Aberdeen, S.D. – The Northern State women's basketball team returns to NSIC North Division play this weekend as they travel to face St. Cloud State and Minnesota Duluth, who are tied atop the conference standings. The Wolves and Huskies will tip-off at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, and the Wolves and Bulldogs are scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday afternoon.

GAME & FAN INFORMATION

• The live stream, live stats, radio broadcast, and game notes are available at the links above
• For Saturday's game at Minnesota Duluth, they are requiring all fans to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test upon entry

NORTHERN STATE STORYLINES

• Northern State enters this weekend with a record of 10-10 (7-8 NSIC), the Wolves are currently eighth place overall in the conference and fourth place in the north division
• Last weekend the Wolves dropped their final two games of NSIC cross-divisional play at Concordia-St. Paul (78-70) and Minnesota State (85-76); NSU finished with a record of 4-3 against NSIC South teams
• Northern is averaging 66.1 points, 40.4 rebounds, 11.4 assists, 15.1 turnovers, 6.0 steals, and 4.7 blocks per game
• They are shooting the ball 40.6 percent from the field, 29.3 percent from 3-point range, and 74.0 percent from the free throw line
• Northern State continues to lead the NSIC in rebound margin with an advantage of 7.4 rebounds per game, which ranks 32^nd nationally; the Wolves have held a double digit advantage on the boards in five of their last seven games
• Totaling 63 blocks on the season, Laurie Rogers leads the conference and ranks third nationally; she needs two blocks this weekend to move into fifth place all-time for blocks in a single season
• After knocking down a career high six 3-pointers against Minnesota State, Rianna Fillipi is now shooting 19-34 (55.9%) from beyond the arc in the last six games
• Fillipi leads the Wolves with 93 assists on the season (4.7 per game), ranking fifth in the NSIC and 17^th nationally
• Kailee Oliverson remains the team's leading scorer, averaging 14.7 points while adding 6.9 rebounds per game; she scored a career high 29 points against Concordia-St. Paul and added 12 rebounds for her third double-double of the season

#18 ST. CLOUD STATE STORYLINES

• St. Cloud State enters this weekend ranked No. 18 nationally in the WBCA poll with a record of 16-3 (14-2 NSIC), the Huskies are currently tied for first place overall in the conference and in the north division
• Last weekend the Huskies extended their winning streak to five games with commanding victories over Sioux Falls (72-48) and Southwest Minnesota State; SCSU finished cross-divisional play with a record of 7-1 against NSIC South teams
• St. Cloud State is averaging 64.9 points, 37.4 rebounds, 14.6 assists, 12.9 turnovers, 8.4 steals, and 4.3 blocks per game
• They are shooting the ball 41.3 percent from the field, 29.1 percent from 3-point range, and 71.7 percent from the free throw line
• SCSU is the top scoring defense in the conference, allowing only 55.2 points per game; the Huskies have held opponents below that mark of 55 points on ten occasions this season
• Tori Wortz leads the team in scoring, averaging 14.0 points per game
• Wortz shoots 32.0 percent from 3-point range on the season with 40 made threes on the year; she averages of 2.1 made 3-pointers per game which ranks fourth in the NSIC
• Brehna Evans leads the Huskies with 3.7 assists and 2.7 steals per game, while adding 12.6 points per game; Evans ranks third in the NSIC in steals per game
• Nikki Kilboten adds 12.9 points per game and is the team leader with 6.8 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game; Kilboten ranks third in the NSIC and 17^th nationally in blocks per game

LOOKING BACK TO DECEMBER

• Playing the final game before winter break, St. Cloud State defeated Northern State 66-50 on December 18^th in Wachs Arena
• Northern leads the all-time series 14-13

MINNESOTA DULUTH STORYLINES

• Minnesota Duluth enters this weekend with a record of 16-4 (14-2 NSIC), the Bulldogs are currently tied for first place overall in the conference and in the north division
• Last weekend the Bulldogs extended their winning streak to eight games with wins over Southwest Minnesota State (65-49) and Sioux Falls (76-66); UMD finished cross-divisional play with a perfect record of 8-0 against NSIC South teams
• Duluth is averaging 65.7 points, 34.5 rebounds, 16.0 assists, 12.2 turnovers, 7.2 steals, and 5.0 blocks per game
• They are shooting the ball 44.5 percent from the field, 30.6 percent from 3-point range, and 77.3 percent from the free throw line
• Minnesota Duluth leads the NSIC in team field goal percentage and opponent field goal percentage, shooting 44.5 percent from the field and holding opponents to 36.6 percent
• Brooke Olson was named the NSIC North Division Player of the Week for the second time this season after averaging 18.0 points and 8.5 rebounds per game against SMSU and USF
• Olson leads the team in scoring and rebounding, averaging 17.9 points and 6.6 rebounds per game on the season
• Maesyn Thiesen adds 9.1 points and is averaging a team high 4.8 assists per game, which ranks fourth in the NSIC
• Sarah Grow adds 9.7 points and 5.4 rebounds per game, while leading the team with 2.1 blocks per game which ranks fifth in the conference and 21^st nationally

LOOKING BACK TO DECEMBER

• In the first match-up this season on December 17^th between Northern State and Minnesota Duluth, the Bulldogs escaped Wachs Arena with a 66-62 victory
• Duluth leads the all-time series 41-33