(MINOT, N.D.) – The Minot State women's basketball team will play the final two games of their current four-game home-stretch this weekend against two NSIC South Division foes. The Mustangs of Southwest Minnesota State and the Cougars of the University of Sioux Falls will travel to Minot to take on the Beavers. SMSU and Minot State will square off on Friday, Jan. 17 at 5:30 p.m. while the Beavers will play USF on Saturday, Jan. 18 at 3:30 p.m.

Series History
Friday's game marks the 9th overall meeting between Southwest Minnesota State and Minot State with the Huskies leading the all-time series, 5-3. In their last meeting, Minot State defeated SMSU 72-66 in Marshall, Minn. on Jan. 18, 2019. SMSU hasn't beaten the Beavers since the 2017 season when they won 52-41 in Minot.
 
The game between Sioux Falls and Minot State on Saturday marks the 13th overall meeting between the two teams. The Cougars lead the all-time series 8-5. USF beat Minot State in their last meeting 59-54 in Sioux Falls on Jan. 19, 2019. The Cougars have won four of the last five games versus MSU.

Beaver Tracks
She Shoots, She Scores: Mariah Payne has led the Beavers in scoring since the opening game of the season. The senior guard is currently averaging 17.3 points per contest and is shooting 42% from the field and from three. Payne is among the conference's premier scorers as she ranks fourth in the league in scoring average. Payne's shooting percentages of 42% from both the field and behind the arc also rank ninth and third, respectively.
 
Free for a Reason: Minot State is currently fourth in the NSIC in team free throw percentage at 75% for the entire group. The Beavers have made 153 free throw shots out of 203 attempts.
 
Sharing the Rock: The Beaver women have been among the best in the league when assisting on scores. Minot State ranks third in the NSIC in total team assists with 213 total dishes in their 14 games. The Beavers are averaging just over 15 assists per game. Mariah Payne is leading the Beavers in that category with 47 total assists and 3.6 assist per game. Payne's numbers are seventh-best in the NSIC.
 
Rim Protector: Sophomore center Anna Counts has been a rock-solid defender in the paint for the Beavers. Counts has been an excellent rim protector for MSU with an average of 1.4 blocks per game and 19 total stuffs. That stat ranks sixth in the NSIC.
 
Owning the Boards: Calli Delsman is among the NSIC's best rebounders this season. The junior wing has been coming off of the bench in recent games and has grabbed 102 total boards and averages 7.3 rebounds per game. This stat ranks eighth in the league.
 
Scouting Report
Southwest Minnesota State- The Mustangs come into the weekend with records of 7-8 overall and 2-8 in the NSIC. SMSU's offense is led Meleah Reinhart and Jenna Borchers with 15.9 and 12.3 points per game, repsectively. 6-foot-4 center Abuk Akoi is the third-most prolific rebounder in the NSIC. Akoi has grabbed 130 total rebounds with an average of 8.7 per game. Akoi is also the best rim protector in the NSIC with 2.7 blocks per game and 40 total blocks. Opponents are shooting only 38% from the field against SW Minnesota State.
 
Sioux Falls- The 14th-ranked Cougars of Sioux Falls bring an 15-2 overall record into this weekend with a mark of 8-2 in the NSIC. The Cougars are scoring 77.0 points per game. Three players are averaging double-digit scoring including Kaely Hummel (18.3), Anna Goodhope (11.6), and Mariah Szymanski (10.9). Jacey Huinker leads the Cougars on the glass with 152 total rebounds and a per-game average of 8.9. Szymanski leads the team with 52 assists. Augusta Thramer is tops on the team with 24 Agusta Thramer. Goodhope leads the club in blocks with 12.
 
MEDIA: For more information, please contact the Coordinator of Sports Information Josh Van Valkenburg-Gernert.