WINONA, Minn. – The Winona State University women's basketball team is set for a showdown with the NSIC South leading Sioux Falls Cougars on Saturday afternoon after first traveling to Southwest Minnesota State on Friday for a weekend doubleheader.
The Warriors are coming off a big weekend sweep over Minnesota Crookston and Bemidji State and currently sit in second place in the NSIC South behind Sioux Falls. WSU enters the weekend with a record of 12-4 (8-4 NSIC). The Warriors are 6-1 away from home this season.
Winona State ranks fifth in the NSIC in scoring offense (73.1 ppg) and ninth in scoring defense (67.4). The Warriors shot better than 45% or better in both wins last weekend, including a scorching effort from beyond the arc (44%).
That red-hot shooting percentage was aided by junior Allie Pickrain who had her biggest weekend of the season. Pickrain averaged 24 points, three rebounds and 1.5 assists in the sweep while knocking down five triples each night. She scored a season-best 21 points against Crookston before topping that with a career-best 27 points against Bemidji State. Pickrain is shooting 40% from downtown and ranks second in the NSIC in made three-pointers/game (2.6).
Taylor Hustad continues to average nearly a double-double on the year, ranking first in the NSIC in rebounding (9.2) and 11th in scoring (14.6). Emily Kieck leads the league in assists (5.3) while averaging 9.3 ppg. The junior's assist average ranks 16th in the country. Sydney Lodermeier (8.6), Caitlin Riley (8.6) and Emma Fee (7.7) round out the Warriors' balanced scoring attack.
Collectively, Winona State has excelled by protecting the ball and making second-chance points count. The Warriors rank seventh in offensive rebounds/game (10.8) and have committed the fourth-fewest turnovers in the league (215).
Scouting SMSU
The Mustangs (9-8, 4-8 NSIC) have won three in a row but are just 2-4 on their home court. SMSU ranks in the middle of the pack in scoring offense (70.2 ppg) and scoring defense (67.6). However, the Mustangs are shooting just 37.7% from the field as a team. SMSU does protect the three-point line defensively, holding teams to a league-leading 27.3% clip. The Mustangs are also one of the best offensive rebounding teams in the NSIC (11.8).
Meleah Reinhart leads the team and ranks sixth in the NSIC in scoring (15.8) with Jenna Borchers averaging 13.4 ppg. Abuk Akoi ranks fourth in the league in rebounding (8.1) and has an NSIC-best 2.5 blocks/game.
Winona State has won 10 straight matchups with SMSU with the last loss coming on January 17, 2014.
Scouting Sioux Falls
The Cougars (17-2, 10-2 NSIC) have won eight straight and host Upper Iowa on Friday before Saturday's finale vs. WSU. Sioux Falls ranks second in the conference in scoring offense (77.7 ppg) and seventh in scoring defense (65.2). The Cougars are fifth in offensive rebounds (11.0) and have committed the second-fewest turnovers in the league (204).
Kaely Hummel ranks third in the NSIC in scoring (17.9) while Jacey Huinker ranks second behind Hustad in rebounding (9.1). Mriah Szymanski (11.5) and Anna Goodhope (10.6) round out the scoring leaders. Hummel is dangerous all over the court as she is shooting 42.3% overall, including a 43.5% clip from outside with a league-leading 2.8 three-pointers made/game.
Sioux Falls and WSU have split their last six meetings, each winning on their respective home courts over that span.
