Complete Release

MARSHALL, Minn. - The Southwest Minnesota State (13-16, 5-14 NSIC) women's basketball team hosts Northern State (12-14, 8-11 NSIC) on Saturday at 6 p.m. in the Mustangs' regular season finale.

About SMSU
The Mustangs enter Saturday's match-up with a 13-16 record and 5-14 mark in the NSIC, putting them in a tie for 11th place in the conference.  Sara Leidall sits atop the scoring column for SMSU, averaging 13.0 points per game.  She is the lone Mustang in double figures.

Laura Kramer leads SMSU with 6.0 rebounds per outing and is shooting a team-best 49.0 percent from the field.  Junior point guard Megan Stadler has dished out 134 assists this season as the quarterback of the Mustang offense.   From behind the arc, Abby Oakland has drilled a Mustang-best 38 three-pointers on the season.

Wednesday's Recap
SMSU 67, Wayne State 62
Laura Kramer and Sara Leidall combined for 31 points and the Southwest Minnesota State women's basketball team grabbed two decisive offensive rebounds down the stretch to hand Wayne State a 67-62 conference loss Wednesday night in Wayne, Neb.

Kramer finished the evening hitting six of 14 from the field and netting 16 points; she also snagged a team-high eight rebounds.  Leidall was seven of 18 from the field for 15 points.  Tori Fink also added 10 points.

Megan Stadler dished out 10 assists, which tied her career high in the category.


Opponent Information
Northern State:  The Wolves enter Saturday night's conest sporting a 12-14 record and 8-11 in NSIC play.  A pair of forward lead the NSU charge in the scoring column as sophomore Jodi Renischmidt and freshman Mikayla Barondeau are avering 11.1 and 10.4 points per game, respectively.  Freshman guard Emily Becken is the Wolves' leader in assists, averaging 2.8 per outing.  Sophomore center Krista Radenerg, who towers at 6-foot-6, is a force to be reckoned with down low for the wolves.  She is averaging 2.3 blocks per game and is first in the conference in the category.  NSU is allowing the second fewest points in the NSIC, lettinig its conference opponents an average of 62.6 point a night.

Curt Fredrickson is in his 30th year as the head coach of NSU and boasts an all-time record of 656-222

Series Information
The Wolves lead the series with SMSU 39-13.  Saturday is the second meeting this season between the two programs.  A Dec. 12 NSU-SMSU showdown in Aberdeen, S.D., resulted in a 66-57 Wolf victory.

SMSU head coach Mike Jewett is 2-3 against NSU.




Farewell to Three
Three Mustangs will pull on the SMSU jersey for the last time on Saturday night.  Seniors Sara Leidall, Abby Oakland and Megan Wittkop finish up their careers at SMSU this season.  All four have played their entire collegiate career with the Mustangs.

Offering Assistance
Megan Stadler put together her second double-digit assist performance of the season on Wednesday against Wayne State, dishing out 10 in SMSU's 67-62 road victory.  She also compiled 10 assists on Feb. 13 against St. Cloud State.  The junior has now led SMSU  in assists in 19 of its 29 games and is averaging 4.6 per game.

Five By Five or Less
“Close, but no cigar” might be a fitting theme for a handful of SMSU's losses this season.  The Mustangs have lost five games this season by five or less points:
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)

Oakland Named Academic All-District
Abby Oakland was named to the 2009 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District V College Division third team on Feb. 5, 2009.

Oakland, a 5-foot-8 guard from Fulda, Minn., boasts a 3.98 grade point average as a sports management major. 

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 1,291 points (ranks 10th) and 588 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)    1,291    588
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 (51-of-112).  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)
.856    Abby Oakland (125-146)    2005-09
.842    Mary Roddel (256-304)    2000-04
.833    Shannon Dunse (120-144)    1989-93
.815    Megan Wittkop (132-162)    2005-09
.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
.764    Sara Leidall (185-242)    2004-09
.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
117    Megan Wittkop (109 games)    2005-09
114    Erin Frye (107 games)    1997-01
109    Andrea Schreier (111 games)    1997-01
94    Abby Oakland (113 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
.395    Megan Wittkop (117-296)    2005-09
.390    Dani Coleman (177-454)    1996-00
.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
.364    Sara Leidall (72-198)    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 332 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 986 games, compiling an all time record of 529-457.  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 8-6 in home games, 2-8 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:

Home    W-L    FG%    FT%    REB    PTS    TO
SMSU    8-6    .425    .665    39.5    77.8    13.7
Opponents        .382    .779    40.2    66.1    20.1

Away    W-L    FG%    FT%    REB    PTS    TO
SMSU    2-8    .370    .699    38.1    60.3    16.6
Opponents        .389    .709    40.4    65.6    15.7

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 102-64.

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    8-6    3-6    5-0
Totals    102-64    60-41    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    .387    .250    .782    5.3    10.0    1.4
Opponents    .439    .352    .708    5.0    10.1    1.9

In the Reserves
SMSU's bench has outscored its opponent's bench by  an average of 8.5 points this season.  Taylor Voss has been SMSU's top reserve, averaging 7.8 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    .378    .336    .662    25.6    17.5    5.7    5.8    3.7
Opp.    .350    .268    .697    17.8    15.1    2.9    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.).

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
#11 Tori Fink: Has started 22 of 29 games ... averaging 8.6 points ...  second on the team with 74 assists (2.6 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 career-high 16 points against MSU Moorhead on Feb. 6 ... has a 1.21 assist-to-turnover ratio.

#5 Abby Kenealy: Has played in 28 of 29 games and is averaging 12.8 minutes off the bench ... averaging 4.9 points and 2.7 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 42.1 percent from the field.

#45 Laura Kramer: Has played in all 29 games, starting 22 ... averaging 22.0 minutes, 7.9 points and 6.0 rebounds ... leads the team in rebounding and blocked shots with 31 ... shooting 49.0 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  ... 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.. scored 16 points against Wayne State on Feb. 25 ... has three double-doubles on the season.

#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 (27.1) and scoring (13.0) ... shooting 43.5 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 ... had game-high 19 points in loss to Concordia-St. Paul on Feb. 14.

#34 Abby Oakland:  Has started 26 of 29 games this season ... second on the team in minutes per game (26.1), third in rebounding (4.5) and fourth in scoring (7.7 points per game)... first on the team in free throw percentage (.906) ... scored career-high 22 points, hitting, 8-of-13 from the field, in win over Mount Mercy (Iowa) on Nov. 22  ... has dished out 67 assists ... sank career-high six three-pointers for game-high 20 points against Wayne State on Jan. 24 ... scored 20 points in 82-73 upset of St. Cloud State on Feb. 13.

#25 Annie Smith: Has played in 21 of 29 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 ... sat out last two games with an injury.

#20 Heather Smith: Has played in 28 of 29 games, averaging 12.8 minutes off the bench ... averaging 3.6 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 ... had 11 points versus St. Cloud State Feb. 13.

#3 Megan Stadler: Has started 25 of 29 games, averaging 24.6 minutes  ... also averaging 6.6 points ... leads the team in assists with 134 and second in steals with 34 ... second on the team in three-point percentage (.519) 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 ... had career-high 10 assists against St. Cloud State on Feb. 13 and against Wayne State on Feb. 25.

#10 Aneshia Starks: Has started 14 of 28 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 10 games with an injury.

#42 Kady Telschow: Has played in 16 of 29 games ... averaging 6.3 minutes and 1.8 points  ... 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 ... scored season-high eight points against Minnesota State on Feb. 21.

#14 Trisha Van Dusseldorp: Redshirting.

#32 Taylor Voss:  Has played in all 29 games, starting one ... averaging 14.6 minutes and 5.4 points per game ...  shooting 35.7 percent from the outside and second the team in three-pointers made with 35 ... has forced 19 steals and blocked eight 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 (.815), fifth in three-pointers made (115) and third in three-point percentage (.391) ... had season-high 12 points versus Augustana on Jan. 23 ... has played in 25 games as a reserve ... averaging 2.5 points and 2.3 rebounds in 10.9 minutes per game.