Independent file photo SMSU’s Erin Baxter puts up a shot during their game against Augustana University on Dec. 30.

MARSHALL – Southwest Minnesota State will welcome a pair of NSIC North teams into the R/A Facility this weekend as it hosts Minnesota Crookston on Friday night at 6:05 p.m., followed by a Saturday afternoon game against Bemidji State.

SMSU Quick Hits

– SMSU gets set to face Minnesota Crookston and Bemidji State at home this weekend as the Mustangs near the midpoint of their conference schedule.

– SMSU has outscored opponents 230-207 in the fourth quarter of games so far this season.

– Taylor Holicky’s six blocked shots at USF made her the first SMSU player since 2007 to have at least five blocked shots in a single game.

Minnesota

Crookston

Game Preview

UMC Team Notes

– 2016-17 Record: 8-20, 7-15 NSIC

– 2017-18 Record: 2-11, 2-7 NSIC

– Minnesota Crookston enters the week having dropped four five games with a lone win over Upper Iowa during that stretch.

– UMC went 0-4 during non-conference play and has wins over MSU Moorhead and Upper Iowa on the season.

– The Golden Eagles have lost six games by 10 or less points this season.

– Minnesota Crookston fell in a pair of road games last weekend to Minnesota Duluth and St. Cloud State.

– The Golden Eagles rank third in the NSIC in free throw percentage at 78.8 percent and sixth in field goal percentage at 40.8 percent.

– Isieoma Odor notched 17.0 points and 5.0 rebounds per game on the weekend for Minnesota Crookston last week.

– Micaela Noga tallied 16.5 points per game as she was 9-of-17 from the field (52.9 percent) and 7-of-14 from beyond the arc.

Series History

– SMSU leads the all-time series, 20-11.

– The Mustangs have won just two of the last six games overall as last year’s, 75-66 win in Crookston ended a four-game losing streak to the Golden Eagles.

– The Mustangs have dropped their last three home games to UMC with their last win coming in a 93-67 victory on Feb. 6, 2010.

– SMSU won the first 12 games in the all-time series from 1996-97 to 2003-04.

– The Mustangs are 18-11 all-time in conference games against Minnesota Crookston and 9-6 all-time at home.

– Taylor Holicky put up 22 points and seven boards in last year’s game while Caleigh Rodning had a double-double with 13 points and 14 rebounds.

Game Coverage

– Friday night’s game vs Minnesota Crookston will be broadcast live by Midco Sports Network on MidcoSN2 and MidcoSN2 HD.

– SMSU vs UMC will be broadcast on 105.1 FM KARL with Ryan Rohlik and Anthony Rohlik handling the play-by-play for SMSU basketball.

– The game can also be viewed online at SMSUmustangs.com.

Bemidji State Game Preview

BSU Team Notes

– 2016-17 Record: 7-20, 4-18 NSIC

– 2017-18 Record: 4-9, 3-6 NSIC

– Bemidji State began a five-game road stretch with losses at St. Cloud State, 83-51, and at Minnesota Duluth, 66-61.

– Bemidji State shot 35.2 percent from the floor, 35.0 percent from long range and 84.2 percent from the charity stripe but lost the rebound margin, 39-35 against St. Cloud State.

– On the weekend, BSU shot 35.2 percent from the floor, 31.7 percent from 3-point range and 78.1 percent from the free throw line while also totaling 12.5 assists per game.

– Senior guard, Mikayla Larson, tied a career-high 18 points Saturday night against Minnesota Duluth on 6-for-7 shooting from the field.

– Freshman guard, Brooklyn Bachmann, led BSU on the weekend with 10.5 points per game on 43.8 percent shooting.

– Senior center, Sierra Senske, led BSU with 8.5 rebounds per game and added 8.5 points per contest off the bench.

Series History

– SMSU leads the all-time series 40-34, which dates back to the 1977-78 season.

– SMSU and Bemidji State have traded wins over the past six meetings with both teams winning the games at its respective home venue.

– SMSU was the last team to break serve, with a 71-56 win on the Beavers’ home court back in 2009.

– SMSU is 23-12 all-time at home vs BSU and have won six straight dating back to 2008.

– Bemidji State won last season’s matchup, 82-66 in Bemidji.

Game Coverage

– SMSU vs BSU will be broadcast on 105.1 FM KARL with Ryan Rohlik and Anthony Rohlik handling the play-by-play for SMSU basketball.

– The game can also be viewed online at SMSUmustangs.com.

Content courtesy

of SMSU Athletic

Communications