(MINOT, N.D.) -- The Minot State women's basketball team is back in the friendly confines of the MSU Dome for another pair of NSIC games. The St. Cloud State Huskies and Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs will make their way to Minot this weekend. This weekend's games will conclude the season series versus both SCSU and UMD.
 
Series History
Friday's game marks the 16th overall meeting between St. Cloud State and Minot State with the Huskies leading the all-time series, 11-4. In their last meeting, SCSU defeated Minot State 80-56 in St. Cloud on December 7. Northern State has beaten the Beavers four consecutive times since MSU's last victory in 2017.
 
The game between Minnesota Duluth and Minot State on Saturday also marks the 16th overall meeting between the two teams. The Bulldogs lead the all-time series 10-5. UMD beat Minot State in their last meeting 60-48 in Duluth on December 6. The Bulldogs are also currently on a four-game winning streak versus Minot State.
 
Beaver Tracks
Fill it Up: Mariah Payne has led the Beavers in scoring since the opening game of the season. The senior guard is currently averaging 17.4 points per contest and is shooting 43% 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 from both the field and behind the arc also rank ninth and 12th, respectively.
 
Pension for Charity: Minot State is currently fifth in the NSIC in team free throw percentage at 74% for the entire group. The Beavers have made 131 free throw shots out of 177 attempts.
 
Feeling Generous: The Beaver women have been among the best in the league when assisting on scores. Minot State ranks fifth in the NSIC in total team assists with 178 total dishes in their 12 games. The Beavers are averaging just under 15 assists per game. Bethany Theodore is leading the Beavers in that category with 38 total assists and 3.2 assist per game. Theodore's numbers are tenth-best in the NSIC.
 
Not in Her House: Sophomore center Anna Counts has been in and out of the starting lineup for the Beavers this season, but her defensive production has remained consistent. Counts has been an excellent rim protector for MSU with an average of 1.4 blocks per game and 17 stuffs total. That stat ranks sixth in the NSIC.
 
Scouting Report
St. Cloud State- The Huskies enter this weekend with a record of 8-4 overall and 5-3 in league play. St. Cloud State is averaging 66.9 points on a team shooting percentage of 41%. The Wolves have won two consecutive weekends for the third time this season. Madelin Dammann (12.3), Tori Wortz (11.5), Katrina Theis (11.3), and Nikki Kilboten (10.5) all average points in double-digits. Kilboten leads the team on the glass with 82 total rebounds and 6.8 boards per game. Wortz and Brehna Evans have been the best distributors for the Wolves with 34 and 32 assists, respectively. Evans also leads the Huskies in steals with 26. Kilboten has a team-high 21 blocks.
 
Minnesota Duluth- The Bulldogs bring an 11-3 overall record into this weekend with a mark of 38-0 in the NSIC. The Dragons are scoring 67.2 points per game. Brooke Olson has been superb for UMD this season with team highs in scoring average (16.1 ppg), field goal percentage (53%), three-point percentage (45%), rebounding, (91). Maesyn Thiesen has made a team-high 65 assists for an average of 4.6 per game. Center Sarah Grow has blocked 28 shots this season.