ABERDEEN, S.D. - The Winona State University women's basketball team will look to complete the NSIC sweep today, Saturday Jan. 22 as they take on the Northern State University Wolves in Aberdeen, S.D.
The Warriors (8-9, 5-8 NSIC) and the Wolves (10-7, 7-5 NSIC) both won on Friday night, with Winona State defeating Minnesota State - Moorhead, 75-66 and Northern State navigating past Upper Iowa, 71-62.
Read on for more regarding Saturday's showdown which will tip off at 4pm in Wachs Arena on the campus of Northern State University.
Who: Winona State University vs Northern State University
What: The Warriors (8-9, 5-8 NSIC) will face the Wolves (10-7, 7-5 NSIC)
When: Saturday, January 22 with a 4pm CST start.
Where: Wachs Arena on the campus of Northern State University
Winona State - Northern State WBB Notables:
Winona State Warriors:
The Warriors will travel to Moorhead, Minn. and take on MSUM on Friday, Jan. 21 and then to Aberdeen, S.D. to take on Northern State on Saturday, Jan. 22. WSU is 6-5 away from home this season.
Winona State features one of the best frontcourt tandems across the league in Emma Fee and Taylor Hustad. Both individuals are in the top-10 in the NSIC for rebounds and have combined for five double-figure rebound games each.
Winona State is averaging 61.8 points/game on the offensive end and give up 64.6 points/game on the defensive end for a scoring margin of -2.8.
WSU doesn't get to the charity stripe often, but when they do, they capitalize on the opportunity as they shoot .766 from the free-throw line which is the third-highest percentage in the NSIC.
The Warriors have a balanced scoring attack, with Taylor Hustad leading the way at 11.6 points/game. Emily Kieck averages 10.4 points/game as the only other Warrior in double figures. Four other players average at least seven points/game for WSU.
Hustad also leads the team in rebounds (7.3/game) and is fifth in the NSIC in rebounding. She is also second in field goal percentage at .538.
Kieck is in the top-15 within the NSIC for assists (3.5/game) and assist/turnover ratio (1.2). She is also second in the league in free-throw percentage, shooting .852 from the line.
Caitlin Riley has been the Warriors main 3-point shooter this season, averaging 2.3 makes from deep per game, which is the fifth most int the NSIC.
Emma Fee has been a staple down low for WSU, averaging 9.3 points/game and leads Winona State with three double-digit rebounding games.
After the Warriors wrap up their travel to MSU Moorhead and Northern State, WSU returns home for contests against the University of Mary and Minot State on Jan. 28-29.
Heading into the weekend, what's up with the Wolves:
Northern State enters today's contest with a record of 10-7 (7-5 NSIC), the Wolves are currently tied for sixth overall in the NSIC and are fourth in the north division
Northern extended their win streak to three games and remained undefeated against NSIC South opponents last weekend with a sweep of Southwest Minnesota State (74-64) and Sioux Falls (60-59)
Following a big weekend on the court,
Laurie Rogers was named NSIC North Division Player of the Week, averaging 18.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 5.5 blocks per game in the two contests
Rogers leads the NSIC and is third nationally with 3.4 blocks per game, she has recorded five or more blocks in four consecutive games and six times this season
With a layup in the second quarter of Friday's game against SMSU,
Lexi Roe became the 35
th player in program history to reach 1,000 career points and the 25
th player to reach 1,000 career points and 500 career rebounds
This season NSU is averaging 65.6 points, 40.0 rebounds, 10.6 assists, 14.9 turnovers, 6.6 steals, and 4.6 blocks per game
The Wolves are shooting the ball 40.0 percent from the field, 27.3 percent from 3-point range, and 74.8 percent from the free throw line
Northern State remains the league leader and are 44
th nationally in rebounding margin at 6.5, the Wolves have recorded a double digit rebound margin on four different occasions this season
NSU's 234 made free throws ranks 17
th nationally and second in the NSIC, they average 14.6 made free throws per game
While
Rianna Fillipi leads the team in assists (5.1) and steals (2.3), she is one of only ten players nationally to average 12.0+ points, 4.0+ rebounds, 5.0+ assists, and 2+ steals per game
Kailee Oliverson leads four Northern players averaging double figures in scoring with 13.9 points per game, which is tied for ninth in the NSIC
Northern State will travel to Concordia, St. Paul and Minnesota State next weekend, for games on Jan. 28-29.
For the most up-to-date news in Warrior Athletics, please visit: www.WINONASTATEWARRIORS.com and @WinonaStateATH.
About Winona State University Athletics:
The Winona State University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, as an integral part of the educational mission of the institution, is committed to offering opportunities to experience academic and athletic excellence for our student-athletes through two simple words: Graduate Champions.
Fourteen Warrior programs compete at the NCAA Division II level within the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). Winona State University competes as an affiliate member of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) in the sport of women's gymnastics
