MINOT, N.D. – The Minot State women's basketball team opens the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Tournament with a home first round game for the first time since the 2013-14 season.

The Beavers host Winona State on Wednesday, Feb. 21 at 6 p.m. in the Minot State Dome with the winner advancing to the NSIC quarterfinals at the Sanford Health Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D. on Sunday, Feb. 25 at 12 p.m.

Minot State finished the regular season with a 11-11 mark in NSIC play after splitting last weekend vs. Minnesota Crookston (64-66) and Bemidji State (71-51).

Wednesday marks the first time in school history that both men's and women's basketball teams will be hosting a first round NSIC Tournament game.

Minot State is 11-1 on the season when scoring 70 or more points, including 3-0 when surpassing the 80-point mark.

Holly Johnson leads the Beavers in scoring with 16.0 points per game while grabbing 6.6 rebounds per game.

Senior Kristal Flowers has posted eight double-doubles this season and averages 10.2 points and 8.9 rebounds per game.

Madison Wald is scoring 10.2 points per game, followed by Diondra Denton and Mariah Payne with 8.6 and 8.4 points per game, respectively.

Payne leads the team with 81 assists and Denton has posted a team-high 31 steals while Flowers leads the team with 10 blocks.

Scouting the Winona State Warriors

Hannah McGlone leads a trio of Warriors scoring in double-figures, scoring 14.3 points per game and grabbing a team-high 10.2 rebounds per game. Allie Pickrain is scoring 12.3 points per game, followed by Gabie Doud with 10.2 points per game.

Winona State is outscoring their opponents 65.8-63.1 while shooting 42.8 percent from the floor and 35.7 percent from three-point range. The Warriors are grabbing 34.5 rebounds per game and forcing opponents into 13.2 turnovers per game.

Head coach Scott Ballard is 244-163 in his 14th season at Winona State. Ballard has notched a career record of 515-295 in his 28th season of coaching.    
  
Minot State vs. Winona State

Wednesday's meeting between the Warriors and Beavers marks the seventh all-time meeting between the two teams with each team winning three games. Minot State won 76-50 in their meeting earlier this season on Jan. 26 in Minot, N.D.
 
Prices for the tournament are set by the NSIC and no passes, season tickets or complimentary tickets will be accepted. Adults are $12 per person, students are $2 per person and children 5-and-under are admitted free of charge. Minot State students will be admitted free of charge with a valid identification courtesy of the Minot State Student Affairs office. Tickets are currently on sale at msubeavertickets.com.

The quarterfinals, semifinals and championship will take place on February 24, 26-27 at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D.  All rounds of the NSIC/Sanford Health Women's Basketball Tournament played at the Sanford Pentagon will to aired live on MidcoSN and streamed for free via Stretch Internet.