SMSU TO HOST MINNESOTA STATE, CONCORDIA-ST. PAUL THIS WEEKEND - The Southwest Minnesota State women's basketball team (3-15, 1-11 NSIC) will return to the R/A Facility and welcome Minnesota State (5-11, 4-8 NSIC) and Concordia-St. Paul (8-10, 4-8 NSIC) this weekend. The Mustangs will face the Mavericks on Friday night at 6 p.m., before playing the Golden Bears on Saturday at 5 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 MINNESOTA STATE - The Mavericks are 5-11 overall, 4-8 in the NSIC and suffered a 73-64 loss to Concordia-St. Paul on Tuesday. MSU was picked to finish sixth overall and fourth in the South Division. MSU is led by sophomore forward Claire Ziegler who is averaging 14.4 ppg, while shooting a team-high 54.3 percent from the field-ranked 30th in the nation-and pulling down 8.5 rpg. Junior guard Britney Scherber adds to the Maverick offense, averaging 13.6 ppg, while shooting 37.3 percent from 3-point range and 82.8 percent from the charity stripe. Senior center McKenzie Hoelmenn adds 7.9 rpg with 16 blocks and is shooting 48.5 percent from the floor.
Minnesota State is averaging 70.5 ppg, shooting 39.4 percent from the field, 31.6 percent from 3-point range, 72.1 percent from the free-throw line and is a plus-2.6 rebound margin. MSU opponents are averaging 76.0 ppg and shooting 41.9 percent from the field. Minnesota State head coach Emilee Thiesse is in her 4th season with an overall record of 75-33.

MUSTANGS AGAINST THE MAVERICKS - Southwest Minnesota State will meet with Minnesota State for the 53rd time in a series that started during the 1970-71 season. MSU leads the series 35-17 and has won the last 17 games in the series. SMSU's last win in the series came during the 2004-05 season in Marshall at the SMSU Classic (74-61). MSU leads 13-9 in games played in Marshall, including winning the last eight. MSU holds a 14-0 series lead since joining the NSIC in 2008-09. See page 14 in games notes for full series.

ABOUT CONCORDIA-ST. PAUL - The Golden Bears will enter the weekend 8-10 overall, 4-8 in the NSIC and defeated Minnesota State 73-64 on Tuesday. CSP was picked to finish ninth overall and sixth in the South Division. CSP will face Sioux Falls on Friday night before playing SMSU. Freshman guard Anna Schmitt leads CSP with 16 ppg, while shooting 50 percent from the floor and 32.3 percent from 3-point range. Sophomore guard Lauren Shifflett is averaging 14.1 ppg, shooting 33.3 percent from downtown, 41.5 percent from the field and a team-high 76.1 percent from the charity stipe. Junior guard Mishayla Jones and junior center Caitlyn Russell both shoot double-digit averages with 11.9 and 10.8 ppg, respectfully. Sophomore guard Kyrah Fredenburg leads the defense averaging 11.2 rpg-ranks 18th in the nation.
Concordia-St. Paul is averaging 74.5 ppg-ranked 37th in the nation, shooting 41.4 percent from the field, 28.6 percent from 3-point range, 68.8 percent from the free-throw line and has a negative-0.4 rebound margin. CSP opponents are averaging 75.1 ppg and shooting 41.6 percent from the field. Amanda Behnke is in her 1st season as head coach and fourth year coaching at CSP after being named the interim head coach during winter break this season.

MUSTANGS AGAINST THE GOLDEN BEARS - Southwest Minnesota State will meet with Concordia-St. Paul for the 49th time in a series that started during the 1974-75 season. CSP leads the series 32-16 and has won the last seven games in the series. SMSU's last win in the series came on Dec. 10, 2011, in Marshall (60-55), which snapped a 15-game losing streak in series. CSP leads 12-8 in games played in Marshall, including winning the last three. See page 14 of game notes for full series.

CATCHING UP WITH THE MUSTANGS - The Mustangs traveled to Northern State and MSU Moorhead last week. NSU shot a season-high 57.6 percent from the floor to cruise past SMSU, 84-64 last Friday night. SMSU finished shooting 36.7 percent (22 of 60) from the floor and added 16 points on 24 free throws. NSU finished shooting a season-high 57.6 percent (34 of 59) from the field and 75 percent (12 of 16) from the foul line. Annessa Rosch led all scorers with 21 points (7 of 16), including 6 for 6 from the line. Taylor Silva, Lauren Hedlund and Hope Bonlander all added eight points apiece. Bonlander controlled the boards for SMSU, pulling down eight, while Hedlund grabbed seven.
Against MSUM, the Dragons put together a 20-1 run midway through the first half to defeat Southwest Minnesota State 75-45 last Saturday. SMSU finished shooting 28.6 percent (16 of 56) from the field and 58.8 percent (10 of 17) from the three-throw line. MSUM shot 41.8 percent (28 of 67) from the floor and 82.4 percent (14 of 17) from the charity stripe. The Dragons dominated the glass with a 54-32 advantage, while scoring 11 second-chance points and 34 points in the paint. SMSU was forced into 17 turnovers, which MSUM converted into 15 points. Lauren Hedlund led SMSU with 13 points (4 of 11), while Hope Bonlander added 12 points (5 of 14). Taylor Holicky paced the defense with six rebounds, while Hedlund, Bonlander and Annessa Rosch grabbed five apiece.
For the season, SMSU is averaging 58.7 ppg, shooting 37.7 percent from the field, 28.2 percent from 3-point range, 67.7 percent from the free-throw line and have a negative-5.7 rebound margin. SMSU opponents are averaging 74.9 ppg and shooting 44.2 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 27-126, including 19-103 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.).