Aberdeen S.D. - The Northern State University Women's Basketball team is at Wachs Arena for last weekend of the regular season. The Wolves will face University of Minnesota Duluth on Friday and St. Cloud State University on Saturday for Senior Night. Tip-off for Friday against the Bulldogs is set for 6 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Saturday against the Huskies.
 
The Wolves enter the final weekend of the regular season with a 22-4 record overall and 18-3 mark in the NSIC. They sit second in the NSIC North Division standings and third in the league overall standings. NSU is shooting 47.6 percent from the floor, 39.9 percent from the arc, and 73.7 percent from the foul line, while averaging 75.5 points, 42.6 rebounds, 19.4 assists, 13.0 turnovers, 5.1 steals, and 3.3 blocks per game this season. Miranda Ristau and Jill Conrad lead the team averaging 19.2 and 12.1 points per game, and 7.5 and 5.4 rebounds per game. Ristau is shooting a team leading 55.7 percent from the floor with 57 blocks this season. Gabby Laimer leads the team with 29 made 3-pointers and a 42.6 shooting percentage from beyond the arc. Brianna Kusler has dished out a team leading 84 assists, and notched a team high 26 steals this season. Northern currently ranks fifth in the country in field goal percentage (47.6), fourth in assist to turnover ratio (1.49), third in 3-point field goal percentage (39.9), and first in rebounding margin (+13.2).
 
About the Bulldogs
• Minnesota Duluth enters the weekend with a 15-9 record overall and 12-8 mark in the NSIC, where they currently sit fourth in the North Division standings.
• Sammy Kozlowski and Sarah Grow lead the team averaging 11.4 and 10.3 points per game respectively.
• Grow is also notching a team leading 5.8 rebounds per game, and shooting a team high 50.0 percent from the floor.
• Ann Simonet leads the team from the arc with 41 made 3-pointers this season and a 39.0 shooting percentage.
• The Bulldogs are shooting 39.3 percent from the floor, 34.8 percent from the arc, and 67.7 percent from the foul line, while averaging 66.4 points, 37.4 rebounds, 16.5 assists, 11.5 turnovers, 8.9 steals, and 3.8 blocks per game this season.
• Duluth is led by head coach Mandy Pearson in her third season at the helm.
 
Last Match-Up
• The Wolves defeated the Bulldogs 84-83 in overtime earlier this season.
• Miranda Ristau led the team with a career high 31 points, while Jill Conrad notched a doubledouble with 18 points and 12 rebounds.
• Northern shot 49.3 percent from the floor and notched 20 second chance points off of 14 offensive rebounds.
• The Wolves are 32-31 all-time against Minnesota Duluth, winning the last 12 contests.
About the Huskies
  • St. Cloud State enters the weekend with a 17-7 record overall and 14-6 mark in the league, sitting third in the NSIC North and fifth in the league overall.
  • The Huskies are shooting 41.7 percent from the floor, 36.5 percent from the arc, and 71.3 percent from the foul line, while averaging 65.5 points, 37.0 rebounds, 13.8 assists, 13.8 turnovers, 8.2 steals, and 2.3 blocks per game this season.
  • Andrea Thomas and Tori Wortz lead the team averaging 13.5 and 10.3 points per game this season, while Amanda Christianson is averaging 5.8 rebounds per game.
  • Brianna Johnson is shooting a team high 50.0 percent from the floor, while Christianson is shooting a team leading 45.3 percent from the arc.
  • Thomas and Wortz sit atop the team with 56 and 52 assists apiece, with Thomas notching a team high 46 steals.
  • SCSU is led by head coach Lori Fish in her ninth season at the helm.
 
Last Match-Up
• Northern fell to St. Cloud State 61-57 on the road earlier this season.
• Miranda Ristau and Jessi Marti led the team with 16 points and nine rebounds, and 14 points and eight rebounds.
• NSU shot 40.0 percent from both the floor and the 3-point line, as well as 85.2 percent from the foul line.
• Northern suffered 18 turnovers, which resulted in 20 points for the Huskies.
• The Wolves are 13-6 all-time against St. Cloud State.