Aberdeen, S.D. – The No. 12 Northern State University women's basketball team returns to the court tomorrow against a familiar foe in MSU Moorhead. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. between the Wolves and Dragons from Alex Nemzek Hall. The game will also be aired on MidcoSN as the NSIC Game of the Week.
 
The Wolves enter the match-up as the only unbeaten team in the North, while sitting second in the overall league standings behind Augustana. NSU is shooting 46.5 percent from the floor, 37.6 percent from the arc, and 71.2 percent from the foul line this season, while averaging 75.4 points, 45.5 rebounds, 17.3 assists, 14.0 turnovers, 4.9 steals, and 3.6 blocks per game. On average, the Wolves are out-scoring their opponents by 13.7 points, and out-rebounding their opponents by 13.6 boards per game. The Wolves lead the NSIC in league contests in field goal percentage defense, rebounding margin, offensive rebounds, defensive rebounds, and assist/turnover ratio.
 
Miranda Ristau leads the team averaging 19.1 points and 7.3 rebounds per game, after two straight 29 point outings. Ristau is also shooting a team leading 56.3 percent from the floor, followed by Jill Conrad shooting 51.6 percent. Conrad is second on the team averaging 11.9 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. Brianna Kusler and Alexis Tappe sit one-two on the team with 31 and 30 assists apiece, while Kusler sitting fourth in the NSIC in assist/turnover ratio. Brynn Flakus is leading the team from the 3-point line, shooting 46.2 percent following by Kusler, Jessi Marti, and Conrad each shooting above 40.0 percent. Tappe is the lone Wolf in double figure steals this season with 13, while Ristau holds a team leading 24 blocks.
 
About the Dragons
                • MSU Moorhead head enters the contest with a 6-3 record overall and 3-2 mark in the league.
                • The Dragons are shooting 40.6 percent from the floor, 34.5 percent from the arc, and 75.6 percent from the foul line, while averaging 71.0 points, 43.0 rebounds, 15.4 assists, 11.9 turnovers, 5.8 steals, and 2.0 blocks per game.
                • MSUM is both out-scoring their opponents by 10.7 points and out-rebounding their opponents by 7.3 boards per game this season.
                • Drew Sannes and Jacky Volkert lead the team averaging 12.4 and 12.0 points per game, while Sannes is notching a team leading 9.8 rebounds per game this season.
                • Megan Hintz is shooting a team leading 55.2 percent from the floor, while Brooklyn Liegel is shooting a team leading 54.5 percent from the arc.
                • Volkert leads the team with 46 assists and 13 steals.
                • 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 defeated the Dragons 69-65 last Friday from Wachs Arena.
                • Northern shot 42.6 percent from the floor, 18.2 percent from the arc, and 75.0 percent from the foul line, while Moorhead shot 37.7 percent from the floor, 36.7 percent from the arc, and 53.3 percent from the foul line.
                • Miranda Ristau led the team with her second double-double notching a career high tying 29 points and adding 14 rebounds.
                • Ristau and Conrad both became members of the NSU 1,000 point club, as Conrad grabbed a season high 18 points of her own.
                • The Wolves out-rebounded the Dragons 49-32 and tallied 16 second chance points off of 16 offensive boards.