the field, .330 from three point range, and .776 from the free throw line. The Bulldogs also average 35.1 rebounds, 14.8 assists, 7.6 steals, and 3.6 blocks per game.

Myra Moorjani leads Minnesota Duluth in scoring with 13.7 points per game this season. In the Bulldogs' most recent contest against Concordia-St. Paul, the senior recorded 25 points and five assists while shooting 6 for 9 from the field and an impressive 12 for 13 from the free throw line.

Ranking second on the team in scoring, Claire Bjorge averages 12.5 points per game this season. She leads the roster with a .450 field goal percentage and also makes an impact defensively, averaging 1.8 steals per game.

Lexi Karge, a senior from Mankato, Minn., averages 10.9 points per game and has been a key presence on the glass. She leads the Bulldogs with 5.1 rebounds per game, including 1.8 offensive and 3.4 defensive boards. Karge also shoots .747 from the free throw line and averages one block per game.

Minnesota Duluth holds a 41–35 advantage in the all-time series against MSU. However, Minnesota State has won the last three meetings between the two programs. The most recent matchup took place on January 16, 2026, inside the Taylor Center, where the Mavericks earned a narrow 81–78 victory. When playing in Mankato, Minnesota State holds a 14–11 record against the Bulldogs.

The last postseason meeting between the two programs occurred on March 11, 2023, in the NCAA Regional Tournament. In that contest, hosted in Duluth, Minn., the Bulldogs defeated MSU 86–70 in the regional semifinal round.