Women's Basketball | 2/21/2019 10:31:00 AM

Aberdeen, S.D. – The Northern State Women's Basketball heads north to match-up with University of Mary on Friday and Minot State on Saturday for the final weekend of the regular season. Tip-off against the Marauders on Friday is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. on Saturday against the Beavers.
 
Quick Hit on the Wolves: 
 
* The Northern State women's basketball hits the road this weekend for the final regular season games against University of Mary and Minot State.
   * The Wolves are 9-17 overall and 6-14 in the NSIC with the conference tournament starting next Wednesday.
   * The women are sixth in the NSIC North Division standings, matching up with two teams that are currently ahead of the Wolves in the standings.
   * The Wolves have battled injury throughout the season with Kusler and Marti out early in the year and Tvedt suffering a season ending injury at the 10-game mark.
   * NSU is shooting 38.4 percent from the floor, 30.9 percent from the 3-point line, and 74.4 percent from the foul line this season. They are averaging 57.1 points, 38.2 rebounds, 11.7 assists, 14.5 turnovers, 4.5 steals, and 2.1 blocks per game.
   * Northern is out-rebounding their opponents by 6.7 boards per game, having out-rebounding their foes in all but four games this season.
   * Brianna Kusler leads the team averaging 11.1 points and 10.0 rebounds per game. She has also dished out a team leading 49 assists and is currently tied with Brooke Luitjens on the team with 21 steals.
   * Lexi Wadsworth is second on the team notching 9.7 points and 6.3 rebounds per game in her true freshman campaign. Anika Fredrick leads the team shooting 45.9 percent from the floor, while Wadsworth is shooting a team high 42.6 percent from the 3-point line.
    * Tori Mekash and Luitjens sit atop the team with 26 and 25 made 3-pointers.
 
About UMary:
 
    * UMary enters the weekend with a 16-7 record overall and 14-6 mark in the NSIC, sitting third in the North Division and fifth in the NSIC standings.
    * UMary is shooting 45.5 percent from the floor, 36.7 percent from the 3-point line, and 73.1 percent from the foul line this season. They are averaging 71.2 points, 36.5 rebounds, 15.3 assists, 15.8 turnovers, 4.8 steals, and 3.6 blocks per game.
    * Cassie Askvig is leading the team and the conference in scoring, averaging 18.5 points and 9.5 rebounds per game. Askvig is also leading the team with 50.3 percent from the floor and 48.1 percent from behind the arc.
    * Two other Marauders are averaging double figures, Gabbie Bohl with 17.8 points and Macy Williams with 10.1 points. Williams is leading the team with 79 assists on the season. Bohl is leading the team with 31 blocks on the season.
     * The Marauders are led by sixth year head coach Rick Neumann
 
Last Match-Up:
 
     * The Wolves fell to the Marauders 71-78 earlier this season at Wachs Arena.
     * Anika Fredrick led the Wolves in the scoring column with 17 points. Three other Wolves were in double figures.
     * Northern is 36-15 all-time versus UMary.
 
About Minot State:
 
     * Minot State enters the weekend with a 13-13 record overall and 12-8 mark in the league.
     * The Beavers are shooting 44.0 percent from the floor, 34.5 percent from the 3-point line, and 68.3 percent from the foul line. They are averaging 66.3 points, 35.3 rebounds, 14.9 assists, 15.3 turnovers, 7.0 steals, and 2.2 blocks per game.
     * Minot are currently being out-scored by their opponents by 0.7 points and out-rebounding their opponents by 1.3 boards per game.
     * Madison Wald is leading the team in scoring with 13.9 per game; second on the team is Mariah Payne with 13.2 points per game. Payne is also leading the team with 4.4 rebounds per game.
     * Haley Hildenbrand is leading the team in field goal percentage shooting 57.3 percent; Calli Delsman is second shooting 50.0 percent. Wald leads the team with 42.2 percent shooting from behind the arc.
     * Mariah Payne is leading the team with 90 assists and Kari Clements leading the team with 47 steals.
     * Minot is led by head coach Mark Graupe in his 2nd season at the helm.
 
Last Match-Up:
 
     * The Wolves defeated 57-54 to the Beavers at Wachs Arena earlier this season.
     * Brianna Kusler led the Wovles with 15 points, Lexi Wadsworth tallied 14 points, and Sara Tvedt scored in double figures with 12 points.
     * Northern is 28-6 all-time versus Minot State.