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SMSU WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: SMSU travels to Winona State and Upper Iowa in final conference road trip of the season

Independent file photo SMSU’s Erin Baxter dribbles the ball during their game against Northern State University on Saturday. The Mustangs will face Upper Iowa and Winona State this weekend.

MARSHALL — The Southwest Minnesota State University women’s basketball team (13-10, 8-10 NSIC) prepares for the final road series weekend of the 2019-20 regular season traveling to South Division foes, Winona State and Upper Iowa.

•SMSU will face Upper Iowa (3-21, 2-16 NSIC) on Friday night, with a 5:30 p.m. tip-off in Dorman Gymnasium and will take on Winona State (14-8, 10-8 NSIC NSIC) on Saturday in McCown Gymnasium, with tip-off slated for 3:30 p.m.

•This weekend is the second meeting between the two teams this season. SMSU split the last time out, falling 74-58 to Winona State on Jan. 24 and defeating Upper Iowa, 76-51, on Jan. 25, both in the R/A Facility.

•The Mustangs are coming off a 2-0 weekend, and extending their winning streak to three games, with a 66-61 victory over MSU Moorhead last Friday before earning a 74-49 victory over Northern State on Saturday.

Broadcast info

•Both games will be broadcast on 105.1 FM KARL with Ryan Rohlik providing play-by-play.

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

SMSU quick hits

•With the pair of victories last weekend, SMSU surpassed last years win total. SMSU is two wins shy of tying the most wins since the 2009-10 season when they finished 15-12.

•SMSU is one conference victory shy of tying the most conference wins from a season ago. Two more conference victories would put them at the most wins in the NSIC since the 2002-03 season when they finished 12-6 in the NSIC and 21-10 overall.

•Junior guard Meleah Reinhart is leading the Mustangs in scoring with 15.0 ppg and has led the Mustangs in scoring in 10 games. Reinhart has also recorded the most games in double-digit scoring with 21 games this season.

•Junior center Abuk Akoi leads the team in rebounding with 8.5 rpg. Akoi has led the team in rebounding in 12 games and earned her third double-double of the season with 14 rebounds and 10 points in the victory over Minnesota State on Jan. 11. Akoi is on a five-game streak for leading the team in rebounding.

•Sophomore guard Jenna Borchers has connected on a team-high 55 3-pointers and leads the team in assists with 58.

Series history

vs. Upper Iowa

•This is the 28th meeting in series history, dating back to 2004-05 season.

•SMSU holds a one-game advantage at 14-13, although UIU has a 7-5 advantage of games played in Fayette.

•SMSU is on a five-game winning streak which began on Dec. 1, 2017, with a 75-55 victory in Marshall.

•SMSU has never won six games in a row versus UIU.

•SMSU head coach Tom Webb is 6-1 all-time versus UIU.

Series history

vs. Winona State

•This is the 85th meeting in series history, dating back to the 1973-74 season.

•SMSU leads the all-time series 44-40, but WSU has a 26-16 advantage of games played in Winona.

•SMSU has lost the last 11 games in the series, with the last victory occurring on Jan. 17, 2014, 65-61 in Marshall.

•WSU has won 24 of the last 26 games overall since Feb. 17, 2006.

•SMSU’s last victory in Winona occurred in the 2004-05 season.

•SMSU head coach Tom Webb is 0-7 all-time versus Winona State.

Scouting

Upper Iowa

•UIU is 3-21 overall and 2-16 NSIC and are on a six-game losing streak since its last victory on Jan. 18 over Minnesota Crookston.

•Freshman guard Jessica Musgrave leads the team in scoring at 14.5 ppg, shooting a team-high 42 percent from the field. Musgrave is also recording a team-high 6.5 rpg.

•Junior guard Natalie Dinius has a team-high 41 3-pointers.

•Nate Oakland is in his first season as head coach.

•UIU is shooting 35 percent from the field, 30 percent from 3-point range and 70 percent from the free throw line.

Scouting

Winona State

•Winona State is 14-8 overall and 10-8 NSIC.

•The Warriors are on a four-game losing streak after falling to Minot State and UMary this past weekend.

•Junior forward Taylor Hustad is scoring 15.4 ppg with a team-high 148-of-260 (56.9) from the field. Hustad also averages a team-high 8.6 rpg.

•Junior guard Allie Pickrain has a team-high 48 3-pointers.

•Scott Ballard is in his 16th season as head coach and holds a 278-185 overall record at WSU.

•WSU is shooting 42 percent from the field, 32 percent from 3-point range and 75 percent from the free throw line.

•WSU is averaging 70 points per game, while opponents average 68 points per game. Winona State has a minus-0.5 rebounding margin.

— Content courtesy

of SMSU Athletic

Communications

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