Independent file photo SMSU’s Erin Baxter tries to drive around a pair of Upper Iowa University defenders during their Dec. 1, 2017 game. The Mustangs will face Upper Iowa and Winona State this weekend.

MARSHALL – The Southwest Minnesota State University women’s basketball team (11-12, 8-10 NSIC) hosts Upper Iowa University on Friday at 5:30 p.m. and Winona State University (13-9, 11-7 NSIC) on Saturday at 4 p.m. for the final homestand of the regular season.

•SMSU begins the weekend tied for fifth in the NSIC South Division standings, three games behind Augustana and Winona State for third and fourth place.

•UIU enters Friday’s game in eighth place in the division, while WSU is tied for third in the division.

Broadcast Info

•Both games will be broadcast on 105.1 FM KARL.

•Live stats and video can be found at SMSUmustangs.com.

Series History vs. Upper Iowa

•SMSU and UIU meet for the 26th time with UIU holding a 13-12 advantage.

•The series is tied 6-6 in games played in Marshall.

•SMSU won the first meeting this season on Jan. 26, 89-57, in Fayette.

•SMSU snapped a nine-game losing streak to UIU on Dec. 2, 2016, and has won three straight and four of the last five.

Series History vs. Winona State

•SMSU and WSU meet for the 83rd time on Saturday with SMSU holding a 44-38 advantage since the first meeting in the 1973-74 season.

•SMSU maintains a 28-12 record in games played in Marshall.

•WSU has won the last 22 of 24 games, including earlier this season, 71-69, in Winona on Jan. 25.

•SMSU’s last winning streak was four games from 2003-2005.

•The last time SMSU victory came on Jan. 17, 2014, 65-61 in Marshall.

Scouting

Upper Iowa

•UIU is 3-23 overall and 0-18 in the NSIC.

•The Peacocks are in a 19-game losing streak after dropping both games this past weekend against UMary and Minot State.

•Sophomore guard Natalie Dinius leads the team in scoring with 8.4 ppg.

•Senior forward Haley Martin leads in rebounding with 6.2 rpg.

•Senior guard Casey Miles leads the team in assists with 2.4 apg.

•UIU is shooting 36 percent from the field, 29 percent from the 3-point range, 66 percent from the free throw line and is maintaining a minus-7.0 rebounding margin.

•UIU is averaging 55.3 points per game, while opponents are averaging 71.9 points per game.

•Head coach, Kelly Kielsmeier, is in his first season after being named interim head coach on Jan. 6, 2019. Kielsmeier has served as the assistant coach with Wayne State College women’s basketball program for 10 years before moving to UIU.

Scouting

Winona State

•Winona State is 13-9 overall and 11-7 in NSIC play and comes in fourth in the South Division of the NSIC.

•After WSU defeated SMSU earlier this season, WSU has won four of the last five games.

•Sophomore guard Allie Pickrain leads the team in scoring with 10.4 ppg.

•Senior forward Rachel Novotny averages a team-high 4.3 rpg.

•Winona State is shooting 41 percent from the field and 31 percent from the 3-point line.

•WSU is recording a plus-2.9 rebounding margin and a plus-4.8 scoring margin.

•Head coach, Scott Ballard, is in his 15th season and holds a 262-173 overall record 171-128 record in the NSIC.

Content courtesy

of SMSU Athletic

Communications