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MARSHALL, Minn. - The Southwest Minnesota State (11-14, 3-12 NSIC) women's basketball team is back in Marshall for a pair of conference games, hosting St. Cloud State (18-4, 11-4 NSIC) on Friday  and Concordia University, St. Paul 15-10, 7-8 NSIC) on Saturday.  Both contests are 6 p.m. tip-offs.

About SMSU
The Mustangs enter this weekend's match-ups with a 11-14 record and 3-12 in the NSIC, putting them in 12th place in the conference.  Sara Leidall sits atop the scoring column for SMSU, averaging 12.9 points per game.  She is the lone Mustang averaging in double figures.

Laura Kramer leads SMSU with 5.8 rebounds per outing and is shooting a team-best 48.8 percent from the field.  Junior point guard Megan Stadler has posted 105 assists this season as the quarterback of the Mustang offense.   From behind the arc, Abby Oakland has drilled a Mustang-best 32 three-pointers on the season.

Pink Zone 2009
The Southwest Minnesota State athletics department is hosting the 2009 WBCA Pink Zone™ to raise breast cancer awareness on Feb. 13 at the SMSU versus St. Cloud State basketball games.  The women will tip-off at 6 p.m. and the men to follow at 8 p.m.

SMSU will host a reception for cancer survivors between games, give away prizes and have a silent auction.  The silent auction will feature baskets donated by Bloom Boutique and a mini helmet autographed by Minnesota Vikings linebacker Chad Greenway.

During the men's halftime six SMSU student-athletes will be getting their hair cut by Urban Appeal stylists and donating it to Locks of Love.

Last Week's Recap
Minnesota State Moorhead 59, SMSU 57
No. 20 Minnesota State Moorhead's Katie Walden banked in a three-pointer with 19 seconds remaining to help her Dragons erase a one-point deficit and defeat Southwest Minnesota State 59-57 Friday night in Moorhead, Minn.

Tori Fink led the Mustangs with a career-high 16 points on 6-of-11 shooting from the field. Sara Leidall also finished with 13 points, and Megan Stadler added 11.

Minnesota, Crookston 65, SMSU 63
Southwest Minnesota State dropped a heartbreaker on Saturday night as Minnesota, Crookston's Diane Taddy hit a 15-foot jumper as time expired to lift the Golden Eagles to a 65-63 victory on Saturday night in Crookston, Minn.

Abby Oakland was the only other Mustang to score in double figures, finishing with 10 points. 

Opponent Information
St. Cloud State:  A high-powered offense featuring two of the NSIC's top scorers arrives at the R/A Facility on Friday.  St. Cloud State is averaging 73.8 points per game--good for second in the conference--and boasts guards Katie Tacheny and Talisha Barlow, who are averaging 17.0 and 15.5 points per game, respectively.  Barlow has also dished out a Husky-best 88 assists.  Sophomore center Rachel Booth controls the boards for SCSU, snagging 5.5 rebounds per outing.  The Huskies are a threat to score from outside, too, as they shoot 39.5 percent from behind the arc.  With an 18-4 mark and 11-4 record in the NSIC, SCSU is in third place in the NSIC.

Lori Fish is in her first season as the head coach of the Huskies and has compiled an 18-4 record.

Concordia  University, St. P aul:  Sporting a 15-10 record and 7-8 in conference play, the Golden Bears sit in a tie for ninth in the NSIC.  Senior forward Candace Olstad leads the CU offense, averaging 13.6 points per game.  Junior center Gillian Bjerke grabs a team-best 6.6 rebounds for the Golden Bears.  It's sophomore guard Zoraa Quoie that ranks among the best in the conference in a couple of categories; she has dished out 115 assists this season and is second in he NSIC in the category, while her 3.47 steals per game is also good for second in the conference.

Paul Fessler is in his ninth season as the leader of the Golden Bears and has a 193-76 record at the school.


Series Information
After 40 meetings, SCSU leads the series with SMSU 27-13.  Friday will be the second meeting this season between the two programs.  SCSU defeated SMSU 76-55 back on Jan. 16.  Head coach Mike Jewett, a former Husky assistant, is 0-1 against SCSU

CU leads the series between the Mustangs and Golden Bears 20-15.  A Jan. 17 meeting between the two schools resulted in a 60-55 victory for CU.  Jewett is 0-7 versus the Golden Bears.

Five By Five or Less
Including last weekend's two narrow losses to MSU Moorhead and Minnesota, Crookston, the Mustangs have lost five games by five or less points this season:
Jan. 3 vs. Minnesota, Crookston    76-73 (-4)
Jan. 17 vs. Concordia        60-55 (-5)
Jan. 30 vs. Minnesota Duluth    57-53 (-4)
Feb. 6 vs. MSU Moorhead    59-57 (-2)
Feb. 7 vs. Minnesota, Crookston    65-63 (-2)

Okland Named Academic All-District
Abby Oakland was named to the 2009 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District V College Division third team last week.

Oakland, a 5-foot-8 guard from Fulda, Minn., boasts a 3.98 grade point average as a sports management major.  She is currently averaging 7.3 points and 4.6 rebounds per game.  The senior has also dished out 62 assists.  She leads the Mustangs in three-pointers made (30) and free throw percentage (89.2 percent) and is tied for a team-leading 31 steals.

Her name resides in the SMSU record book as the school's all-time leader in career free throw percentage (84.6 percent), seventh in career assists (319) and eighth in three-pointers made (86).

A Grand for Leidall
Sara Leidall reached the 1,000-point mark in SMSU's 107-45 win over Mayville State (N.D.) on  Nov. 18, scoring 11 points in 14 minutes.  She became the 16th player in school history to reach that milestone.  She currently has 1,237 points (ranks 10th) and 570 rebounds (12th) 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 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)    1,237    570
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 first in career free-throw percentage and also ranks in the top-10 in three-point field goals made.

Free throw percentage (minimum 100 made)
.843    Abby Oakland (113-134)    2005-09
.842    Mary Roddel (256-304)    2000-04
.833    Shannon Dunse (120-144)    1989-93
.813    Megan Wittkop (130-160)    2005-09
.785    Nicole Bullock (117-149)    1998-02
.785    Andrea Schreier (409-521)    1997-01
.777    Shelli Schoeneck (380-489)    1999-03
.772    Sara Leidall (179-232)    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
110    Megan Wittkop (105 games)    2005-09
109    Andrea Schreier (111 games)    1997-01
88    Abby Oakland (109 games)    2005-09
84    Shelli Schoeneck (122 games)    1999-03
72    Darcy Peterka (101 games)    1988-92

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
.381    Megan Wittkop (110-289)    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
.362    Kelly Crimi (142-392)    2002-06
.362    Sara Leidall (68-188)    2005-09

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 322 to rank sixth in school history. 

History of the Program
Southwest Minnesota State is in its 40th season of women's basketball and has played 982 games, compiling an all time record of 527-455.  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, 1-5 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    1-7    .367    .661    39.0    59.0    16.0
Opponents        .376    .684    41.5    62.9    16.8

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    2-5    5-0
Totals    101-63    59-40    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    .386    .250    .760    5.4    10.0    1.4
Opponents    .436    .333    .675    5.1    9.9    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 5.3 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    .375    .3.8    .649    26.3    17.9    5.7    6.0    3.9
Opp.    .336    .260    .676    16.0    14.6    2.5    5.8    2.0

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 6.8 minutes ... has played in 17 of 25 games ... averaging 2.8 points and 1.1 rebounds... shooting 37.5 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 18 of 25 games ... averaging 8.2 points ...  third on the team with 61 assists (2.4 per game) ... scored  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 ... had 13 points and five rebounds against Minnesota Duluth on Jan. 30 ... netted careerhigh 16 points against MSU Moorhead on Feb. 6 ... has a 1.22 assist-to-turnover ratio.

#5 Abby Kenealy: Has played in 24 of 25 games and is averaging 12.9 minutes off the bench ... averaging 5.1 points and 2.8 rebounds ... has blocked 10 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 ... had 11 points against Bemidji State on Jan. 31 ... shooting 43.8 percent from the field.

#45 Laura Kramer: Has played in all 25 games, starting 18 ... averaging 21.9 minutes, 7.4 points and 5.8 rebounds ... leads the team in rebounding and blocked shots with 27 ... shooting 48.8 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 (26.7) and scoring (12.9) ... shooting 43.2 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 ... netted 15 points against Minnesota Duluth on Jan. 30 ... scored 16 points versus Minnesota, Crookston on Feb. 7.

#34 Abby Oakland:  Has started 22 of 25 games this season ... second on the team in minutes per game (26.0), second in rebounding (4.7) and fourth in scoring (7.3 points per game)... first on the team in free throw percentage (.878) ... scored career-high 22 points, hitting, 8-of-13 from the field, in win over Mount Mercy (Iowa) on Nov. 22  ... has dished out 65 assists ... sank career-high six three-pointers for game-high 20 points against Wayne State on Jan. 24

#25 Annie Smith: Has played in 21 of 25 games, averaging 9.6 minutes, 3.2 points and 2.3 rebounds ... 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 24 of 25 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 21 of 25 games, averaging 24.5 minutes  ... also averaging 6.9 points ... leads the team in assists with 105 and second in steals with 33 ... second on the team in three-point percentage (.510) and is shooting 81.1 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 six games with an injury.

#42 Kady Telschow: Has played in 15 of 25 games ... averaging 6.1 minutes and 1.4 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 25 games, starting one ... averaging 14.4 minutes and 5.5 points per game ...  shooting 34.5 percent from the outside and second the team in three-pointers made with 30 ... has forced 18 steals and blocked seven 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) and fourth in three-point percentage (.381) ... has played in 21 games as a reserve ... averaging 1.9 points and 2.2 rebounds in 9.8 minutes per game.