Women’s basketball looks for 20th consecutive win
The 14th-ranked Minnesota State women’s basketball team plays just one game this week in Aberdeen against the Northern State Huskies.
The Mavericks are first in the NSIC with a 21-4 record, while Northern State is second at 17-7. A win for the Mavericks would propel them to a 20-game win streak.
MSU won its 18th conference game of the season against the Vikings, 97-75. In doing so, they solidified the third conference regular season title in program history. The Mavericks have the best offense in the conference, averaging 80 points per game and winning by an average margin of 19.5 points per game.
They also have the best defense in the NSIC. They lead the conference in steals with 427, which is 228 more than St. Cloud State, who are second. Across the nation, the Mavs are second in steals per game, second in turnover margin and third in forced turnovers. All this defense adds up to 31.5 points off of turnovers per game.
The team also ranks first in the NSIC and fifth in the nation in offensive boards.
Each win they earn they continue to set program history as the previous win streak record was 17 games. This streak is the longest in NCAA Division II women’s basketball currently.
Destinee Bursch and Joey Batt lead the team.
Bursch earned NSIC Player of the Week due to her efforts last weekend. She led the conference in scoring and shooting percentage last weekend, averaging 23 points per game on 77% field goal shooting. She also averaged 4.5 assists, three rebounds and 2.5 steals per game. She is averaging 15.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.6 steals per game.
Batt became the second-highest scorer in program history with 1,717 points. This year she averages 14.6 points, three rebounds, 2.4 assists and 3.6 steals per game. She shoots an automatic 45% from the field, 35% from beyond the arc and 77% on free throws. She recorded 22 points and four steals last weekend against Augustana.
Lastly, Natalie Bremer has been the rising star of the team. While Bursch and Batt lead the team, Bremer quietly tallied four consecutive 20-point games. Among the NSIC, she ranks seventh in points, second in the conference in steals and free throw percentage and third in steals per game.
For the Wolves, they average 67 points per game. They shoot 42.5% from the field, 31% from three and 74% from the free throw line. The team averages 39 rebounds and 14.5 assists per game. They generate seven steals and four blocks per game.
Northern States’ 14 turnovers a game should make for easy pickings against the Mavs hard pressed defense.
Catch the game Saturday, Feb. 17 at 4:00 p.m. at Wachs Arena.
Header Photo: After beating Wayne State and Augustana, the Minnesota State women’s baketball team is looking for their 20th consecutive win. (Dylan Long/The Reporter)
Write to Luke Jackson at luke.jackson.2@mnsu.edu