Aberdeen, S.D. – The No. 20 Northern State University women's basketball team is set to host Wayne State and No. 11 Augustana this weekend from Wachs Arena. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Friday against the Wildcats and 4 p.m. on Saturday versus the Vikings.
The No. 20 Northern State University Wolves enter the match-up on a 4-game NSIC win streak, after a 2-0 weekend at home against U-Mary and Minot State. The Wolves are currently shooting 46.4 percent from the floor, 37.0 percent from the 3-point line, and 75.0 percent from the foul line. NSU is averaging 74.3 points, 44.2 rebounds, 17.9 assists, 13.9 turnovers, 5.1 steals, and 3.6 blocks per game. They are out-scoring their opponents by 13.3 points and out-rebounding their opponents by 13.5 boards per game. Against league opponents the Wolves rank second in scoring margin (+13.1), third in field goal percentage (44.7), first in field goal percentage defense (34.2), third in 3-point percentage (35.4), first in rebounding margin (+15.5), second in assists (18.5), first in offensive boards (13.4), and first in defensive boards (34.0).
Miranda Ristau is leading the team averaging 18.6 points and 7.6 rebounds per game, while shooting a team leading 54.7 percent from the floor.
Jill Conrad is second on the team averaging 12.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per game.
Brianna Kusler and
Alexis Tappe lead the team with 49 and 44 assists respectively this season, while each notching a team leading 16 steals.
About the Wildcats
• Wayne State is 14-4 overall and 8-2 in the NSIC heading into the weekend.
• The Wildcats are shooting 44.0 percent from the floor, 35.0 percent from the arc, and 79.9 percent from the foul line.
• WSC is averaging 77.1 points, 38.3 rebounds, 16.1 assists, 14.2 turnovers, 9.2 steals, and 5.1 blocks per game this season.
• Wayne is second in the league in scoring offense, averaging 74.2 points per game, and field goal percentage (45.1) against NSIC opponents.
• They currently lead the NSIC shooting 79.1 percent from the foul line.
• Senior Paige Ballinger is leading the team averaging 11.6 points, followed by Maggie Schulte averaging 10.6 points and a team leading 6.6 rebounds per game.
• Andrea Larson is shooting a team leading 59.1 percent from the floor, while Kacie O'Connor has knocked down a team leading 25 made 3-pointers.
• Wayne State is led by head coach Chris Kleismeier in his tenth season at the helm.
Last Match-Up
• The Wolves fell to the Wildcats 87-82 on the road last season.
• Conrad and Ristau led the team in the loss with 22 and 21 points respectively. Conrad notched a double-double with 11 rebounds, while adding a team leading three assists.
• Northern is 21-27 all-time against Wayne State, splitting the last two seasons.
About the Vikings
• Augustana has opened the season on a hot streak going a perfect 14-0 overall and 10-0 in the NSIC.
• The Vikings are shooting 46.1 percent from the floor, 35.4 percent from the arc, and 79.5 percent from the foul line this season.
• They are averaging 83.6 points, 38.4 rebounds, 13.5 turnovers, 12.6 steals, and 5.8 blocks per game this season.
• AU leads the league in scoring offense, scoring margin, field goal percentage, blocked shots, assists, and steals in contests against NSIC opponents.
• Logan and Presley O'Farrell lead the team averaging 14.1 and 13.6 points respectively, while Logan notching a team leading 6.1 rebounds per game and Presley shooting a team leading 57.6 percent from the floor.
• Shelby Selland and Paige Peterson are also in double figures averaging 11.1 and 10.9 points per game this season.
• Augustana is led by head coach Dave Krauth in his 29th season at the helm, holding a career record of 577-254.
Last Match-Up
• The Wolves fell to the Vikings 76-71 in 2016-17 on the road.
• Conrad led four in double figures with 19 points, while Ristau tallied 11 points and 13 rebounds.
• Northern is 24-22 all-time against Augustana, splitting the last two seasons.
