Women's Basketball | 1/17/2019 9:51:00 AM

Aberdeen, S.D. – The Northern State University Women's basketball team host rival Augustana and Wayne State at Wachs Arena this weekend. Tip-off against RV Augustana is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on Friday and 4 p.m. on Saturday against Wayne State.
 
Quick Hit on the Wolves:

       * The Northern State women's basketball team is coming off a North Division weekend sweep of Minnesota Crookston and Bemidji State.
       * The Wolves are shooting 40.1 percent from the floor, 32.6 percent from the 3-point line, and 70.8 percent from the foul line this season.
       * They are averaging 59.2 points, 39.1 rebounds, 12.1 assists, 14.2 turnovers, 4.4 steals, and 1.8 blocks per game; out-scoring their opponents by 0.9 points and out-rebounding their opponents by 9.5 boards per game.
       * NSU leads the NSIC in rebounding margin, in large part to junior Brianna Kusler who leads the league in rebounds per game.
       * In addition, the Wolves currently sit top-5 in the NSIC in scoring defense.
       * Kusler is averaging a team high 12.2 points and 10.9 rebounds per game this season, in addition to a team high 33 assists.
       * Lexi Wadsworth has put together an outstanding start to her freshman campaign, averaging 9.9 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. She is also shooting 42.6 percent from the floor and a team high 43.3 percent from the 3-point line.
       * Zoe Hardwick leads the team in efficiency shooting 50.0 percent from the field.
       * Anika Fredrick has started all 16 games thus far, averaging 7.0 points and 3.3 rebounds per game.
       * Jessi Marti started her first two games of the season a weekend ago at home after being out due to an injury. She combined for eight points, nine rebounds, five assists, and four steals in the two wins.
 
About Augustana:

       * The Vikings enter the weekend with a 16-3 overall record and 8-3 record in the NSIC.
       * Augustana is shooting 43.4 percent from the floor, 34.8 percent from the 3-point line, and 72.5 percent from the foul line.
       * They are averaging 79.9 points, 44.7 rebounds, 16.8 assists, 14.7 turnovers, 11.1 steals, and 3.9 blocks per game this season; out-scoring their opponents by 20.1 points and out-rebounding their opponents by 4.2 boards per game.
       * Augie sits top-5 in the league in scoring offense, scoring margin, free throw percentage, field goal percentage, field goal percentage defense, 3-point field goal percentage defense, rebounding margin, blocked shots, steals, assists, turnover margin, assist/turnover ratio, offensive rebounds, defensive rebounds, and 3-point field goals made.
       * Shelby Selland leads four averaging double figures, notching 14.4 points per game, as well as a team high 8.1 rebounds per game. Selland is also shooting a team high 58.9 percent from the field and 48.1 percent from the 3-point line.
       * Lynsey Prosser is second on the team notching 12.9 points per game, and leads the Vikings with 34 buckets made from the 3-point line. Prosser has dished out a team high 76 assists this season.
       * Vishe Rabb and Abby Hora are notching 11.5 and 11.1 points per game respectively.
       * AU is led by head coach Dave Krauth in his 30th season at the helm.

Last Match-Up:

       * Northern fell to Augustana twice in 2017-18, 77-64 in regular season play and 90-86 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
       * The Wolves are 24-23 all-time versus Augustana. They tallied their last victory during the 2015-16 season.
 
About Wayne State:
 
        * Wayne State enters the weekend with an 11-5 record overall and 6-4 mark in the NSIC.
        * The Wildcats are shooting 39.2 percent from the floor, 33.1 percent from the 3-point line, and 69.9 percent from the foul line.
        * They are averaging 71.9 points, 40.5 rebounds, 16.9 assists, 14.3 turnovers, 8.9 steals, and 4.4 blocks per game; out-scoring their opponents by 3.9 points and out-rebounding their opponents by 0.6 boards per game.
        * The Wayne women sit top-5 in the NSIC In scoring offense, blocked shots, steals, assist/turnover ratio, offensive rebounds, and 3-point field goals made.
        * WSC leads the league in assists with 173 total against NSIC opponents.
        * Erin Norling leads three Wildcats in double figures, notching 14.6 points per game. She is also second on the team recording 6.1 rebounds per game.
        * Halley Busse and Brittany Bongartz are averaging 12.7 and 12.4 points per game respectively, while Andrea Larson leads the team averaging 6.3 rebounds per game.
        * Busse is shooting a team high 48.9 percent from the floor, and also leads Wayne State with 33 made from beyond the arc and 67 assists.
        * Kylie Hammer is shooting a team high 45.2 percent from the 3-point line, with 20 made from beyond the arc.
        * Wayne State is led by former Northern State assistant, Brent Pollari in his first season at the helm.

Last Match-Up:

        * The Wolves defeated the Wildcats 81-71 a season ago.
        * NSU shot 56.3 percent from the floor and out-rebounded WSC 41-30 in the win.
        * Northern is 22-27 all-time versus Wayne State, going 3-4 in the last five seasons.