Aberdeen, S.D. – The No. 12 Northern State University women's basketball team is set to face MSU Moorhead this Friday from Wachs Arena. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Friday evening, with the men's game to follow.
The Wolves enter their final home game of 2017 on a seven game win streak, including four straight North Division victories. NSU moved up two spots to No. 12 overall in this week's WBCA Top-25 Poll.
Miranda Ristau leads the team averaging 18.0 points and 6.6 rebounds per game, while shooting a team leading 55.6 percent from the floor.
Jessi Marti leads the team from the arc, shooting 45.8 percent with 11 made 3-pointers.
Jill Conrad is second on the team averaging 11.2 points and 5.4 rebounds per game.
Brianna Kusler and
Alexis Tappe hold a team leading 28 and 27 assists this season, while Tappe as a team leading 13 steals. Seniors Conrad and Ristau are each nearing 1000 career points and 500 career rebounds. Conrad currently has 992 points and 483 rebounds, while Ristau tallies 988 points and 489 rebounds.
The Wolves are shooting 46.9 percent from the floor, 39.2 percent from the arc, and 70.7 percent from the charity stripe. They are averaging 76.1 points, 45.1 rebounds, 17.6 assists, 14.3 turnovers, 5.2 steals, and 3.0 blocks per game thus far in 2017-18. In league contests the Wolves sit third in scoring offense, third in scoring defense, second in scoring margin, third in field goal percentage, first in opponent field goal percentage, third in 3-point field goal percentage, second in offensive rebounds, first in defensive rebounds, and first in assist/turnover ratio.
About the Dragons
• MSU Moorhead enters the match-up with a 6-2 record overall and 3-1 mark in league play after falling to Minnesota Crookston last weekend.
• The Dragons were receiving votes in last week's WBCA Top-25 Poll.
• Drew Sannes was named the NSIC Preseason North Division Player of the Year and leads the team averaging 13.3 points and 9.8 rebounds per game.
• Megan Hintz is shooting a team leading 60.0 percent from the floor, while Jacky Volkert has dished out a team leading 41 assists, averaging 5.13 per game.
• MSUM is shooting 41.0 percent from the floor, 34.1 percent from the 3-point line, and 77.9 percent from the foul line, while averaging 71.8 points, 44.4 rebounds, 15.8 assists, 12.6 turnovers, 5.5 steals, and 2.1 blocks per game.
• Karla Nelson leads the team in her 18th season at the helm holding a career record of 302-182. She was named the 2016-17 NSIC Coach of the Year.
Last Match-Up
• The Wolves fell to the Dragons in both contests in 2016-17, with scores of 51-44 and 69-66.
• Ristau tallied 12 points and 12 rebounds in the first loss of the season, as Northern shot just 30.0 percent from the floor.
• She again led the team in the second match-up with 22 points and nine rebounds.
• The Wolves shot 50.0 percent from the floor, however gave up 18 points off turnovers.
• Northern is 45-25 all-time against the Dragons and 6-4 in the last five seasons.
