GAME NOTES (PDF)

THIS WEEK:  The Southwest Minnesota State women's basketball team (15-10, 9-9 NSIC) will host Wayne State (21-4, 14-4 NSIC) on Wednesday at 6 p.m. in its final home game of the 2009-10 season.

THE SERIES:  Saturday will be the 36th meeting between SMSU and WSC in a series that dates back to the 1991-92 season.  The Mustangs are 17-18 (11-6 at home) against the Wildcats all-time,  while head coach Mike Jewett is 2-5 (0-3 at home) against WSC.  The Mustangs have lost their last four games at home against the Wildcats.  SMSU was defeated by WSC 73-47 earlier this season on Jan. 23 in Wayne.  The last time the Mustangs topped the Wildcats was last season with 67-62 victory on the road.

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.

LAST WEEKEND:  Minnesota State, Mankato got a double-double from Laura Weber and 18 points from Liz Trauger as the Mavericks topped SMSU 70-54 Saturday night in Marshall.  Weber's double-double came via 14 points and 10 rebounds.  Abby Kenealy paced SMSU with 18 points on 9 of 14 shooting from the field.  She was the lone Mustang to score in double figures.  SMSU failed to hit a 3-pointer all night--something that has not happened since the 2007-08 season.

THE COACHES:  Mike Jewett is in his fourth year at the helm of the SMSU women's basketball program.  Jewett owns a 48-63 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.   Jewett is in seventh overall season as a head coach at the collegiate level, where he has an overall record of 110-83.  Prior to taking over at SMSU, Jewett had stints as an assistant coach at Augustana and St. Cloud State and also served as the head coach at Franklin (Ind.).
    Chris Kielsmeier enters his second season as the leader of Wayne State women's basketball, where he has a record of 36-17.  Prior to taking over at WSC, Kielsmeier served as the head coach at Howard Payne (Texas) for eight years.  During his tenure at HPU, he compiled a record of 179-44 and won a Division III national title in 2007-08.

MUSTANG NOTES:
• SMSU did not hit a 3-pointer last Saturday against Minnesota State; the last time that happened was on Jan. 5, 2008, against Upper Iowa.
• The Mustangs are 1-2 at home during the month of February.
• Of SMSU's four losses at home this season, the Mustangs have been defeated by an average of 15.25 points per game.

RECORD WATCH:  Senior Megan Stadler has put together a record-breaking season from her point guard spot this season, and it does not look like she is quite done yet.   Stadler set the single-game assists record when she handed out 14 against Minnesota, Crookston on Feb. 6.  Two weeks ago, she set the single-season assists record, passing Michelle Bruns' mark of 145 she amassed the 2004-05 season.  Stadler will continue to build on her 158 assists she has so far this season and is 28 assists away from tying Bruns' career record of 493 assists.  With two games left in the regular season and at least one postseason contest a possibility for the Mustangs, it's not out of the realm of possibility for Stadler to break that record, too.
    Career Assists
    1. 493    Michelle Bruns - 2001-05
    2. 465    Megan Stadler - 2005-10
    Single-Season Assists
    1. 158    Megan Stadler - 2009-10
    1. 145    Michelle Bruns - 2004-05
   
ABOUT SMSU:  The Mustangs enter Wednesday's contest with a 15-10 overall record and 9-9 in NSIC play.  Abby Kenealy continues to lead SMSU, which is tied for seventh in the NSIC standings, in the scoring column, averaging 13.2 points per contest.  Tori Fink is also in double figures with 11.5 points per game.  Heather Smith, who averaged 11.2 points per game, has been lost for the remainder of the season with an injury.  Laura Kramer pulls down a Mustang-best 7.2 rebounds per game.  The quarterback of the SMSU offense is Megan Stadler, who has handed out 158 assists in 2009-10.

ABOUT WAYNE STATE:  The Wildcats head into Wednesday's game with a 21-4 record and 14-4 mark in conference play.  WSC is tied for second in the the NSIC standings.  WSC gets 19.0 points per game from Ashley Arlen and another 14.2 per contest from Mara Hjelle.  The duo also serves as the Wildcats' top rebounders as Hjelle pulls down 8.4 boards per contest and Arlen grabs 7.6 per game.  As a team, WSC allows a conference-low 58.9 points per game and boasts the NSIC's top scoring margin (+13.0 points).  The Wildcats also hold opponents to a 36.7 percent field goal percentage--another statistic that is the best in the conference.

NSIC STANDINGS:  SMSU currently sits in a three-way tie for seventh place in the latest NSIC standings.  With identical 9-9 conference marks, SMSU, Northern State, and Minnesota State comprise the trio of teams fighting for a spot in the eight-team, NSIC/Sanford Health Women's Basketball Tournament.  All three teams are in action on Wednesday.

NATIONAL NEWS:  Senior Megan Stadler is ranked No. 4 in the nation in assists with a 6.3 per game average.  The point guard has the highest ranking of any Mustang in the latest national statistics.  Stadler is also fifth in assist-to-turnover ration, checking in with a 2.51 average in the category.  As a team, SMSU is 12th in the same category with a 1.16.
   
SMSU IN NSIC STATISTICS:  The Mustangs have a few players in the top 10 in the latest NSIC statistics.  Megan Stadler is first in assists (6.50 apg) and assist-to-turnover ratio (2.66).  Laura Kramer is 10th in total rebounds (7.0 rgp) and seventh in offensive rebounds (3.11 rpg).  As a team, the Mustangs lead the conference in turnover margin with a +3.33.

LAST ONE AT THE R/A:  Wednesday will be the last game in the R/A Facility for SMSU's two seniors, Megan Stadler and Aimee Burmester.  The duo was honored after last Saturday's home game against Minnesota State.  For Stalder, it has been a five-year journey with the Mustang basketball program where she has been a mainstay in the backcourt.  Burmester has both played and served as a student assistant for the past four years.

KRAMER EARNS ACADEMIC AWARD:  Junior Laura Kramer was named to the 2010 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District V College Division second team earlier this month.  Kramer  has compiled a 4.00 grade point average as an elementary education major at SMSU.  This marks the second straight year SMSU has landed a player on the Academic All-District Team; Abby Oakland was named third team last season.

ANOTHER IMPROVED CAMPAIGN:  It's almost turning into an annual tradition for head coach Mike Jewett.  For the third consecutive season, Jewett has improved his team's record from the previous season.  SMSU's 15 wins this season is the most for Jewett and the most for a Mustang basketball squad since the 2003-04 season.  In Jewett's inaugural year in 2006-07, his team won seven games.  The following year the Mustangs upped that total to 12.  Last year, Jewett and SMSU picked up 14 wins.  His 15 victories this season has kept the trend going.

GOIN' STREAKING:  SMSU's six-game winning streak earlier this season, which was snapped by Minnesota, Crookston in early January, was the longest for a Mustang team since the 2004-05 squad opened the season with seven consecutive wins.  The winning streak began with a win over Northern State on Dec. 11 and was spoiled on Jan. 3 at UMC.

WE LIKE MIKE:  Head coach Mike Jewett recorded his 100th career victory on Dec. 12 when the Mustangs downed Mary 62-58.  The fourth-year head coach used 38 wins at SMSU and another 62 from his stint at Franklin (Ind.) to reach the milestone.

HISTORICALLY SPEAKING:  SMSU enters its 41st year of women's basketball this season.  SMSU has played 1,012 games, compiling an all time record of 545-467.  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.

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.

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 14 seasons of playing in the Mustang home arena, SMSU women's basketball has compiled a record of 112-67.
    Year    Overall    NSIC    Non-Conf.
    1996-97    6-5    2-4    4-1
    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    10-4    6-2    4-1   
       Totals:    112-67    66-43    46-22

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.