This week in MSU Maverick sports (2/8/10-2/14/10)

Maverick fans are looking at a slow weekend ahead with the men's tennis season opener against University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire as the only event in Mankato. But the weekend will certainly be a busy one for the Mavs away from home.

The Maverick women's hockey team was able to snap a 16-game winless streak with an impressive home win against St. Cloud State Saturday. After losing 1-6 in St. Cloud Friday night, the lady Mavs were able to post a 4-0 shutout Saturday. Sophomore goaltender Alli Altmann was able to stop all 33 shots including 21 shots in a busy third period. Senior forward Kala Buganski started things off with a shorthanded goal 9:30 into the first period. Senior forward Christa Lee earned the first star of the game by assisting on three of the four Maverick goals.

The women's hockey team hits the road this weekend to face an even-tougher Wisconsin team. The Badgers sit in third place in the WCHA standings with a 13-10-1 record. If the lady Mavs ride the momentum from their most recent win and Altmann continues to perform well in net this weekend don't be surprised if the women steal a game from the Badgers.

After having a week off, the Mav men's hockey crew also heads to Wisconsin this weekend. Like the women's team, the men hope to ride the momentum of their latest win which came on Jan. 30 at Michigan Tech. Freshman netminder Phil Cook has been in net for the three most recent Maverick wins. Coach Troy Jutting has been splitting weekend series play between Cook and sophomore goalie Austin Lee and will likely do the same this weekend. The Kohl Center in Madison is known as a tough place for visiting opponents to play. Look for a weekend split as the Mavericks regain momentum in conference play.

In other men's hockey news, freshman forward Tyler Pitlick is a prospect for the 2010 NHL draft on June 25 and 26 in Los Angeles. The Central Scouting Bureau listed Pitlick as 21st on its North American Skaters Midterm Rankings. Bob Mckenzie of the Canadian sports television network TSN has him listed even higher, at 20th overall.

Maverick Men's Basketball had a successful weekend pummeling Minnesota, Crookston 105-55 and beating MSU Moorhead 92-73. Senior center Travis Nelson and junior wing Jefferson Mason scored 16 points each as the Mavs shot 62.4 percent from the field and 45 percent beyond the 3-point line Friday night against Crookston. Nelson scored 21 points and grabbed seven rebounds in the Saturday night victory against MSU Moorhead as the Mavs shot 49.95 percent from the field and 41.64 percent beyond the 3-point line.

The fourth-ranked MSU men's basketball team heads to Concordia University Friday and St. Cloud State University Saturday. Concordia sits in fifth in the NSIC standings with a 9-6 record. St. Cloud State sits in second place, below only the Mavericks, with a 12-3 record. A closer game is expected on Saturday against the Huskies, but the Mavs should be able to pull out a couple more wins.

The women's basketball team was also able to pick up wins against Minnesota, Crookston and MSU Moorhead. The Mavs shot 45 percent from the field and 43.1 percent from the arc Friday night against Crookston as senior forward Liz Trauger scored a career-high 28 points and sophomore guard Lauren Barber posted a career-high 20 points. Trauger and Barber also lead the scoring in the Saturday night victory against MSU Moorhead. The Mavs shot 41.9 percent from the field and 40.9 percent from the arc in the win.

The lady Mav basketball team sits in seventh place in the NSIC standings with a 13-9, 8-7 conference record. The Mavs will travel to Concordia University Friday and St. Cloud State University Saturday. Concordia sits at number one in the NSIC standings with 12 wins and 3 losses, one of which came when the Maverick women defeated Concordia in January. St. Cloud State sits one above the bottom in the NSIC standings in thirteenth place with 3 wins (one of which came when St. Cloud State beat MSU in January) and 12 losses. Although the previous win against Concordia and loss against St. Cloud State contradict the standings, both games were close. If the Mavs continue to play well they should be able to beat St. Cloud but may have a tougher time with Concordia.

The Maverick baseball team is rated third in the Central Region preseason poll as the baseball and softball preseason is just around the corner. The baseball team had a 38-17 2009 record and will start its season along with the softball team which had a 39-17 2009 record Feb. 19 in Colorado.

The Maverick women's and men's track and field teams both sit in first place in the region and face action at Iowa State and the NSIC Multi Aberdeen, S.D. this weekend.

MSU Maverick sports schedule in order of occurrence. Home games are in bold.

Friday, Feb. 12: