Women's Basketball | 2/7/2019 9:37:00 AM

Aberdeen, S.D. - The Northern State Women's Basketball team will host University of Sioux Falls on Friday and Southwest Minnesota State on Saturday for the annual I Hate Winter Weekend. On Friday, tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. against the Cougars and Saturday at 4 p.m. against the Mustangs. For more information on events and promotions visit nsuwolves.com.

Quick Hit on the Wolves:

       • The Northern State women's basketball team returns home looking to snap their current loss streak versus Sioux Falls and Southwest Minnesota State.
       • The Wolves are currently 8-14 overall and 5-11 in NSIC action.
       • NSU is shooting 38.4 percent from the floor, 30.9 percent from the 3-point line, and 73.3 percent from the foul line this season.
       • They are averaging 57.4 points, 39.0 rebounds, 11.6 assists, 14.6 turnovers, 4.5 steals, and 1.7 blocks per game.
       • The Wolves are out-rebounding their opponents by 7.8 boards per game, and sit second in the NSIC in rebounding margin as one of just two teams over 7.0.
       • Northern is out-scoring their opponents in the fourth quarter this season, however first half deficits have been too much to overcome late.
       • Briana Kusler leads the team averaging a double double with 11.5 points and 10.1 rebounds per game. She also sits atop the NSIC in rebounding and has recorded eight double doubles thus far.
       • Kusler has also dished out a team leading 44 assists, followed by freshman Brooke Luitjens with 42. Luitjens sits atop the Wolves with 19 steals this season as well.
       • Freshman Lexi Wadsworth is second on the team notching 10.0 points and 6.7 rebounds per game, starting all 22 games this season.
       • Anika Fredrick and Zoe Hardwick led the Wolves shooting 44.9 and 44.6 percent from the floor respectively, while Wadsworth leads the team shooting 43.2 percent from the 3-point line.

About Sioux Falls:

       • Sioux Falls travels North with a 15-7 record overall and 10-6 record in the NSIC.
       • The Cougars are shooting 42.2 percent from the floor, 33.0 percent from the 3-point line, and 70.1 percent from the foul line this season.
       • They are averaging 71.5 points, 37.3 rebounds, 14.0 assists, 12.0 turnovers, 9.5 steals, and 2.5 blocks per game.
       • USF is out-scoring their opponents by 14.0 points per game this season, and out-rebounding their foes by just one board per game.
       • Kaely Hummel leads the team and is the only Cougar averaging double figures, notching 15.0 points per game. She is shooting a team high 40.8 percent from the 3-point line with 51 made 3-pointers this season.
       • Hannah Jones leads the team at the rim, averaging 5.9 rebounds per game.
       • Jessie Geer is shooting a team high 49.4 percent from the floor, and is leading USF with 41 total assists.
       • Mariah Szymanski has dished out a team high 58 assists and is second on the team notching 8.5 points per game. She is followed by Geer who is averaging 8.2 points per game with 41 assists of her own.
       • The Cougars are led by head coach Travis Traphagen in his 11th season at the helm.
 
Last Match-Up:

       • The Wolves defeated the Cougars 74-46 a season ago from Wachs Arena.
       • Kusler led the returners with ten points, as the Wolves shot 50.0 percent in the win.
       • Northern is 14-4 all-time versus Sioux Falls, winning the last three match-ups.

About SMSU:

       • Southwest Minnesota State enters the weekend with an 11-10 record overall and 8-8 mark in NSIC play.
       • The Mustangs are shooting 39.2 percent from the floor, 31.8 percent from the 3-point line, and 77.8 percent from the foul line.
       • They are averaging 71.4 points, 38.5 rebounds, 11.8 assists, 15.5 turnovers, 9.0 steals, and 2.7 blocks per game this season.
       • Caleigh Rodning leads three averaging double figures, notching 13.3 points per game, as well as a team high 7.0 rebounds per game.
       • Meleah Reinhart and Sadie Stelter followed notching 12.6 and 10.2 points per game respectively.
       • Reinhart leads the Mustangs shooting 43.8 percent from the 3-point line, with 32 made 3-pointers this season.
       • Abuk Akoi is shooting a team best 47.2 percent from the floor and is second on the squad notching 4.9 rebounds per game. She also has a team leading 29 blocks thus far in 2018-19.
       • Rodning and Stelter have each dished out a team best 44 assists, while Reinhart and Sara Teske lead the team with 28 steals.
       • The Mustangs are led by head coach Tom Webb in his third season with the program.
 
Last Match-Up:

       • The Wolves defeated the Mustangs 79-62 a season ago.
       • Jessi Marti led the returners with 13 points, as five Wolves scored in double figures.
       • Northern is 48-16 all-time versus Southwest Minnesota State, with five straight victories.