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MARSHALL, MINN. - The Southwest Minnesota State (10-11, 2-9 NSIC) women's basketball team opens a four-game road series this weekend when the Mustangs travel to Minnesota Duluth and Bemidji State for a pair of conference match-ups.  SMSU meets up with UMD Friday and BSU Saturday; both games are 6 p.m. tip-offs.

About SMSU
The Mustangs enter this weekend's match-ups with a 10-11 record and 2-9 in the NSIC, putting them in 12th place in the conference.  Sara Leidall sits atop the scoring column for SMSU, averaging 12.6 points per game.  She is the lone Mustang averaging in double figures.

Laura Kramer leads SMSU with 6.1 rebound per outing and is shooting a team-best 49.3 percent from the field.  The sophomore has quietly emerged as the Mustangs' second-leading scorer, putting up 7.8 points per game.

Junior point guard Megan Stadler has posted 83 assists this season as the quarterback of the Mustang offense and has connected on 29 three-pointers.  The hot hand as of late, however, has belonged to Abby Oakland, who drilled a career-high six three-pointers against Wayne State last Saturday.

Last Week's Recap
Wayne State 52, SMSU 52
Wayne State held off a late Southwest Minnesota State surge to hand the Mustangs a 62-52 conference loss Saturday night in Marshall.

Abby Oakland was a career high six-of-eleven from behind the arc to finish with a game-high 20 points for SMSU.   Sara Leidall added another 15.

WSC had four players score in double digits as Clare Duwliuis finished with a team-high 17 points, Laquisha Cook had 15 and Julie Ann Wagner and Mara Hjelle each had 10.

Augustana 67, SMSU 60
Augustana nailed six free throws in the final two minutes of overtime to serve Southwest Minnesota State a 67-60 conference loss Friday night in Marshall.

Megan Wittcop sank four three-pointers on the evening and finished with a team-high 12 points for SMSU.  Megan Stadler also clipped double digits with 11 points.

Amy Puthoff's game-high 24 points and 13 rebounds led Augie.

Opponent Information
Minnesota Duluth:  The Bulldogs sit at 10-8  (7-4 NSIC) and tied for fourth place in the NSIC.  A pair of forwards lead the offensive attack for UMD as junior Jehri Booker and sophomore Kelsey Hewitt are averageing 16.2 and 13.7 points per game, respectively.  Booker's scoring output is good for second in the conference.  Junior guard Monica Mayry has dished out a team-leading 86 assists this season and is efficient with the ball, claiming a sparkling 2.33 assist to turnover ratio in conference games.

The Bulldogs are coached by Annette Wiles  (first season, 10-8).


Bemidji State:  With a 2-16 mark (0-11 NSIC), the Beavers are in 14th place in the NSIC.  Senior guard Heidi Matzke averages a Beaver-best 17.4 points and 4.5 assists per game.  A duo of freshman have also made their mark on the squad as guard Sydney Epema is in double figures in scoring with 11.5 points a night and Samanta Baldwin leads BSU on the glass, snagging 5.2 boards per outing.  

The Beavers are coached by Mike Carfman (fourth season, 42-60).

Series Information
Friday is the 63rd meeting between SMSU and UMD, with the Bulldogs leading the series 48-14.  Head coach Mike Jewett is 0-1 against UMD.

Saturday is the 63rd meeting between SMSU and BSU, with the Mustangs leading the series 35-28.  Jewett is 1-3 against BSU.

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 1,179 points (ranks 10th) and 545 rebounds (13th) in her career.  She became the ninth player in school history to reach the 1,000 points/500 rebounds club with her 500th career rebound on Friday, Dec. 12, against Northern State.


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
Sara Leidall (2005-current)    1,179    545
Regan French (2001-05)    1,018    633
Amy Boman (1998-02)    1,009    589

Sharp Shooters
Megan Wittkop, Abby Oakland, Sara Leidall and Kady Telschow rank among SMSU's best all-time shooters.  Wittkop is currently fourth 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 is second in career free-throw percentage and also ranks in the top-10 in three-point field goals attempted and made.

Free throw percentage (minimum 100 made)
.842    Mary Roddel (256-304)    2000-04
.841    Abby Oakland (106-126)    2005-09
.833    Shannon Dunse (120-144)    1989-93
.813    Megan Wittkop (122-150)    2005-09
.785    Nicole Bullock (117-149)    1998-02
.785    Andrea Schreier (409-521)    1997-01
.777    Shelli Schoeneck (380-489)    1999-03
.774    Sara Leidall (175-226)    2004-09
.771    Amy Buschow (168-218)    1990-93
.760    Traci Robinson (193-254)    1988-90

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
110    Megan Wittkop (101 games)    2005-09
84    Shelli Schoeneck (122 games)    1999-03
83    Abby Oakland (105 games)    2005-09
72    Darcy Peterka (101 games)    1988-92

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
286    Megan Wittkop (101 games)    2005-09
261    Abby Oakland (105 games)    2005-09
255    Andrea Schreier (111 games)    1997-01
229    Darcy Peterka (101 games)    1988-92
222    Shelli Schoeneck (122 games)    1999-03

3-point FG percentage (minimum 50 made)
.464    Kady Telschow (51-110)    2006-09
.427    Andrea Schreier (109-255)    1997-01
.390    Dani Coleman (177-454)    1996-00
.385    Megan Wittkop (110-286)    2005-09
.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
.365    Sara Leidall (66-181)    2005-09
.362    Kelly Crimi (142-392)    2002-06

Big Numbers
The Southwest Minnesota State 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 were the sixth and seventh in program's history.  The Mustangs also put up 105 against Minnesota-Morris on Dec. 19

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
12/19/08    Minnesota-Morris    W 105-64

Dishing it Out
Abby Oakland has crept into the top-10 in career assists at SMSU.  She currently has 308 to rank eighth in school history.  

History of the Program
Southwest Minnesota State is in its 40th season of women's basketball and has played 978 games, compiling an all time record of 526-452.  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 7-3 in home games, 0-4 in away games and 3-2 in games played at a neutral site.  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    7-5    .420    .659    39.9    77.9    13.3
Opponents        .382    .778    40.0    64.2    20.8

Away    W-L    FG%    FT%    REB    PTS    TO
SMSU    0-4    .335    .688    42.0    57.0    17.8
Opponents        .413    .645    39.8    66.5    15.8

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 101-63.





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    7-5    2-4    5-0
Totals    101-63    59-9    43-22

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    .401    .269    .756    5.2    10.5    1.3
Opponents    .469    .375    .697    5.0    10.5    2.0

In the Reserves
SMSU's bench has outscored its opponent's bench by  an average of 12 points this season.  Taylor Voss has been SMSU's top reserve, averaging 6.1 points off the bench.  The following is a statistical comparison of SMSU's bench versus its opponent's bench this season:
    FG%    3pt%    FT%    PTS    REB    AST    TO    STL
SMSU    .380    .320    .659    28.5    18.7    6.3    6.1    4.4
Opp.    .339    .271    .678    16.1    14.5    2.4    5.7    2.1

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 SMSU 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 three seniors on their roster after graduating just one last season.  Abby Oakland (76), Sara Leidall (71) and Megan Wittkop (29) enter their senior seasons with a combined 176 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.

SMSU Picked Ninth in Preseason Poll
The Southwest Minnesota State Mustangs women's basketball team was 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 7.1 minutes ... has played in 14 of 19 games ... averaging 3.4 points and 1.2 rebounds... shooting 39.1 percent from the floor ... scored nine points against Chadron State (Neb.) on Nov. 15 and season-high 11 points with five rebounds in 11 minutes against Mayville State (N.D.) on Nov. 18.

#11 Tori Fink: Has started 14 of 21 games ... averaging 7.5 points ...  third on the team with 48 assists (2.3 per game) ... scored season-high 15 points in overtime loss against Mary on Dec. 13 ... scored season-high 15 points, grabbed career-high eight rebounds and dished out five assists in victory of Cardinal Stritch (Wis.) on Dec. 29 ... put up 11 points in victory over No. 11 MSU Moorhead on Jan. 2 ... has a 1.26 assist-to-turnover ratio.

#5 Abby Kenealy: Has played in 20 of 21 games and is averaging 11.8 minutes off the bench ... averaging 4.8 points and 2.7 rebounds ... has blocked seven shots ... scored career-high 16 points, hitting 8-of-9 free throws against Augustana on Nov. 29 ... scored 10 points in 26 minutes against Minnesota, Crookston on Jan. 3 ... shooting 70.7 percent from the line this season.

#45 Laura Kramer: Has played in all 21 games, starting 14 ... averaging 22.6 minutes, 7.8 points and 6.1 rebounds ... leads the team in rebounding and blocked shots with 24 ... shooting 49.3 percent from the field ... grabbed career-high 12 rebounds in start against Upper Iowa on Nov. 30 ... scored 10 points against No. 17  Minnesota State, Mankato on Dec. 6 and against Cardinal Stritch (Wis.) on Dec. 29 ... tied career-high with 12 points against Northern State on Dec. 12 ... had nine points and 11 rebounds against Mary on Dec. 13 ... had career-high 15 points against Winona State on Jan. 9 ... posted first career double-double (12 points, 12 rebounds) against Winona State on Jan. 11. ... Grabbed 10 rebounds against St. Coud State on Jan. 16.

#33 Sara Leidall: 1,000 points and 500 rebounds in career ... scored 1,000th point against Mayville State (N.D.) on Nov. 18 and grabbed 500th rebound against Northern State on Dec. 12 ... for the season, leads the team in minutes per game (25.9), scoring (12.6) ... shooting 41.7 percent from the field ... 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 ... scored 10 points in SMSU's upset of No. 11 MSU Moorhead on Jan. 2 ... dropped 16 points on Uper Iowa on Jan. 10 and 15 points on Wayne State on Jan. 24.

#34 Abby Oakland:  Has started 18 of 21 games this season ... second on the team in minutes per game (25.2), second in rebounding (4.5) and fifth in scoring (7.0 points per game)... first on 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 dished out 48 assists ... sank career-high six three-pointers for game-high 20 points against Wayne State on Jan. 24

#25 Annie Smith: Has played in 18 of 21 games, averaging 10.4 minutes, 3.6 points and 2.6 rebounds ... has connected on 11-of-29 three-point shots ... has blocked 15 shots, ranking second 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 ... scored five points in nine minutes against Northern State on Dec. 12 ... scored career-high 12 points against Minnesota-Morris on Dec. 19 ... had seven points and eight rebounds against Cardinal Stritch (Wis.) on Dec. 29.

#20 Heather Smith: Has played in 20 of 21 games, averaging 11.6 minutes off the bench ... averaging 3.5 points ... 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.) ... scored 13 points on 3-of-5 shooting from behind the arc against Minnesota-Morris on Dec. 19.

#3 Megan Stadler: Has started 17 of 21 games, averaging 23.5 minutes  ... also averaging 7.0 points ... leads the team in assists (4.0 per game) and third in steals with 25 ... second on the team in three-point percentage (.525) and is shooting 80.0 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  ... scored 11 points and hit game-winning free throws against No. 11 MSU Moorhead on Jan. 2... scored 15 points and had five assists against Minnesota, Crookston on Jan. 3 ... dished out eight assists against Upper Iowa on Jan. 10.

#10 Aneshia Starks: Has started 14 of 19 games this season, averaging 14.6 minutes, 3.8 points and 2.3 rebounds ... leads the team with 31 steals ... shooting 35.4 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 injury ... tied a career-high with four steals against Minnesota-Morris on Dec. 19 ...  has sat out last two game with an injury.

#42 Kady Telschow: Has played in 13 of 21 games ... averaging 6.7 minutes and 1.6 points ... scored season-highs four points and grabbed five rebounds against Mayville State (N.D.) on Nov. 18 ... drilled a 3-pointer against Northern State on Dec. 12, her first 3-pointer since Nov. 30, 2007 against Bemidji State after leading the NSIC in 3-point shooting as a true freshman in 2006-07.

#14 Trisha Van Dusseldorp: Redshirting.

#32 Taylor Voss:  Has played in all 21 games, starting one ... averaging 15.1 minutes and 6.3 points per game ...  shooting 37.0 percent from the outside and leading the team in three-pointers made with 28 ... has forced 16 steals and blocked six shots ... scored 11 points, connecting on 4-of-8 shots, to go with three steals, in win over Mount Mercy (Iowa) on Nov. 22 ... pulled down season-high five rebounds against Mary on Dec. 13 ... poured in career-high 14 points  against Cardinal Stritch (Wis.) on Dec. 29.  

#24 Megan Wittkop: Ranks fourth in school history in free throw percentage (.813), sixth in three-pointers made (110), sixth in three-point attempts (286) and fourth in three-point percentage (.385) ... has played in 17 games as a reserve ... averaging 1.8 points and 2.0 rebounds in 9.4 minutes per game.