Aberdeen, S.D. – The No. 19 Northern State University women's basketball team is set to hit the road for their New Year's contests against Concordia-St. Paul and Minnesota State. The Wolves will tip-off with the Golden Bears at 4 p.m. on Saturday, and with the Mavericks at 2 p.m. on Sunday.
 
The Northern State University Wolves head into the weekend after sliding seven spots to No. 19 in the WBCA Top-25 Poll, after an overtime loss to MSU Moorhead. The Wolves are now 9-2 overall and 5-1 in the NSIC, leading the North Division and sitting third overall. NSU is shooting 45.6 percent from the floor, 37.2 percent from the arc, and 72.4 percent from the foul line, while averaging 74.1 points, 45.4 rebounds, 16.9 assists, 14.1 turnovers, 4.7 steals, and 3.6 blocks per game. Northern is out-scoring their opponents by 12.2 points and out-rebounding their opponents by 12.6 boards per game this season. They sit atop the league in field goal percentage defense, rebounding margin, and defensive rebounds.
 
Miranda Ristau and Jill Conrad lead the team averaging 18.5 and 12.6 points per game, while shooting 54.8 and 51.9 percent from the floor. Brynn Flakus leads the team shooting 46.2 percent from the 3-point line, while Jessi Marti has knocked down a team leading 13 3-pointers. Ristau is averaging 7.8 boards per game, and leading the team with 27 blocks. She also leads the NSIC against league opponents in scoring averaging and blocks per game. Brianna Kusler and Alexis Tappe lead the team with 35 and 32 assists a piece this season, with Kusler sitting in the top-5 of the NSIC.
 
About the Golden Bears
• Concordia-St. Paul enters the weekend 4-7 overall and 1-4 in the NSIC.
• The Golden Bears are shooting 38.0 percent from the floor, 29.5 percent from the arc, and 74.1 percent from the foul line, while averaging 61.5 points, 31.5 rebounds, 10.9 assists, 15.8 turnovers, 6.8 steals, and 3.0 blocks per game this season.
• Anna Schmitt leads the team averaging 21.8 points, as the only scorer in double figures, while shooting a team leading 50.8 percent from the floor.
• Kyrah Fredenburg is leading the team averaging 9.3 rebounds per game, while Lindsay Dorr is second on the team averaging 6.6 boards per game.
• The Golden Bears are led by head coach Amanda Johnson in her second full-time season with the program.
 
Last Match-Up
• Northern defeated Concordia-St. Paul 66-52 from Wachs Arena in 2016-17.
• Miranda Ristau and Paige Waytashek led the team with 16 and 15 points apiece, while Ristau grabbed a team leading eight rebounds.
• NSU scored 14 points off turnovers and shot 50.0 percent from the 3-point line.
• The Wolves are 21-15 all-time against the Golden Bears.
 
About the Mavericks
• Minnesota State enters the weekend 4-7 overall and 2-3 in the league.
• The Mavericks are shooting 37.0 percent from the floor, 28.6 percent from the arc, and 64.5 percent from the foul line, while averaging 63.8 points, 40.2 rebounds, 9.8 assists, 16.9 turnovers, 7.1 steals, and 3.0 blocks per game.
• Claire Ziegler is the lone Maverick averaging double figures this season, with a team leading 10.5 points per game.
• She is also notching a team leading 6.3 rebounds per game, and shooting a team leading 49.3 percent from the floor.
• Minnesota State is led by head coach Emilee Thiesse in her eight season at the helm.
 
Last Match-Up
• The Wolves defeated Mavericks 62-47 in 2016-17 from Wachs Arena.
• Miranda Ristau led the team with 20 points and ten rebounds, followed by Gabby Laimer with ten points of her own.
• The NSU defense held the Mavericks to 15-of-59 from the floor and 4-of-19 from the 3-point line.
• Northern shot 43.3 percent from the floor and 33.3 percent from the arc.
• The Wolves and Mavericks are 10-10 all-time, with Northern winning the last six contests.