Aberdeen, S.D. – The No. 16 Northern State University women's basketball team will tip-off NSIC action this weekend on the road at Minot State and U-Mary. The Wolves are slated to face the Beavers at 6 p.m. on Friday and the Marauders at 4 p.m. on Saturday.
 
The #16 Wolves enter the NSIC opener with a 4-1 record overall. Northern holds two top-5 wins this season over No. 3 Harding and No. 5 CSU Pueblo. The Wolves are shooting 48.3 percent from the floor, 41.2 percent from the arc, and 76.7 percent from the foul line this season. They are averaging 79.2 points 42.2 rebounds, 16.6 assists, 15.6 turnovers, 4.8 steals, and 2.6 blocks per game.  NSU is out-scoring their opponents by 13.6 points per game, and out-rebounding their opponents by 11.6 boards per game. Miranda Ristau is leading the team averaging 17.0 points and 7.0 rebounds per game, while shooting a team leading 66.1 percent from the floor. Jessi Marti is second on the team averaging 12.2 points, while shooting 50.0 percent from the floor and the 3-point line. Alexis Tappe has a team leading 14 assists, followed by Marti and Brianna Kusler with 12 each.  Tappe and Kusler have been stealthy on defense with seven and six steals apiece.  Northern State seniors Miranda Ristau and Jill Conrad are on the hunt for 1,000 career points in 2017-18. Conrad currently has 946 points, while Ristau has 911.
 
About the Beavers
                • Minot State enters the weekend with a 4-1 record overall and 1-0 mark in NSIC action.
                • The Beavers are shooting 40.7 percent from the floor, 34.6 percent from the arc, and 80.6 percent from the foul line this season.
                • They are averaging 75.4 points, 50.0 rebounds, 15.0 turnovers, 15.8 assists, 8.0 steals, and 2.0 blocks per game.
                • Holly Johnson leads four Beavers averaging double figures with 14.8 points per game.
                • Kristal Flowers is leading the team averaging 11.5 rebounds, with a team second best 13.5 points per game, while shooting a team leading 58.1 percent from the floor.
                • MSU is led by head coach Mark Graupe in his first season with the program.
 
Last Match-Up
                • The Wolves swept the Beavers in 2016-17 with scores of 74-53 and 76-66.
                • In the home win, Jill Conrad led three in double figures with 14 points, shooting 54.5 percent.
                • Conrad again led the team in the second contest with 19 points and nine rebounds.
                • Northern is 25-6 all-time against Minot State and 3-1 in the last two seasons.
 
About the Marauders
                • U-Mary enters the weekend with a 4-3 record overall and 0-1 mark in league action.
                • The Marauders are shooting 41.9 percent from the floor, 30.5 percent from the arc, and 62.5 percent from the charity stripe.
                • They are averaging 69.3 points, 42.1 rebounds, 13.9 assists, 17.4 turnovers, 8.1 steals, and 4.0 blocks per game.
                • Gabbie Bohl is leading the team averaging 17.8 points and a team second best 6.8 rebounds per game, while shooting a team leading 66.1 percent from the floor.
                • Cassie Askvig notches a team leading 9.8 rebounds, and team second best 13.8 points per game.
                • The Marauders are led by head coach Rick Neumann in his sixth season at the helm.
 
Last Match-Up
                • Northern split with U-Mary a season ago, winning the home contest, 59-38, and 69-56 falling on the road.
                • Jill Conrad led the team in the win with 14 points, and a team second best six rebounds.
                • Conrad again led the team in the loss with 23 points and eight rebounds.
                • The Wolves are 32-12 all-time against the Marauders and 5-1 in the last three seasons.