Aberdeen, S.D. – The northern state women's basketball team opens the conference season against MSU Moorhead Saturday afternoon from Wachs Arena. Tip-off is scheduled for 4 p.m. against the Dragons. Wolves open the conference season with a 2-3 record with wins over Arkansas Tech and Presentation College.
 
Last Weekend, the Wolves traveled to Emporia State to compete in a Thanksgiving Classic as they dropped both games. In the first game, the Wolves dropped a game to East Central by a final score of 52-58. Lexi Wadsworth led the Wolves with 13 points on the game and Brianna Kusler recorded double figures with 10 points. In game two, they faced off against #24 Emporia State and fell by a final score of 60-72. Kusler led the Wolves with her first double-double of the season scoring 10 and picking up 10 rebounds.
 
About the Wolves

• Northern State heads into the NSIC opener with a 2-3 record overall, notching wins over Arkansas Tech and Presentation College.
• The Wolves were picked eight overall in the league and fourth in the North Division in the NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll.
• Prior to last weekend and the return of Brianna Kusler, NSU had been out their two returning starters from a season ago.
• Northern is shooting 43.3 percent from the floor, 33.7 percent from the 3-point line, and 71.3 percent from the foul line this season.
• The Wolves are averaging 68.0 points, 38.0 rebounds, 15.4 assists, 14.4 turnovers, 3.8 steals, and 2.0 blocks per game this season.
• They are out-scoring their opponents by 2.4 points and out-rebounding their opponents by 6.8 boards per game.
• True freshman Lexi Wadsworth leads four Wolves averaging double figures, notching 11.6 points per game.
• Sara Tvedt is close behind recording 11.0, while Brianna Kusler and Brooke Luitjens are notching 10.5 and 10.2 points per game.
• Tvedt is shooting a team leading 51.6 percent from the floor, while Wadsworth is shooting a team best 53.3 percent from the arc.
• Following her return last weekend, Kusler leads the team averaging 7.5 rebounds per game, followed by Tvedt with 7.0 and Wadsworth with 5.4.
• Luitjens has knocked down a team best 11 made 3-pointers, and leads the Wolves with 17 total assists this season.

 
About the Dragons

• MSU Moorhead enters league action with a 4-2 record overall, coming off a 2-0 weekend from the Holiday Inn Classic versus Metro State and Colorado Christian.
• Moorhead was picked second overall in the league and in the NSIC North in the preseason coaches' poll.
• The Dragons are shooting 38.6 percent from the floor, 28.9 percent from the 3-point line, and 76.4 percent from the foul line this season.
• They are averaging 61.5 points, 44.8 rebounds, 12.8 assists, 14.3 turnovers, 5.2 steals, and 2.2 blocks per game.
• Moorhead is out-scoring their opponents by 6.8 points and out-rebounding their opponents by 12.2 boards per game.
• Morgan Hintz and Kiley Borowicz lead the team averaging 12.5 and 12.3 points per game respectively, while Hintz also grabbing a team leading 10.5 rebounds per game.
• Peyton Boom is shooting team best 63.3 percent from the floor, and Jacky Volkert leads the team with 26 assists, averaging 4.3 per game.
• MSUM is led by head coach Karla Nelson in her 19th season with the program.

 
Last Match-Up

• Northern split with Moorhead a season ago, winning 69-65 and falling 64-61.
• NSU shot 42.6 percent from the floor in the win, and 35.7 percent from the floor in the loss.
• Miranda Ristau led the team in the victory with a then career high 29 points and 14 rebounds.
• Jill Conrad led the team in the road loss with 20 points, while Ristau grabbed 12 points and 13 rebounds.
• The Wolves are 46-24 all-time versus MSU Moorhead, and 11-10 in the past ten seasons.
• The two teams first matched up in the 1980-81 season with the Wolves winning 86-40.