Aberdeen, S.D. – The No. 19 Northern State University women's basketball team returns home this Friday and Saturday for a pair of North Division contests against U-Mary and Minot State. The Wolves will tip-off on Friday at 6 p.m. against the Marauders and on Saturday at 4 p.m. versus the Beavers.
The Wolves enter the weekend after two double figure victories over Concordia-St. Paul and Minnesota State, while remaining at No. 19 in the latest WBCA Top-25 poll. Northern is 11-2 overall and 7-1 in the NSIC, sitting first in the NSIC North and third in the league overall standings. NSU is shooting 46.1 percent from the floor, 38.1 percent from the arc, and 73.8 percent from the foul line, while averaging 74.9 points, 45.4 rebounds, 17.8 assists, 14.3 turnovers, 4.9 steals, and 3.9 blocks per game this season.
Miranda Ristau is leading the team averaging 18.5 points and 7.7 rebounds per game, shooting a team leading 54.1 percent from the floor.
Jill Conrad is second on the team averaging 12.7 points and 6.0 rebounds per game, shooting 52.0 percent from the floor.
Brianna Kusler has dished out a team leading 42 assists and leads the team shooting 46.2 percent from the 3-point line. Ristau leads the NSIC in scoring averaging against league opponents at 19.4 points per game and blocked shots averaging 3.4 per game. Kusler sits fourth in total assists with 30, averaging 3.8 per game, and third in assist/turnover ratio at 2.3.
Gabby Laimer is fourth shooting 50.0 percent from the 3-point line against NSIC opponents.
About the Marauders
• The University of Mary enters the weekend 6-8 overall and 2-6 in the league.
• The Marauders are shooting 40.9 percent from the floor, 31.8 percent from the arc, and 64.9 percent from the foul line, while averaging 65.8 points, 40.1 rebounds, 13.1 assists, 16.6 turnovers, 6.9 steals, and 4.6 blocks per game this season.
• Gabbie Bohl is leading the team averaging 18.2 points per game, followed by Cassi Askvig averaging 14.0 points and a team leading 9.7 rebounds per game.
• Lauren Rotunda is the final Marauder averaging double figures at 10.3 points per game, while leading the team with 45 assists.
• Bohl is shooting a team leading 52.4 percent from the floor, while Dani Williams is shooting a team leading 42.6 percent from the 3-point line.
• U-Mary is led by head coach Rick Neumann in his fifth season with the program, where he holds a career record of 61-56 through the first four.
Last Match-Up
• The Wolves defeated the Marauders 72-61 on the road earlier this season.
•
Sara Tvedt led the team with a career high 20 points off the bench, shooting 72.7 percent from the floor.
• Northern is 34-12 all-time against U-Mary and 7-2 in the last four seasons.
About the Beavers
• Minot State hits the road with a 6-6 record overall and 3-5 mark in the NSIC.
• The Beavers are shooting 40.0 percent from the floor, 31.9 percent from the arc, and 75.9 percent from the foul line, while averaging 65.0 points, 41.7 rebounds, 13.8 assists, 16.2 turnovers, 6.4 steals, and 1.9 blocks per game this season.
• Holly Johnson leads the team averaging 15.5 points per game, while Kristal Flowers is notching 11.5 points and a team leading 9.5 rebounds per game.
• Flowers is shooting a team leading 57.3 percent from field goal range, as five Beavers are shooting 30.0 percent or better from the arc.
• Kari Clements leads the team with 32 total assists, averaging 2.7 per game.
• Minot State is led by head coach Mark Graupe in his first season with the program.
Last Match-Up
• The Wolves defeated the Beavers 77-58 earlier this season.
•
Miranda Ristau led three scorers in double figures with 18 points, while
Jill Conrad tallied 13 points and a team leading ten rebounds.
• NSU tallied 19 second chance points off 17 offensive boards as they out-rebounded Minot 51-34 in the game.
• Northern is 26-6 all-time against Minot State and 7-2 in the last four seasons.
