Women's Basketball | 1/24/2018 2:17:00 PM

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The Minnesota State University Moorhead women's basketball team will look to extend its nine-game winning streak this weekend with a pair of Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference home contests. The Dragons will host Southwest Minnesota State at 6 p.m. on Friday and then host the University of Sioux Falls at 4 p.m. on Saturday.

MSUM will meet SMSU for an 82 time and the Dragons lead the series 41-40.  The Dragons have won six straight meetings in the series. MSUM will meet Sioux Falls for an eighth time and hold a 4-3 series lead. The Cougars swept two meetings a year ago.

The Dragons (15-3, 8-2 NSIC) were impressive on the road last weekend, rolling past Minnesota Duluth, 81-45 and St. Cloud State, 78-54 to push the season-best winning streak to nine games.  

Junior guard Jacky Volkert leads MSUM at 14.1 points and 5.8 assists per game. She also has a team-best 21 steals. Sannes averages 12.7 points and 8.7 rebounds per game, while senior guard Cassidy Thorson is averaging 11.7 points per game and leads with 53 three-pointers.  Sophomore forward Megan Hintz is averaging 11.0 points and 5.8 rebounds per game.

As a team MSUM scores 72.7 points per game and shoots 42.1 percent from the field.

On defense MSUM allows 61.1 points per game. MSUM outrebounds its foes 43.0-34.9

Karla Nelson is in her 18th season as the MSUM head coach with a record of 317-185.

About SMSU
The Mustangs are 4-13 overall and 3-11 in the NSIC. They were swept on the road last week, losing in overtime at Concordia-St. Paul (97-94) and to Minnesota State (81-53).

Caleigh Rodning leads at 13.1 points and 7.9 rebounds per game. Erin Baxter averages 10.9 points and 3.2 rebounds per game. Sadie Stelter leads with 2.7 assists per game. SMSU scores 64.2 points per game and shoots 36.4 percent from the field.

On defense the Mustangs allow 72.4 points per game. They are being outrebounded by their foes 41.3-38.9.

Tom Webb is in his second season as SMSU's head coach with a record of 7-37 at the school.

About Sioux Falls
The Cougars are 13-5 overall and 10-4 in the NSIC. They have won five in a row, including road wins at Minnesota State (74-71) and Concordia-St. Paul (84-56) last weekend.  IN the win over CSP, Mariah Szymanski scored 43 points, most scored in an NSIC women's game this season.

Kaely Hummel leads USF at 16.9 points per game. Szymanski averages 11.5 points per game. Jacey Huinker leads averages 10.4 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game. USF averages 67.6 points per game and shoots 40.0 percent from the field.

The Cougars allow 59.1 points per game and are being outrebounded 39.2-37.6.

Travis Traphagen is in his 10th season as the USF head coach with a record of 191-95 at the school.

Dragons in Top 10 in Fewest Turnovers
MSUM was the NCAA Division II statistical champion in 2016-17 for fewest turnovers per game. The Dragons finished the year at 11.4 turnovers per game to lead all of Division II in that category. This year MSUM continues to take good care of the ball, averaging 12.1 turnovers per game, which is seventh-best in the nation. The Dragons are eighth in assist to turnover ratio at 1.37.

National Rankings
MSUM is ranked in the top 40 nationally in individual and team categories:
Individuals
--junior guard Jacky Volkert is 11th in assists per game (5.8) and 11th in assist/turnover ratio (2.39)
--senior guard Cassidy Thorson is 15th in three-pointers per game (2.9), 15th in threes made (53), 18th in threes attempts (143)
--senior forward Drew Sannes is 28th nationally at 7.0 defensive rebounds per game.
Team Rankings
As a team, MSUM is ranked...
--7th in turnovers per game (12.1)
--8th in assist to turnover ratio (1.37)
--10th in in defensive rebounds per game (31.0)
--12th in fewest turnovers (217)
--19th in rebound margin (8.1)
--24th in free-throw percentage (77.2)
--30th in assists per game (16.5)
--38th in three-pointers made (7.9 per game)

Volkert Makes Her Point
Junior point guard Jacky Volkert has established herself as a premiere point guard in the NSIC. She leads the league at 5.8 assists per game and is seventh in scoring at 14.3. She is 11th in the nation at 5.8 assists per game and 11th in assist to turnover ratio. She leads the team in scoring and assists.

Hintz Makes Most of Chances
Sophomore forward Megan Hintz is having a solid all-around season, in particular shooting the ball from the floor. She leads the NSIC in field-goal shooting at 58.0 percent. She is 83-of-143 from the field on the season. She recorded her second double-double of her career, and the season in the Dragons' 72-69 win over Minot State on Jan. 5.

Thorson Sets Three-Point Record, Closes in on 1,000
Senior guard Cassidy Thorson hit seven 3-pointers in the 86-84 overtime win over Wayne State on Jan. 15 to give her 198 for her career, surpassing the previous school record of 197 recorded by Marisa Yernatich. Thorson is now at 206 three-pointers and is the first Dragon women's player ever to surpass 200 career three-pointers. Thorson leads the NSIC at 2.9 threes made per game.  She is 47 points away from 1,000 for her career.

Home Sweet Home
Since Karla Nelson took over the Dragon program in 2000, MSUM has developed a strong homecourt advantage. MSUM is 167-68 (.711) at home since Nelson took over, including 58-15 since the 2012-13 season.

Sannes Hits 1,000, Chases Blocks Record
Senior forward Drew Sannes surpassed 1,000 career points in the Dragons' 69-65 loss at Northern State on Dec. 15. Sannes is the 22nd Dragon women's player to reach the milestone and currently ranks 15th in school history with 1,119 points. She is second all-time at MSUM in blocks with 206, trailing only Jessica Fesenmaier, who has 210. She was the NSIC Player of the Year in 2016-17 and 2017-18 NSIC Preseason Player of the Year.  Sannes picked up her first NSIC Player of the Week honor on Jan. 15.

Borowicz Brings It
Freshman guard Kiley Borowicz has made an impact in her collegiate debut season. She has scored in double figures five times this season and led the team in scoring four times. Her career-high is 23 points at Minot State.

Nelson Back for 18th Season, Hits 500
Three-time NSIC Coach of the Year Karla Nelson returns for her 18th season as the Dragon head coach. MSUM has had 17 straight winning seasons under Nelson, who won her 300th game last February. Nelson has a 317-185 record at MSUM.