Women's Basketball | 11/23/2015 2:26:00 PM

Live Stats (Northern)
Live Video
Live Stats (Texas games)
Pak-A-Sak Classic Website
The Minnesota State University Moorhead women's basketball team opens Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play on Tuesday night when it hosts Northern State at 6 p.m. at Nemzek Fieldhouse. After the NSIC opener, MSUM heads to Texas for a pair of games at the Pak-A-Sak WT Thanksgiving Classic in Canyon, Texas. MSUM will face West Texas A&M at 2:30 p.m. on Friday and conclude the trip against Cameron University at noon on Saturday.

Tuesday's game against Northern State will be broadcast live on WDAY'Z Xtra with Steve d'Eustachio and Jared Bledsoe on the call. The Pak-A-Sak Classic will include live stats and live stream (West Texas A&M game only) at the link above.

MSUM will face Northern State for a 70th time with the Wolves leading the series 46-23. The Dragons will face West Texas A&M and Cameron for the first time in school history.
About MSUM
MSUM is 3-0 on the season after rolling to a 95-71 nonconference win over Mayville State on Nov. 19. Senior forward Heather Strese had 20 points and nine rebounds while junior guard Morgan Banasik had 20 points and a career-high eight assists.

Strese and junior guard Morgan Banasik lead MSUM at 17.0 points per game each.  Senior forward Savanna Handevidt averages 12.3 points per game for MSUM  while sophomore forward Drew Sannes averages 10.0. MSUM is averaging 83.3 points per game as a team. The Dragons are shooting 46.5 percent from the field.

Strese leads MSUM at 9.3 rebounds per game while Sannes is at 6.0. Sannes leads with eight total blocks while Banasik leads in assists (13) and steals (seven). MSUM is allowing 73.0 points per game and is outrebounding its opponents, 39.7-38.0.

Karla Nelson is in her 16th season as MSUM head coach with a record of 260-171 at the school.

About Northern State
Northern State, the defending NSIC North Division and NSIC Tournament Champions, is off to a 4-1 start. The Wolves won a pair of games in Colorado last weekend, bating Metro State-Denver, 75-53 and Colorado-Colorado Springs, 75-69. Jill Conrad leads Northern at 15.2 points per game while junior Paige Waytashek averages 10.0. Senior Lauren Deadrick averages 9.0 points and a team-best 9.4 rebounds per game for the Wolves, who are scoring 66.2 points per game as a team. Devon Brecke leads Northern with 15 assists. As a team Northern State shoots 44.8 percent from the field and 26.8 percent from three-point range. The Wolves allow 57 points per game and outrebound their opponents 43.0-28.4. Curt Fredrickson is in his 37th season as Northern's head coach with a record of 777-286 at the school.

About West Texas A&M
West Texas A&M is 4-0 overall. The Lady Buffs, who are ranked xxth in the latest poll, beat New Mexico Highlands, 67-55 in their last action on Nov. 21. WT qualified for the NCAA Division II Elite Eight a year ago. Michaela Neuhaus leads the Buffs at 10.0 points per game while Sasha Watson averages 9.5. Madison Parker leads at 5.5 rebounds per game while Watson lead at 5.1 assists and 3.1 steals per game.  WT averages 63.5 points per game and shoots 45.1 percent from the field. The Buffs outrebound their foes 38.0-32.2.  Kristen Mattio is in her first season as the West Texas A&M with a record of 4-0 at the school.

About Cameron
The Aggies are 3-1 overall. They beat Oklahoma Christian, 68-62 in their last action on Nov. 21. Cameron is led in scoring by Dayla Threatt at 8.8 points per game while Brandi Leal at 8.0. The Aggies score 61.8 points per game and shoot 37.6 percent from the field. They are being outrebounded by their foes by a 44.2-34.0 margin. Tom Webb is in his eighth season as Cameron's head coach with a record of 79-111 at the school.

MSUM Notes
--Dragons are 2-0 for the first time since 2013-14 season
--MSUM is one of five NSIC unbeaten teams left
—Banasik and Strese are tied for fifth in the NSIC in scoring at 17.0 points per game.
—Strese is tied for third in the NSIC at 9.3 rebounds per game.
—Sophomore forward Drew Sannes is third in the NSIC at 2.7 blocks per game.