Complete Release (PDF)
This week: The Southwest Minnesota State women's basketball team (3-1, 0-0 NSIC) will open Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play on Saturday when the Mustangs travel to Minnesota State, Mankato (5-1, 0-0 NSIC). Tip-off is set for 2 p.m.
SMSU basketball online: Live statistics for home games and live audio and video streaming for all women's basketball games are available at www.smsumustangs.com.
Tune it in: SMSU women's basketball can be heard all season long on 105.1 KARL FM. Aaron Ziemer, the voice of the Mustangs, will again handle play-by-play.
The series: Saturday marks the 41st meeting between SMSU and MSU in a series that dates back to the 1970-71 season. The Mustangs are 17-23 against the Mavericks all-time.
Last weekend: SMSU put together a perfect Thanksgiving weekend by going 2-0 at the Nebraska-Omaha Classic. The Mustangs shook off any lingering effects of tryptophan to post a 60-51 victory over Chadron State (Neb.) on Friday. On Saturday, SMSU picked up a 70-51 win over Oklahoma Panhandle State.
Tori Fink (North Fond du Lac, Wis.) was tops in the scoring column for the Mustangs over the weekend, averaging 18.5 points per game.
Probable starters: Mike Jewett will likely put the following players on the court for the opening tip for Saturday's contest:
The coaches: Mike Jewett is in his fourth year at the helm of the SMSU women's basketball program. Jewett owns a 36-54 record at SMSU. Under his direction, the Mustangs have charted improved records each season, going from seven wins in 2006-07 to twice that in 2008-09. The sixth head coach in the program's 40-year history, Jewett is in seventh overall season as a head coach at the collegiate level, where he has an overall record of 98-74.
Pam Gohl is in her second season as the head coach of MSU and fourth on the Maverick coaching staff. Under Gohl in 2008-09, the Mavericks went 32-2 on the way to their first NCAA national championship. MSU was also named the No. 1 team in the nation for two weeks and earned its first conference championship since the 1985-86 season. Gohl was named Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Coach of the of the Year and 2009 Molten/Women's Division II Bulletin Coach of the Year. MSU set several school records during the season including most wins in a season (32), longest winning streak (17), points scored in a season (2,763) and points per game (81.3). Minnesota State also set a new NSIC record for conference wins in a season with 19.
Mustang Notes:
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Tori Fink hit 10 three-pointers over the weekend, including drilling six against Oklahoma Panhandle State on Saturday.
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Lucia Puchelova made her first starts of the year over the weekend, filling in for a banged up
Laura Kramer.
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Morgan Hamner scored her first points of the season, netting six in each of last weekend's games.
About SMSU: The Mustangs own a 3-1 record heading into conference opening play on Saturday.
Tori Fink has emerged as SMSU's scoring threat as the junior is averaging 16.5 points per game.
Abby Kenealy is also in double figures in the scoring column, averaging 11.8 points per game. Kenealy has also been a force on the glass as the sophomore is pulling down 8.0 rebounds per contest.
Laura Kramer averages a team-best 8.8 rebounds per game.
Megan Stadler directs the Mustangs' offense and has dished out a team-high 20 assists on the young season.
About Minnesota State: The defending national champions currently sport a 5-1 record as they open NSIC play on Saturday. Jennie Noreen leads the Mavericks in scoring, averaging 15.0 points per game. Tiffany Moe and Liz Trauger also average in double figures with 12.8 and 10.8 points per game, respectively. Moe has also compiled a team-best 27 assists on the year. MSU's five wins have been over Dana, Grand View, Waldorf, Buena Vista and Northern State. The Mavericks' only loss came to Winona State last weekend at the NSIC Holiday Hoopsfest in Sioux Falls, S.D.
Exhibition to open: SMSU hosted Bethel in exhibition action on Nov. 14, having little trouble with the Division III Royals.
Taylor Voss poured in a game-high 17 points to help lead the Mustangs to an 81-45 win. SMSU had four score in double figures as
Tori Fink had 13 points,
Miley Hunziker finished with 12 and
Lucia Puchelova added 11.
Seeing double: The Mustangs will have opponents seeing double this season as the squad has added twin sisters Landi and
Miley Hunziker (Milford, Iowa) to the roster for 2009-10. The siblings were both multi-sport athletes at Okoboji High School and opted to stay together in their college choice. Can't tell them apart? Landi wears No. 4, while Miley sports No. 24.
Historically speaking: SMSU enters its 41st season of women's basketball this season. SMSU has played 991 games, compiling an all time record of 533-458. 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.
All by herself: Guard
Megan Stadler (Sioux Falls, S.D.) holds the distinction of being the lone senior on this year's squad. Stadler is in her fifth year with the program and has been a mainstay in the SMSU backcourt.
International flavor: The 2009-10 Mustangs have a little international flavor on the roster.
Lucia Puchelova hails from Ruzomberok, Slovakia, and spent two seasons at Antelope Valley College in California. Puchelova has seen solid minutes, including two starts, at her guard position.
Preseason coaches' poll: The NSIC's 14 head coaches tabbed SMSU 11th in their annual preseason poll. The Mustangs received 66 points in the poll. Defending NCAA Division II national champion Minnesota State, Mankato received nine first-place votes and 176 points to take the top spot in the poll. Concordia- St. Paul, Augustana and Winona State also received first-place votes and checked in at No. 2, No. 3 and No. 5, respectively.
1. Minnesota State (9) 176
2. Concordia-St. Paul (2) 154
3. Augustana (2) 145
4. MSU Moorhead 142
5. Winona State (1) 140
6. Minnesota Duluth 131
7. Wayne State 111
8. St. Cloud State 99
9. Mary 96
10. Northern State 73
11. Southwest Minnesota State 66
12. Minnesota, Crookston 55
13. Bemidji State 37
14. Upper Iowa 32
( ) First Place Votes
Stadler in the record book: Senior
Megan Stadler (Sioux Falls, S.D.) began the season ranked ninth in career assists at SMSU. The guard has quickly jumped a few spots throughout the beginning of the season as she is just four assists away from moving into the sixth spot and overtaking her former teammate
Abby Oakland.
1. 493 Michelle Bruns - 2001-05
2. 425 Mary Roddel - 2000-04
3. 401 Dani Coleman - 1996-00
4. 366 Erin Frye - 1997-01
5. 341 Lillie Brown - 1992-96
6. 330
Abby Oakland - 2005-09
7. 327
Megan Stadler - 2005-10
8. 321 Shelli Schoeneck - 1999-03
9. 317 Darcy Peterka - 1988-92
10. 305 Judy Schreifels - 1979-83
Home, sweet 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 13 seasons of playing in the Mustang home arena, SMSU women's basketball has compiled a record of 104-65.
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 9-6 3-6 5-0
2009-10 1-1 - 1-1
Totals: 104-65 60-41 44-23
Mustangs add five during early signing period: Head coach Mike Jewett announced on Nov. 11 the signing of four student athletes for the 2010-11 season. Breanna Holleman from Hancock, Minn., Hannah Beeler from Indianola, Iowa, Jessie Watts from Omaha, Neb., Ellen Degler from Chaska, Minn., and Samantha Abens from Knoxville, Iowa, have all signed letters of intent to continue their academic and athletic careers at SMSU.
