WINONA, Minn. – The Winona State University women's basketball team travels to Minot State and UMary this weekend for its last NSIC North road trip of the regular season. Tipoff at Minot State is set for 5:30 p.m. on Friday with the weekend finale slated for 3:30 p.m. at UMary.
This weekend marks the final three weeks of the regular season as Winona State (14-6, 10-6 NSIC) currently sits second in the South Division standings. The top four teams in each division will host an opening round NSIC Tournament game on Wednesday, February 26.
The Warriors are looking to bounce back from a sluggish offensive weekend in which they were swept at home by Minnesota Duluth and St. Cloud State. WSU averaged just 54 points over two games while shooting a season-low 23% in the finale vs. St. Cloud.
Overall this year, the Warriors rank fifth in the NSIC in scoring offense (71.5 ppg) and are 10th in scoring defense (67.7). Taylor Hustad continues to lead the offense and ranks eighth in the league in scoring (15.1). The junior leads the league in rebounding (8.7) and has tallied nine double-doubles this season. Hustad also leads the NSIC in shooting percentage (56.9%). Her post partner, Emma Fee, is averaging 9.2 ppg and 5.8 rpg.
Allie Pickrain continues to be one of the most lethal three-point shooters in the league, averaging 2.4 triples/game. The junior is averaging 11.3 ppg and shooting 37.9% from downtown. Pickrain scored a career-best 27 points three weeks ago on a weekend that saw her connected on five three-pointers back-to-back nights.
Emily Kieck (8.9), Sydney Lodermeier (8.7) and freshman Caitlin Riley (7.6) round out the Warrior scoring leaders. Kieck has a team-best 93 assists and leads the NSIC with 4.7 assists/game. The junior had a three-game stretch last month where she dished out 21 assists and committed zero turnovers.
Following this road trip, Winona State returns to McCown Gymnasium for its final home weekend of the regular season against Sioux Falls and SMSU on February 14-15.
Scouting Minot State
The Beavers (4-16, 1-15 NSIC) have lost three straight 15 of their last 16 games. They are 3-7 at home this season. Winona State has won three straight and six of its last seven matchups with Minot State. The Warriors' last loss in the series came on January 26, 2018 at Minot, 76-50.
The Beavers rank 14th in the NSIC in scoring offense (62.7 ppg) and 13th in scoring defense (71.1). A key stat for WSU will be slowing Minot State's offensive rebounding as the Beavers rank third in the league in that category (11.3). The Beavers have committed the fifth-most turnovers in the league (342) and on the flip side, Winona State has the third-fewest this season (263).
Mariah Payne leads the team and ranks third in the NSIC in scoring (18.2) with Bethany Theodore (9.6) as the Beavers' next highest scorer. Payne is shooting 39.2% from downtown and ranks second, just ahead of Pickrain, in three-pointers made/game (2.5). Calli Delsman (7.0) is Minot State's top rebounder.
Scouting UMary
The Marauders enter the weekend at 15-10 (9-7 NSIC) and host Upper Iowa on Friday prior to the Warriors arrival Saturday. UMary is 8-3 at home this season. Winona State and UMary have traded wins over the last two seasons, each coming on their respective home courts.
UMary ranks third in the NSIC in scoring offense (74.4 ppg) and is seventh in scoring defense (66.2). The Marauders are the top shooting team in the league (45.4%) and will face a WSU squad that ranks 10th in field goal defense (40.8%). UMary is also one of the top free throw shooting teams (74.7%) and ranks eighth nationally with 343 free throws made. The Marauders will move the ball efficiently as shown by their NSIC-leading 406 assists (fifth nationally).
Macy Williams leads the league with 103 assists and will look to feed the NSIC's top scorer – Cassie Askvig (21.4 ppg). Askvig is shooting 50.3% on the season. Lauren Rotunda (12.1) and Lexie Schneider (10.7) round out the scoring leaders. Rotunda ranks ninth in the conference in rebounding (7.3).
