Aberdeen, S.D. – The Northern State women's basketball team is prepared to host their first two regular season home games as part of the 2021 Dacotah Bank Classic. The Wolves will play host to MSU Billings at 6 p.m. on Friday night and then Michigan Tech at 5 p.m. on Saturday night.
 
GAME & FAN INFORMATION

• The live stream, live stats, radio broadcast, tickets, and tournament page are available at the links above

NORTHERN STATE STORYLINES

• Northern State enters this weekend with a record of 3-1 (1-0 NSIC)
• The Wolves earned a 66-48 victory in their NSIC opener at MSU Moorhead on Tuesday night
• After taking a three point lead into the half against the Dragons, NSU used a ten point advantage in the third quarter to break the game open
• As a team Northern is averaging 71.0 points, 37.8 rebounds, 9.0 assists, 13.5 turnovers, 8.8 steals, and 3.5 blocks per game
• NSU is shooting the ball 41.9 percent from the field, 28.3 percent from 3-point range, and 72.4 percent from the free throw line
• Four Northern State players are averaging double figures in scoring, led by Lexi Roe with 14.8 points per game
• Laurie Rogers and Kailee Oliverson lead the team in rebounding with 6.8 rebounds per game each
• Rogers is also averaging 2.8 blocks per game, and has recorded three or more blocks in three consecutive games
• Rianna Fillipi is averaging a team high 4.3 assists and 3.3 steals per game

MSU BILLINGS STORYLINES

• MSU Billings enters this weekend with a record of 5-2 on the season, and is coming off a 70-53 loss to #6 Carroll College (NAIA)
• The Yellow Jackets were tabbed seventh in the GNAC Preseason Coaches' Poll following a 5-3 shortened 2020-21
• In their last full season in 2019-20, MSUB went 14-16 (9-11 GNAC) and finished in a tie for sixth place
• Taryn Shelley was a unanimous selection to the 2021-22 GNAC Preseason All-Conference Team, she led the conference in scoring in 2020-21 with 17.9 points per game and added 7.5 rebounds per game and 12 blocks
• As a team MSU Billings is averaging 69.3 points, 39.6 rebounds, 15.6 assists, 14.7 turnovers, 7.0 steals, and 3.0 blocks per game
• MSUB is shooting the ball 44.8 percent from the field, 31.5 percent from 3-point range, and 78.2 percent from the free throw line
• Through seven games two players are averaging in double figures with Taryn Shelley leading the way with 12.1 points and Cariann Kunkel following close behind with 11.4 points per game
• The duo of Shelley and Kunkel also leads the team in rebounding with 7.3 and 6.1 rebounds per game respectively, while Danielle Zahn leads the Yellow Jackets with 4.4 assists per game

LOOKING BACK TO 2016

• The last time that Northern State and MSU Billings met on the hardwood was on November 18, 2016, when the Wolves picked up a 72-67 victory in Billings, Montana
• Northern leads the all-time series 1-0

MICHIGAN TECH STORYLINES

• Michigan Tech enters this weekend with a record of 3-1 on the season, and is coming off a 67-50 loss to #18 Minnesota Duluth
• The Huskies return three starters (Ellie Mackay, Jordan Ludescher, and Katelyn Meister) from last year's team that won the GLIAC North Division championship and were the conference tournament champions
• In 2020-21 Michigan Tech went 20-2 (17-1 GLIAC) in route to a NCAA Regional Semifinal appearance
• MTU is predicted to defend their GLIAC North Division title again this season, with eight first place votes in the GLIAC Preseason Coaches' Poll
• Ellie Mackay is the reigning GLIAC Player of the Year and was WBCA Division II Honorable Mention All-America in 2020-21, averaging 15.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 0.9 steals per game
• As a team Michigan Tech is averaging 66.3 points, 36.5 rebounds, 12.3 assists, 14.0 turnovers, 9.5 steals, and 2.3 blocks per game

• The Huskies are shooting the ball 43.0 percent from the field, 34.2 percent from 3-point range, and 73.7 percent from the free throw line

• Mackay leads the team with 14.0 points and 5.5 rebounds per game, while Alex Rondorf leads the way with 2.8 assists per game

• Katelyn Meister and Rondorf each add 1.8 steals per game
• This is the first meeting all-time between the Wolves and Huskies