×

Tough four-game slate awaits MSU women’s basketball

Sean Arbaut/Minot State athletics Minot State's Kristal Flowers (40) guards UMary's Gabbie Bohl (32) during a women's college basketball game Saturday at the MSU Dome.

Minot State women’s basketball is still riding a high wave of emotion following an upset victory over the University of Mary Saturday.

After being picked to finish dead last in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference in the preseason coaches’ poll, the Beavers are already exceeding expectations, having matched last season’s win total of four in only five games.

“We’re so confident this year,” said MSU senior forward Krystal Flowers. “This new coaching staff has been great and there’s just a lot of energy that everyone brings together. It’s a lot different this year.”

Yet, murderer’s row now awaits the Beavers over the next four games. MSU faces the preseason NSIC No. 2 and No. 1 in Northern State and MSU Moorhead this weekend at the MSU Dome, then travels to face preseason No. 3 and No. 4, Augustana and Wayne State Dec. 8-9.

“No matter what happens, our next few are nasty,” MSU coach Mark Graupe said. “It’s the toughest stretch of the season for us by far. Our goal for the year is to finish in the top four in the NSIC north and get a home seed for the playoffs. No matter what happens in this stretch, we can’t lose sight of what our goal is at the end of the tunnel.

“If we can get any of these, it would be like stealing a win. If we can get one against those top seeds, that will really help our chance of reaching our goal.”

The Beavers conclude their seven-game homestand with Northern State at 6 p.m. on Friday, then MSU Moorhead at 4 p.m. Friday. Both teams have a combined record of 7-2.

“It’s early in the season, so I wasn’t familiar with any of those teams before the year started but now I’ve watched every game Northern has played and I’ll start on Moorhead (today),” Graupe said. “Mary was a different challenge than what Northern and Moorhead will be. Now, we have to go back to the drawing board and come up with game plans for both of these teams.”

NSU, which received four first-place votes by NSIC coaches in the preseason poll, is led by senior center Miranda Ristau. Ristau, standing at 6-foot-2, averages 17 points and seven rebounds per game for the Wolves. Other double-digit scorers include 5-foot-10 guard Jessi Marti (12.2 ppg), 5-foot-10 forward Jill Conrad (11 ppg) and 5-foot-9 guard Brianna Kusler (10.4 ppg). The Wolves are second in the NSIC in scoring offense, averaging 79.2 points per contest.

“They’re not as big as Mary, but their guards are big,” Graupe said. “So that presents a challenge with how long they’re guards are. As a team, they’re shooting 43 percent from three. Plus, the first two NSIC players of the week have been the inside girl. Overall, they’re not as quick as the Jamestown speed demons, but they’re long and play great man-to-man defense.”

Meanwhile, preseason NSIC favorite Moorhead returns the reigning NSIC Player of the Year in 6-foot-3 forward Drew Sannes. In four games, Sannes is averaging 14.8 points and 9.5 rebounds per game. Other double-digit scorers include 5-foot-7 guard Jacky Volkert (12.8), 6-foot-2 forward Megan Hintz (11.5) and 5-foot-11 guard Cassidy Thorson (10.8). The Dragons are seventh in the NSIC in scoring offense (72.5) and sixth in points allowed per game (60).

Garrick Hodge covers Minot State athletics, the Minot Minotauros and high school sports. Follow him on Twitter @Garrick_Hodge.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today