Aberdeen, S.D. – The Northern State University women's basketball team opens the 2018-19 season at the Central Region Challenge. The Wolves face Pittsburg State Friday morning at 11:30 a.m. and Saturday afternoon against Arkansas Tech at 1:30 p.m.
 
•  The Wolves enter the 2018-19 season with the hopes to return to the National Tournament for the fourth straight season.
                • Northern State beat Arkansas Tech in the Quarterfinal round of the Central Region last season but dropped to rival Augustana in the Semifinal round of the Central Region.
                •  Paula Krueger is in her first season as head coach for the Wolves after being the assistant under Coach Fredrickson for the past three seasons.
                •  NSU returns two starters in Jessi Marti and Brianna Kusler who started a combined 56 games last season.
                •  Brianna Kusler was named as player to watch for the Wolves playing in every game last season averaging 7.4 points and averaged 29.7 minutes per game.
                •  The two seniors on the roster Anika Fredrick and Tori Mekash each played in a combined 45 games last season averaging 6.5 minutes per game.
                • The Wolves as a team last season averaged 74.5 points per game, allowed 61.4 points per game, 42.8 rebounds a game, shooting 46.9 percent from the field and 37.8 percent from the 3-pt line.
                • Northern returns 11 players from last years roster, while bringing in six newcomers.
 
About Pittsburg State:
                • Pittsburg State enters the 2018-19 campaign after posting a 23-7 record after losing to Fort Hays State in the MIAA semi-finals.
                • The Gorillas enter the MIAA preseason sixth in the coaches poll and fifth in the media poll entering the 2018-19 season.
                • Pitt State return one starter and seven letterwinner from the 2017-18 season. Shelby Lopez averaged 11.0 points and 3.2 rebounds per game a season ago.
                •Athena Alvarado contributed 6.7 points and 3.1 rebounds per game.
                •Amanda Davied takes over the Pitt State program after 14 years as the assistant coach for the Gorillas.
 
Last Match-Up:
                • The Wolves only matchup with Pittsburg State was in the 2014-15 season, where the Wolves lost by a final score of 60-53 in the Central Region Tournament.
                • Sadie Stotesbery led the team with 14 points and eight rebounds, and Rachel Krogman finished the game with a double-double with 12 points and 14 rebounds.
 
About Arkansas Tech:
 
• The Golden Suns enter the 2018-19 campaign at after posting a 26-4 record winning the 2018 GAC Tournament and dropping to Northern State in the first round of the Central Region Tournament.
                • Arkansas Tech reached the Central Region a season ago for just the fourth straigth season and the fourth consecutive 20-plus-win season.
                • Arkansas Teck was also picked second in the GAC Preseason Poll, while Jayana Sanders and Lyrik Williams were named to all-conference teams last season.
                • Williams appeared in all 30 games and averaged 12.9 points and 8.1 rebounds per game, while shooting 44.9 percent from the floor.
                • Sanders also appeared 27 games, averaging 12.3 points and 1.9 assists per game, while shooting 42.7 percent from the floor.
                • Golden Suns is led by head coach Dave Wilbers in his eleventh season at the helm.
 
Last Match-Up
                • The two teams first matched up a season ago in the NCAA Central Region Quarterfinals.
                • Miranda Ristau picked up an three-point play that gave Northern their first lead with 8:13 left to go in regulation. She finished with 25 points and 12 rebounds
                • Jill Conrad finished the game with 20 points and nine rebounds, shooting a perfect 10-10 from the free-throw line.
                • NSU tallied 6 points off turnovers and 36 points in the paint, and 14 second chance points in the win.