Huskies to face Jennies in NCAA Regional opener

ST. CLOUD, MINN. - The St. Cloud State University women's basketball team has had one thing on its mind since its season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019-20: return to the 2020-21 NCAA Regional.

The Huskies put themselves in prime position to do that during the 2020-21 season, as they once again made a deep run at the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) / Sanford Health Tournament, returning to the championship game for the second time this season. St. Cloud State was rewarded by hearing its name called during the NCAA Selection Show Sunday evening, meaning the Huskies are headed back to the NCAA Regional for the second straight season. Their first round opponent? None other than the host, No. 4 Central Missouri University, who St. Cloud State will face at 6 p.m. on Friday, March 12 in Warrensburg, Missouri.

Though Fort Hays State is the No. 1 seed in the region, Central Missouri will serve as host, as the regional sites were predetermined due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Tickets will go on sale on Monday, March 8 and can be purchased at https://ucmtickets.universitytickets.com/w/default.aspx. Due to NCAA and Central Missouri protocols, tickets will need to be purchased each day and will cost $10 for adults and $5 for seniors and students. A single ticket will be valid for both games on Friday/Saturday.

Fans who cannot attend the game in person can follow along via live stats and video. Additionally, JW Cox will be on the call for 1390 WJON, and score updates will be made on the team's official Twitter account (@SCSUHUSKIES_WBB).

Here are the five things to know before Friday's quarterfinal game against Central Missouri:

32 - The Huskies and Jennies have not faced each other in many moons, 32 years to be exact. That's right. St. Cloud State and Central Missouri last squared off at the NCAA Regional in 1989, and the Jennies delt the Huskies a season-ending 87-71 loss in that game. All time, St. Cloud State holds a 0-5 record against Central Missouri, with all games taking place before the 1988-89 season. Their first meeting occurred in 1977 at the AIAW Region 6 Large College playoff, again with the Jennies winning by a final score of 66-53.

13-5 - The Huskies own an overall record of 13-5 in NCAA Regionals thanks to back-to-back runs in 2004-05 and 2005-06 NCAA tournaments. St. Cloud State advanced to the Elite Eight both years, using NCAA Regional Championship wins over Concordia-St. Paul and North Dakota to make those impressive appearances. After 2005-06 though, the Huskies went through a playoff doubt and would not appear in the NCAA Tournament until 2008-09, when they fell in the opening round to Fort Lewis College 74-69. St. Cloud State was primed to make its first appearances in 11 years in 2019-20, but saw the NCAA Regional cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

19/10 - Central Missouri was one of the best teams in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) and looked poised to win the regular season and conference titles for the second consecutive year. The Jennies posted a 19-3 record during the regular season with a 10-2 record in Warrensburg, Missouri, but fell one loss short of the MIAA regular season title. However, the perennial power was bounced early in the MIAA Tournament, as Washburn handed Central Missouri a rare and unexpected 63-55 loss in the opening round.

70.6 / 57.0 - Like always, it will be a game of explosive offense vs. stingy defense, as the Jennies and Huskies bring the best of both worlds to Friday's quarterfinal match up. Through 23 games this season, Central Missouri has averaged 70.6 points a game, which ranked fourth in the MIAA behind Emporia State, Fort Hays and Central Oklahoma. While St. Cloud State doesn't score as many points, the team doesn't allow opponents to score that many either. The Huskies once again bring a dominant defense to the NCAA Regional, as they've held some of the most potent opponents to just 57.0 points a game this season. St. Cloud State also boasts the NSIC Defensive Player, junior guard Brehna Evans (De Pere, Wis. / West De Pere).

980 - Forward Nikki Kilboten (Eau Claire, Wis. / Eau Claire North) enters the NCAA Regional on the cusp of the 1000 point milestone with 980 career points to her name entering Friday's game. Should Kilboten score 1000 points at the regional, she will become the third Husky in the last two seasons to reach the mark, joining current teammate Tori Wortz (Hutchinson, Minn. / Hutchinson) in the 1000 points club. Kilboten also moved to fifth on the all-time blocks list at the NSIC / Sanford Health Tournament last week with 154 total in her career.

Bonus number:

2 - St. Cloud State is one of two teams from the NSIC to appear in the NCAA Regional this season. Rival Minnesota-Duluth earned the conference's automatic bid to the tournament with its 67-55 championship win over the Huskies a week and a half ago. The Bulldogs will serve as the No. 3 seed in the tournament and face No. 6 Emporia State at 8:45 p.m. Friday, March 12.