SMSU ON THE ROAD TO NORTHERN STATE, MSU MOORHEAD THIS WEEKEND - The Southwest Minnesota State women's basketball team will hit the road again as it travels to Northern State on Friday for a 6 p.m., game before playing MSU Moorhead Saturday at 4 p.m.

    MEDIA COVERAGE - Southwest Minnesota State women's basketball during the NSIC season can be heard all season long on 105.1 FM KARL with Ryan Rohlik handling the play-by-play and Anthony Rohlik as color analyst. Games can be heard via live stream at marshallradio.net. All NSIC games can be viewed online at smsumustangs.com/watchnow.

    ABOUT NORTHERN STATE - The Wolves are 12-3 overall, 8-2 in the NSIC and are currently riding a seven-game winning streak after a pair of home wins against Minot State and U-Mary last weekend that kept them undefeated at home. NSU was picked to finish 10th overall and fourth in the North Division. NSU is led by sophomore forward Jill Conrad who is averaging 12.9 ppg, while shooting 93.8 percent from the free-throw line, 53.8 percent from the floor—ranked 35th in the nation—and pulling down 7.5 rpg. Senior guard Devon Brecke adds to the offense averaging 10.9 ppg and leads the team with 53 assists. Senior center Lauren Deadrick controls the boards grabbing 9.3 rpg and has 28 blocks.
    Northern State is averaging 63.5 ppg, shooting 41.3 percent from the field, 29.3 percent from 3-point range, 73.1 percent from the free-throw line and is a negative-3.4 rebound margin. NSU opponents are averaging 57.2 ppg and shooting 36 percent from the field. Northern State head coach Curt Fredrickson is in his 37th season with an overall record of 773-285 and is the second-winningest active NCAA DII women's basketball coach. 

    MUSTANGS AGAINST THE WOLVES - Southwest Minnesota State will meet with Northern State for the 63rd time in a series dating back to 1969-70. Last season, NSU revenged a 53-52 regular-season loss to SMSU with a 77-42 victory in the conference tournament to end SMSU's season. NSU leads the series 46-16, while holding a 25-4 advantage in games played in Aberdeen, S.D. SMSU's last win was a 53-52 victory on Jan. 16, 2015, in Marshall with its last win in Aberdeen being a 64-56 victory on Feb. 2, 2008. See page 14 of game notes for full series.

    ABOUT MSU MOORHEAD - The Dragons are 10-3 overall, 7-3 in the NSIC and defeated Minot Sate and U-Mary last weekend. MSUM was picked to finish seventh overall and third in the North Division. Junior guard Morgan Banasik leads the Dragons averaging 15.1 ppg, while shooting 36 percent from the floor and 32.9 percent from 3-point range. She also leads the team with 26 steals and has dished out 27 assists. Senior forward Heather Strese is averaging 13.8 ppg while leading the team shooting 54.5 percent from the floor and second on the team averaging 7.5 rpg. Senior forward Savanna Handevidt is averaging 10.2 ppg and leads the team with 7.8 rpg
    MSU Moorhead is averaging 69.7 ppg, shooting 40.4 percent from the field, 34.4 percent from 3-point range, 71.4 percent from the free-throw line and has a plus-3.4 rebound margin. MSUM opponents are averaging 62.1 ppg and shooting 38.6 percent from the field. MSUM head coach Karla Nelson is in her 16th season with an overall record of 257-171. 

    MUSTANGS AGAINST THE DRAGONS - Southwest Minnesota State will meet with MSU Moorhead for the 79th time in a series dating back to 1973-74. SMSU leads the series 40-38, while MSUM holds a 25-14 advantage in games played in Moorhead. SMSU has suffered a loss in nine of the last 15 games, including the last three, with its last win on Jan. 3, 2012, in Moorhead. See page 14 of game notes for full series.

    CATCHING UP WITH THE MUSTANGS - The Mustangs returned home last weekend and played Upper Iowa and Winona State for the second times this season. SMSU gave up a 15-2 run in the last three minutes and 37 seconds to suffer a 69-59 loss to Upper Iowa. Sarah Buysse led the Mustangs offense with 16 points, while Hope Bonlander pulled down eight rebounds. Against No. 12 Winona State, SMSU suffered a 57-42 defeat after WSU closed the first half on a 12-0 run to help it record the win. Abby Connell led the Mustang offense with nine points scoring 3 of 4 from 3-point range, while Lauren Hedlund added eight points.
    For the season, SMSU is averaging 59.2 ppg, shooting 38.4 percent from the field, 29.4 percent from 3-point range, 68.4 percent from the free-throw line and have a negative-4.4 rebound margin. SMSU opponents are averaging 74.3 ppg and shooting 43.6 percent from the field. 

    HEAD COACH - Allison Kruger is in her sixth season as head coach at Southwest Minnesota State University and has compiled a record of 27-124, including 19-101 in NSIC play. Prior to SMSU, Kruger spent two seasons as assistant coach at NCAA Division I University of South Dakota and four years at Wayne State (Neb.).