The season is winding down, only two weekends left as the NSIC Overall and Divisional Championships are still up for grabs.  Concordia-St. Paul holds a one game lead over No. 25 Minnesota State in the overall and south division standings. St. Cloud State and MSU Moorhead are both 11-7 in the north division followed closely by Northern State and U-Mary at 10-8. A reminder that all 16 teams make the NSIC/Sanford Health Tournament this season, with the top four seeds in each division hosting first round games on Wednesday, February 27.

All of Friday night’s games are interdivisional games tipping off at 6 p.m.

We will start in the north with a battle for first place when MSU Moorhead travels to St. Cloud State. The Huskies defeated the Dragons 79-56 in Moorhead back in December, but things have changed since then. MSUM has won seven of their last eight, while the Huskies have dropped three of their last four. The Dragons swept Augustana and Wayne State last weekend thanks in part to NSIC Player of the Week Morgan Zabel, who averaged 21 points, six rebounds and over four assists in the pair of wins.

Next 4-14 Minnesota, Crookston travels to 10-8 University of Mary. The Marauders are currently tied for third in the north and are led by Ali Collins, who averaged 18 points and 11 rebounds last weekend. U-Mary beat UMC 88-66 back in December.

Up next is the Beaver Bash, as 5-13 Bemidji State travels to Minot State. Minot State has won their last two games, but are 3-6 in their last nine contests for a 7-11 NSIC record. MISU holds an 8-5 home record, but are 1-3 in the last four at the MSU Dome. Carly Boag is guiding the team with 17.4 points and 11.3 rebounds per game.

And our final north division contest has 10-8 Northern State traveling to 8-10 Minnesota Duluth. The Wolves rolled the Bulldogs 72-42 back in December, but are struggling as of late, losing four of their last five. The Bulldogs too are reeling as they have lost seven of their last eight. However, a strong finish could get the Dogs a home first round tournament game. 

We head to the south division where league leading Concordia-St. Paul will take their 15-3 record to 12-6 Winona State. The Golden Bears have run off nine straight wins to sit atop the league standings while the Warriors have won their last four.   Winona State is one of only three teams to beat the Golden Bears in the league this season, a 62-59 win back on December 8 in St. Paul.

Next 14-4 Minnesota State will travel to 4-14 Upper Iowa. The Mavericks defeated the Peacocks at Taylor Center on Dec. 8, 81-57. In their last outing against the Peacocks, the Mavericks were paced by Ali Wilkinson who recorded 24 points and 17 rebounds. The Peacocks were led by Whitney Kieffer who finished one rebound shy of a double-double, netting 21 points and recording nine rebounds.

Wayne State, at 10-8, will travel to 2-16 Southwest Minnesota State in hopes of making a late run and finish in the top four of a tough NSIC South Division. The Wildcats defeated the Mustangs 66-61 in Wayne back on December 8.

And our finally game of the night is No. 23 Augustana taking their 13-5 record to in-town rival Sioux Falls.  The 8-10 Cougars still have an outside chance of finishing in the top four in the south, but have to win out against the top four teams in the division.  Augustana, who currently sits in third place in the south, defeated the Cougars 92-64 back in December. 

And a final note to fans, the NCAA Central Region rankings will be released next week, so check out Northernsun.org next Wednesday for the first of three rankings.

#NSIC#