WINONA, Minn. – The Winona State University Warriors return home for the first time in nearly a month, sporting a 7-0 record, and are off to their best start since 2015-16 (13-0). WSU hosts Minnesota State Mankato on Friday at 5:30 p.m. and Concordia-St. Paul on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
The Warriors came from behind in both road wins last weekend and look to continue their hot start in front of their home fans in McCown Gymnasium with a pair of NSIC games this weekend. Winona State closes the homestand against Upper Iowa next Saturday.
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SCOUTING MANKATO: The Mavericks enter Friday's contest with a 4-2 (1-1 NSIC) record and are coming off a 66-61 loss to No. 11 Sioux Falls last Saturday. The Mavericks give up the fourth-most points per game in the NSIC (68.2 ppg) which the Warriors (77.7) will look to take advantage of. The key for WSU will be stopping the Mavericks up-tempo offense as Minnesota State leads the conference in scoring (81.0), opponent turnovers (23.0), and steals (13.67) per game. The Mavericks rival the Warriors scoring balance with eight players averaging at least five points/game, compared to WSU's seven. Tayla Stuttley (10.7) and Kirstin Klitzke (10.2) are the scoring leaders.
SCOUTING CSP: The Golden Bears enter the weekend with a 4-4 (1-1 NSIC) record and are coming off a nail-biting 82-79 overtime victory over SMSU last Saturday. CSP has struggled on defense this year, allowing the second-most points in the NSIC (69.0 ppg) while giving up the fourth most three-pointers in the conference this year (58). The Golden Bears are solid in the paint as they are third in the NSIC in blocks/game (4.25) and are led by Sidney Wentland (2.0). The Golden Bears have four players averaging double figures in scoring and are led by Wentland (13.3) and Meghan DuBois (11.6). Four CSP players are in the top seven for minutes played in the NSIC, which has led them to struggle to defend in the fourth quarter.
PUTTING UP POINTS: The Warriors are currently averaging 77.7 ppg, which ranks third in the NSIC and 41st in the nation. Winona State has five players averaging double digits in the scoring column through seven games while six players are averaging at least nine points/game. Thanks to quality defense (65.1 ppg), the Warriors own a solid +12.6 scoring margin on the season, which ranks sixth in the league. WSU hasn't scored less than 72 points in a game this season and has topped the 80-point mark three times. The Warriors scoring is helped by a very efficient offense that shoots 42% from the field and 34.5% from three.
ELDER STATESMEN: The junior trio of Allie Pickrain, Emily Kieck, and Taylor Hustad have been leading the Warriors all season. Pickrain currently leads the team in scoring (12.4 ppg) after averaging 10.8 as a Second Team All-NSIC selection in 2018-19. Kieck is second in the NSIC in assists/game (4.4) and her 2.38 assist-to-turnover ratio ranks her 28th in the nation. Hustad has been a menace in the paint this year, having recorded three double-doubles in seven games and nearly recording a fourth against Wayne State (8 points, 9 rebounds).
REUNITED: Redshirt Junior Taylor Klug is very familiar with Minnesota State basketball, as she played in Mankato for her first two seasons of college. While at MSU she averaged 9.3 PPG on 40% shooting from the field and 35% from three. Klug started off the year slow, but has come alive as of late, scoring in double figures in each of the previous three games, including a season-high 12 points against Wayne State last Saturday.
FINISHING STRONG: While it hasn't always been easy, the Warriors have been able to maintain their perfect 7-0 record with some exciting fourth quarter performances and gritty overtime wins. The Warriors have outscored their opponents by 31 (155-124) in the fourth quarter and an amazing 18 points (22-4) in overtime this season.
