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The Southwest Minnesota State (6-2, 0-0 NSIC) women's basketball team will open the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference season this weekend when it hosts No. 17 Minnesota State, Mankato on Saturday, Dec. 6, at 6 p.m.

NSIC Holiday HoopsFest Recap
Augustana 75, SMSU 58
SMSU struggled in all aspects of the game, turning the ball over 16 times, shooting just 27.7 percent from the field, and getting out-rebounded 54-28 to lose 75-58 to Augustana on Saturday.

Freshman Abby Kenealy scored a career-high 16 points, hitting 8-of-9 free throws off the bench.  Southwest's four seniors combined to score just seven points, shooting just 1-of-12 from the field, with seven turnovers.

SMSU 74, Upper Iowa 61
The Mustangs bounced back from Saturday's loss with a 74-61 win over Upper Iowa on Sunday.  Southwest made up for its 18 turnovers by shooting 45.3 percent from the field and out-rebounding the Peacocks 44-33.

Megan Stadler and Sara Leidall carried the team, as Stadler scored a career-high 20 points, hitting a perfect 4-for-5 from the outside, while Leidall had a game-high 21 points.  Leidall also added seven rebounds and three assists.  Sophomore Laura Kramer made her first start of the season and pulled down a career-high 12 rebounds and scored four points.

After the Peacocks tied the game at 54-54 with 5:54 left to play, SMSU closed the game on a 15-2 run as Leidall scored seven consecutive points.  Abby Oakland, Leidall and Stadler combined to hit all seven free throw attempts in the final two minutes.

Internet Radio, Video & Stats
All SMSU women's basketball conference games during the 2008-09 season can be seen and heard on the Internet.  A video Webcast is available free of charge at www.northernsun.tv while the radio broadcast is available at www.SMSUmustangs.com.  Fans can also follow the game on the Internet with live in-game statistics for all home games at www.SMSUmustangs.com and clicking on the “live stats” link on the right side of the women's basketball page.

Radio Broadcast Information
SMSU women's basketball will once again be heard all season long on KARL 105.1 FM, Marshall.  Sports director Aaron Ziemer will be SMSU's play-by-play announcer throughout the year for a sixth straight season.

Opponent Information
MSU, Mankato: The 17th-ranked Mavericks enter Saturday's game undefeated at 6-0 overall and 0-0 in the NSIC.  MSU has scored at least 85 points in all six games, most recently defeating Nebraska-Kearney 91-88 on the road.  Currently, four Mavericks are averaging double figures in scoring, led by Heather Johnson (G, 5-8, Sr.) at 17.7 points per game.  Joanne Noreen (G, 5-8, Sr.) is second in scoring, averaging 12.7 points, while leading the team with 15 steals and shooting 42.9 percent from the outside and 59.2 percent from the field.  Alex Andrews (F, 5-11, Sr.) is third in scoring with 12.5 points per game and leads in rebounding with 6.8 per game.  Liz Trauger (F, 6-0, Jr.) averages 10.7 points and 6.5 rebounds.  Point guard Tiffany Moe  (G, 5-9, Jr.) averages just 5.0 points, but leads the team with 4.8 assists per game.  For the season, the Mavericks are averaging 11 more rebounds per game than their opponents at 44.7.  They also have forced 128 turnovers, while committing just 84 of their own.  Additionally, MSU has shot 52.4 percent from the field for an average of 95.2 points per game, while holding opponents to just 37.3 percent and 65.2 points.

Series Information
MSU leads the all-time series 21-17, though SMSU holds a 9-6 edge in games played in Marshall.  The Mavericks have won the past three meetings, including a 68-56 decision last winter in Mankato.

Beating the Best
SMSU defeated No. 9 Delta State (Miss.) 66-51 on Oct. 31 at the Disney Classic.  It was Southwest's first win over a ranked opponent since defeating No. 18 Northern State 53-48 on Feb. 2, 2007.

A Grand for Leidall
Sara Leidall reached the 1,000-point mark in SMSU's 107-45 win over Mayville State (N.D.) on Tuesday, Nov. 18, scoring 11 points in 14 minutes.  She became the 16th player in school history to reach that milestone.  She currently has 1,038 points (ranks 12th) and 487 rebounds  (15th) in her career.  Barring injury, at some point this season, she will become just the ninth player in school history with 1,000 points and 500 rebounds.

1,000 Points and 500 Rebounds Club
                                              Pts.    Reb.
Julie Thein (1987-91)    1,800    913
Lillie Brown (1992-96)    1,759    895
Michelle Bruns (2001-05)    1,635    596
Andrea Schreier (1997-01)    1,570    689
Shelli Schoeneck (1999-03)    1,488    506
Cindy Olson (1976-80)    1,463    655
Regan French (2001-05)    1,018    633
Amy Boman (1998-02)    1,009    589
Sara Leidall    1,038    487

Get that Outta Here
Heidi Kimmes blocked 48 shots last season, the most for a Mustang women's basketball player since Chrishawn McArthur blocked 79 in 1996.  The closest anyone has come to Kimmes' total in the past 12 seasons was Amy Boman, who blocked 45 shots in 2001-02.

Through eight games this season, Kimmes ranks sixth in career blocked shots with 89.  McArthur (1993-96) is the career leader at 183.  Kimmes is currently is tied for the team lead with eight blocked shots this season.

Sharp Shooters
Megan Wittkop, Abby Oakland, Sara Leidall Heidi Kimmes and Kady Telschow rank among SMSU's best all-time shooters.  Wittkop is currently third in career free throw percentage and fourth in three-point percentage.  Leidall also ranks in the top-10 in free throw percentage.  Telschow is currently the career three-point percentage record holder at 45.9 percent (50-of-109).  Oakland also ranks in the top-10 in three-point field goals attempted and made.

Field Goal Percentage (minimum 200 made)
.537    Amy Boman (403-751)    1998-02
.533    Steph Syltie (219-411)    1995-97
.497    Anne Pryor (299-602)    1978-82
.490    Shelly Honermann (350-715)    1997-01
.485    Lillie Brown (706-1456)    1992-96
.483    Shelli Schoeneck (512-1061)    1999-03
.482    Heidi Kimmes (200-411)    2005-
.477    Chrishawn McArthur (292-612)    1993-96
.472    Shannon Dunse (356-754)    1989-93
.469    Regan French (375-799)    2001-05

Free throw percentage (minimum 100 made)
.842    Mary Roddel (256-304)    2000-04
.833    Shannon Dunse (120-144)    1989-93
.813    Megan Wittkop (122-150)    2005-
.785    Nicole Bullock (117-149)    1998-02
.785    Andrea Schreier (409-521)    1997-01
.777    Shelli Schoeneck (380-489)    1999-03
.771    Amy Buschow (168-218)    1990-93
.765    Sara Leidall (156-204)    2004-
.760    Traci Robinson (193-254)    1988-90
.750    Erin Frye (345-460)    1997-01

3-point field goals made
190    Michelle Bruns (119 games)    2001-05
177    Dani Coleman (110 games)    1996-00
169    Mary Roddel (121 games)    2000-04
142    Kelly Crimi (105 games)    2002-06
114    Erin Frye (107 games)    1997-01
109    Andrea Schreier (111 games)    1997-01
104    Megan Wittkop (84 games)    2005-
84    Shelli Schoeneck (122 games)    1999-03
72    Darcy Peterka (101 games)    1988-92
67    Abby Oakland (84 games)    2005-

3-point field goals attempted
501    Michelle Bruns (119 games)    2001-05
454    Dani Coleman (110 games)    1996-00
447    Mary Roddel (121 games)    2000-04
392    Kelly Crimi (105 games)    2002-06
354    Erin Frye (107 games)    1997-01
275    Megan Wittkop (84 games)    2005-
255    Andrea Schreier (111 games)    1997-01
229    Darcy Peterka (101 games)    1988-92
222    Shelli Schoeneck (122 games)    1999-03
209    Abby Oakland (84 games)    2005-

3-point FG percentage (minimum 50 made)
.459    Kady Telschow (50-109)    2006-
.427    Andrea Schreier (109-255)    1997-01
.390    Dani Coleman (177-454)    1996-00
.380    Sara Leidall (52-137)    2005-
.379    Michelle Bruns (190-501)    2001-05
.379    Haneefah McNair (55-145)    1993-96
.378    Shelli Schoeneck (84-222)    1999-03
.378    Mary Roddel (169-447)    2000-04
.377    Megan Wittkop (104-276)    2005-
.362    Kelly Crimi (142-392)    2002-06

Big Numbers
The Southwest Minnesota State has scored over 100 points in consecutive games for the first time in school history after defeating Chadron State (Neb.) 111-75 on Nov. 15 and Mayville State (N.D.) 107-45 on Nov. 18.  The 100-point games are the sixth and seventh in program's history.

100-point games
2/15/88    Sioux Falls (S.D.)    W 105-80
11/19/88    at Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.)    W 104-102 ot
1/14/00    Minnesota, Crookston    W 108-51
12/8/00    at Minnesota-Morris    W 110-47
2/19/08    North Central (Minn.)    W 116-42
11/15/08    Chadron State (Neb.)    W 111-75
11/18/08    Mayville State (N.D.)    W 107-45

Dishing it Out
Abby Oakland has crept into the top-10 in career assists at SMSU.  She currently has 277 to rank 10th in school history.  Kendra Waldemar (1993-97) is ninth with 286.

History of the Program
Southwest Minnesota State is in its 40th season of women's basketball and has played 965 games, compiling an all time record of 522-443 (updated through first eight games this season).  SMSU has racked up 25 winning seasons with 10 coming in the last 15 years.  The 2000-01 squad won a school record 25 games and made an appearance at the NCAA Tournament.

Mustangs Home and Away
The Mustangs are currently 3-0 in home games and 3-2 in games played at a neutral site.  SMSU has not played an away game yet.  The following is a breakdown of statistics for home, away and neutral site games this season:
SMSU's stats:
Home    W-L    FG%    FT%    REB    PTS    TO
SMSU    3-0    .489    .655    44.3    103.7    10.7
Opponents        .349    .823    38.7    65.0    25.3

Away    W-L    FG%    FT%    REB    PTS    TO
SMSU    0-0    -    -    -    -    -
Opponents        -    -    -    -    -

Neutral    W-L    FG%    FT%    REB    PTS    TO
SMSU    3-2    .390    .753    36.4    65.4    64.6
Opponents        .393    .757    37.4    64.6    17.0

Mustangs at Home
The R/A Facility, the home of SMSU basketball has been a tough place to play for opponents since opening its doors for the 1996-97 season.
     In 11 seasons of playing in the Mustang home arena, SMSU women's basketball?has compiled a record of 95-59.

Year    Overall    NSIC    Non-Conf.
1996-97    6-6    2-4    4-2
1997-98    5-6    3-3    2-3
1998-99    11-2    6-0    5-2     
1999-00    11-3    7-2    4-1     
2000-01    12-0    9-0    3-0
2001-02    11-2    8-1    3-1
2002-03    11-3    7-2    4-1
2003-04    3-7    2-6    1-1     
2004-05    10-4    5-2    5-2
2005-06    5-9    3-4    2-5
2006-07    5-8    3-6    2-2
2007-08    4-8    2-5    2-2
2008-09    3-0    0-0    3-0
Totals    98-59    57-37    41-22

SMSU Late in the Game
The following is SMSU's offensive and defensive statistical averages in the final five minutes of its games during the 2008-09 season.
<5 min.    FG%    3-FG%  FT%    REB    PTS    TO
SMSU    .500    .267    .796    5.0    12.6    0.9
Opponents    .403    .400    .750    4.6    9.3    2.1

In the Reserves
SMSU's bench has out-scored its opponent's bench in all eight games so far this season.  The following is a statistical comparison of SMSU's bench vs. its opponent's bench this season:
    FG%    3pt%    FT%    PTS    REB    AST    TO    STL
SMSU    .384    .320    .688    36.8    19.9    8.5    7.1    6.3
Opp.    .328    .263    .764    16.0    14.9    2.0    6.6    1.6

Jump Start
SMSU has played well in season openers recently, winning 11 of its last 12 season-opening games after defeating No. 9 Delta State on Oct. 31 at the Disney Classic.  Last season, Southwest won 72-54 at Chadron State (Neb.) to open the 2007-08 season.

Among the Best
Sara Leidall was named honorable mention All-NSIC last season after the leading the Mustangs in scoring and rebounds.  She became the first player in two seasons to earn postseason honors from the NSIC.   Kelly Crimi and Leidall were each named second team All-NSIC in 2005-06.

Going Big Time
It is believed that Heather Smith is SMSU women's basketball's first-ever NCAA?Division I transfer.  Records going back through the mid-1980s show no women's basketball players transfering to Southwest from a Division I school.  Smith transfered to SMSU?during the spring of 2008 from Liberty University (Va.).

Old Folks
The Mustangs begin the 2008-09 season with four seniors on their roster after graduating just one last season.  Abby Oakland (76), Sara Leidall (71), Heidi Kimmes (30) and Megan Wittkop (29) enter their senior seasons with a combined 206 starts in their careers.  Additionally, fourth-year junior Megan Stadler has started 22 games in her two seasons on the court.  Stadler missed the 2006-07 season due to injury, but returned to start 13 games last winter.

Mustang Returners by the Numbers
SMSU returns 10 letterwinners, while losing just three.  The Mustangs return 78.7 percent of their scoring and 80.4 percent of their rebounding from last season.  Additionally, the returners shot 41.6 percent from the field.  Players from last season's team that are not returning shot just 34.7 percent.

SMSU Picked 9th in Preseason Poll
The Southwest Minnesota State Mustangs women's basketball team has been picked to finish ninth in the Preseason Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Coaches' Poll.  The announcement came from the NSIC offices in St. Paul.

SMSU received 91 points in the poll, while first place Minnesota State, Mankato had 179 points and 11 first-place votes.  Augustana was picked to finish second and received three first-place votes.  Defending NSIC champion Concordia-St. Paul was third.

Minnesota State, Mankato guard Heather Johnson was picked as the NSIC Preseason Player of the Year.  Johnson led MSU in scoring last season, averaging 16.9 points.  She also set a school record with 81 three-pointers last season.

2008-09 Season Player Notes
#21 Andrea Fennern: Averaging 7.3 minutes ... has played in six of eight games ... averaging 4.8 points and 1.3 rebounds, shooting 44.4 percent from the floor ... scored nine points against Chadron State (Neb.) on Nov. 15 andseason-high 11 points with five rebounds in 11 minutes against Mayville State (N.D.) on Nov. 18.

#11 Tori Fink: Has started four of eight games ... fifth on the team in scoring with 6.3 points per game ... second on the team with 22 assists (3.7 per game) ...  averaging 6.5 points when coming off the bench and 6.0 points when starting ... has converted 75 percent (12-of-16) free throws after shooting just .465 from the line as a freshman ... has a team-best 2.4 assist-to-turnover ratio.

#5 Abby Kenealy: Has played in all eight games and is averaging 9.4 minutes off the bench ... averaging 5.0 points and 2.6 rebounds ... has blocked four shots ... scored career-high 16 points, hitting 8-of-9 free throws against Augustana on Nov. 29 ... shooting 72.7 percent from the line this season.

#4 Heidi Kimmes: Currently ranked seventh in career field goal percentage (.482) and sixth in blocked shots (89) ... has started seven of eight games at center ... averaging 9.1 points in just 15.5 minutes per game ... second on the team in scoring ... tied for the team lead with eight blocked shots ... fourth on the team with 3.9 rebounds per game ... shooting team-best 57.4 percent from the field ... scored season-high 18 points in just 11 minutes against Mayville State (N.D.) on Nov. 18, hitting 9-of-10 shots ... has scored in double figures four times.

#45 Laura Kramer: Has played in all eight games and started against Upper Iowa ... averaging 18.4 minutes, 5.5 points and 5.0 rebounds ... leading the team in rebounding and tied for lead with eight blocked shots ... shooting 55.9 percent from the field ... grabbed career-high 12 rebounds in start against Upper Iowa on Nov. 30 ... has scored nine points twice this season.

#33 Sara Leidall: Ranks 12th in school history in scoring with 1,038 career points ... also ranks 11th in field goals made (415), 12th in field goals attempted (928), 13th in three-pointers made (52), fourth in three-point percentage (.380), eighth in free throw percentage (.765), 15th in rebounds (487) ... needs 13 rebounds to become the ninth player in school history with over 1,000 points and 500 rebounds ... for the season, leads the team in minutes per game (24.0), scoring (13.9) and is second in field goal percentage (.518), three-point percentage (.500) and free throw percentage (.867) ... has scored over 20 points twice this season ... scored 20 points in win over American International (Mass.) on Nov. 1 ... scored 21 points in win over Upper Iowa on Nov. 30, scoring seven points in the final five minutes to help SMSU close the game on a 15-2 run ... has scored in double figures in seven games.

#34 Abby Oakland: Ranks 10th in school history in three-pointers made (67), 10th in three-point attempts (209), 14th in three-point percentage (.321) and 10th in assists (277) ... has started all eight games this season ... tied for the team lead with 11 steals ... second on the team in minutes per game (23.6), rebounding (4.9) and third scoring (8.4 points per game) and assists (2.5 per game) ... leads the team in free throw percentage (.889) ... scored career-high 22 points, hitting 8-of-13 from the field in win over Mount Mercy (Iowa) on Nov. 22 ... has scored in double figures four times.

#25 Annie Smith: Has played in six of eight games, averaging 8.2 minutes, 3.0 points and 2.2 rebounds ... has connected on 4-of-9 three-point shots ... has blocked six shots, ranking third on the team ... scored six points against Chadron State (Neb.) and Mayville State (N.D.) ... also pulled down four rebounds and had two blocked shots against Chadron State on Nov. 15.

#20 Heather Smith: Has played in all eight games, averaging 14.1 minutes off the bench ... averaging 5.5 points ... shooting 80.0 percent from the free throw line ... scored career-high 29 points on 9-of-12 shooting with four steals in win over Chadron State (Neb.) on Nov. 15 ... transfer from NCAA Division I Liberty University (Va.).

#3 Megan Stadler: Has started four of eight games, averaging 19.4 minutes (third on the team) ... also averaging 5.8 points ... leads the team in assists (3.3 per game) and second in steals with 10 ... averaging 7.8 points and 4.5 assists in games she starts ... leads the team in three-point percentage (.636) and is shooting 81.3 percent from the line ... dished out seven assists in wins over Chadron State (Neb.) and Mayville State (N.D.) ... scored career-high 20 points, hitting 4-of-4 from the outside, in win over Upper Iowa on Nov. 30.

#10 Aneshia Starks: Has started all eight games this season, averaging 14.5 minutes, 5.3 points and 2.3 rebounds ... tied for team lead with 11 steals ... shooting 44.4 percent from the field ... did not start a game last season ... has been a defensive stopper this season, frequently guarding the opponent's top player ... scored season-high nine points against Chadron State (Neb.) on Nov. 15 ... had 10 steals in three-game stretch from Nov. 15 - Nov. 22 ... missed the second half of Upper Iowa game on Nov. 30 due to illness.

#42 Kady Telschow: Has played in seven of eight games ... averaging 6.9 minutes and 1.6 points ... scored season-highs four points and five rebounds against Mayville State (N.D.) on Nov. 18.

#14 Trisha Van Dusseldorp: Redshirting.

#32 Taylor Voss: Has been in the regular rotation in all eight games off the bench, averaging 14.1 minutes ... fourth in the team in scoring, averaging 6.6 points, while shooting 45.2 percent from the outside and leading the team in three-pointers made with 14 ... has forced nine steals and blocked two shots ... scored career-high 11 points, connecting on 4-of-8 shots, to go with three steals in win over Mount Mercy (Iowa) on Nov. 22.

#24 Megan Wittkop: Ranks third in school history in free throw percentage (.813), seventh in three-pointers made (104), sixth in three-point attempts (276) and ninth in three-point percentage (.377) ... has played in seven games as a reserve ... averaging 1.4 points and 2.7 rebounds in 12.4 minutes per game.