Aberdeen, S.D. – Northern State women's basketball get ready to open the 2019-20 season from the Barnett Center and Wachs Arena for the Central Region Challenge as they welcome Rogers State, tip-off is set for 12 p.m. on Friday.  NSU will continue their opening weekend at 6 p.m. on Saturday against Central Missouri.  Due to the current construction south of the Barnett Center only two entrances will be accessible on the west (Wolves Club) and north sides of the building, please plan accordingly.
 
ABOUT THE WOLVES

• Northern State opens the 2019-20 season after going 10-19 overall a season ago
• The Wolves return 11 from the 2018-19 roster and were picked 12th overall in the NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll
• NSU returns three starters in Brianna Kusler, Jessi Marti, and Lexi Wadsworth, as well as Sara Tvedt whose junior campaign ended early due to injury
• Kusler was tabbed as the team's player to watch in the league, averaging a team high 11.9 points and 9.6 rebounds per game
• She was named to the NSIC All-Conference second team, while Wadsworth earned NSIC All-Freshman honors after averaging 10.0 points per game
• Prior to injury, Tvedt was averaging 9.1 points and 7.1 rebounds per game, shooting 46.0% from the floor as a junior
• Northern welcomes three freshman (Harris, Rogers, Entzi) and three transfers (Smith, Terwilliger, Gess) to the 2019-20 squad
• The Wolves are entering their second season under the direction of head coach Paula Krueger
   

ABOUT THE HILLCATS

• Rogers opened the 2019-20 season with an exhibition match-up at Nebraska, falling 97-33
• The Hillcats were led by Vanessa Gajdosova with eight points, followed by Samariah Thompson and Lilly Garner with six
• They shot just 20.0% from the floor and 21.9% from the 3-point line in the contest
• RSU was a member of the Heartland Conference in 2018-19 and fell to St. Edward's, 65-53, in the opening round of the conference tournament
• The Hillcats were picked 13th overall in the MIAA Preseason Coaches' Poll in the inaugural season with the league
• Rogers went 14-14 overall a season ago and returns two starters from a season ago in Alicia Brown and Azaria Floyd, as well as senior Darian Jackson
• Brown averaged 6.8 points and 3.8 rebounds per game, shooting 40.1% from the floor, while Floyd averaged 7.4 points and 2.3 rebounds per game shooting 33.7% from the floor with a team high 74 assist
• Rogers State is led by head coach Kyle Bent in his second season with the Hillcats

 
LAST MEETING

• This will be the first meeting between the Hillcats and the Wolves in the history of either program

 
 
ABOUT THE JENNIES

• Central Missouri opened the year on October 29th with an exhibition contest at Drake, falling 92-59
• Morgan Fleming and Ryann Stearns led the Jennies with 14 and 13 points respectively, while Nija Collier rounded out the double figure scorers with 11 points
• UCM shot 36.7% from the floor, 24.0% from the arc, and 52.9% from the foul line in the loss
• The Jennies were picked second overall in the MIAA after going 25-7 overall a season ago and earning their third straight berth to the NCAA Tournament
• They defeated Lindenwood in the opening round of the Central Region Tournament, 76-64, but ultimately fell to Southwestern Oklahoma State, 75-72 in the following game
• Central Missouri returns all-conference performers Morgan Fleming and Megan Skaggs from the 2018-19 roster
• The pair were second and third on the team a season ago, with Skaggs averaging 15.5 points and 6.1 rebounds per game and Fleming notching 15.3 points and 5.6 rebounds per game
• In addition, Skaggs shot a team high 57.1% from the floor and recorded 24 blocks and 38 steals
• UCM is led by head coach Dave Slifer in his 16th season with the program

 
LAST MEETING

• Northern was unable to hang on against the Jennies two season ago dropping the meeting 82-65
• Three Wolves notched double digits in scoring, as the team shot 45.2 percent from the field
• NSU is 0-2 all-time against UCM, meeting them on the court in the 2013-14, and 2017-18 seasons