QUICK RECAP
The Southwest Minnesota State University ­women's basketball team (3-24, 3-19 NSIC) had the first season under new head coach, Tom Webb, come to an end with a first round exit in the Sanford Health/ NSIC Tournament at the hands of No. 1 seed, MSU?Moorhead. The Mustangs 71-35 loss to the Dragons was the biggest margin of defeat and lowest point total for SMSU on the season.
 
YEAR IN REVIEW
The Mustangs had a slow start to the season going 0-4 in non-conference play to kick off the season. SMSU started the year on a five game losing streak but found the first win of the Tom Webb era with a 79-70 win at Upper Iowa on Dec. 2. SMSU would then face its toughest stretch of the season with eight straight NSIC?losses before snapping the losing skid in a 75-66 win at Minnesota Crookston. The Mustangs won just one of their final 11 games in the regular season forcing them to travel to face top seeded, No. 11 MSU?Moorhead in the first round of the NSIC?Tournament where the season would come to an end.
 
 
POSTSEASON ACCOLADES
NSIC All-Freshman Team- Caleigh Rodning
Academic All-NSIC- Laurie Bohler
Academic All-NSIC- Sarah Buysse
Academic All-NSIC- Abby Connell
Academic All-NSIC- Lauren Hedlund
Academic All-NSIC- Taylor Holicky
Academic All-NSIC- Taylor Silva
Academic All-NSIC- Brianna VonWahlde
 
RECORD WATCH        
•Lauren Hedlund finished her season just 17 points away from becoming the 19th member of the SMSU women's basketball 1,000 point club
•Hedlund is second all-time in career offensive rebounding average with 3.0 offensive rebounds per game during her career
•Hedlund, Rodning, and Taylor Holicky each finished in the top ten for defensive rebounds in a single season:
            Single Season Defense Rebounds
No.      RPG     Name (min 20 games)
1.         182      Lillie Brown (100o-182d) - 1994-95
2.         181      Dawn Munson (102o-181d) - 1977-78
3.         174      Lillie Brown (85o-174d) - 1993-94
4.         170      Taylor Holicky (37o-170d) - 2016-17
5.         163      Julie Thein (98o-163d) - 1988-89
6.         159      Lillie Brown (96o-159d) - 1995-96
7.         144      Caleigh Rodning (58o-144d) - 2016-17
8.         142      Amy Boman (71o-142d) - 2001-02
9.         137      Lauren Hedlund (93o-137d) - 2016-17
10.       136      Michelle Bruns (27o-136d) - 2002-03
 
SMSU?HEAD COACH TOM WEBB
•Tom Webb in his first season as the Mustangs' head coach, finished with a 3-24 overall record
•Webb is the eighth head coach in the program's history
• Prior to SMSU, coach Webb spent eight seasons (2008-16) as the head coach at Cameron University (Okla.) compiling a record of 91-123.
• Webb was recognized as the Lone Star Conference Coach of the Year in 2014-15
 
FINAL NSIC RANKINGS
•SMSU was ranked first in fewest fouls committed (395)
•SMSU was ranked fifth in free throw attempts (529)
•Lauren Hedlund was third in the NSIC in rebounding with 8.5 rpg and led the conference with 3 offensive rebounds per game
•Caleigh Rodning was ranked sixth in free throws made (114) and ninth in free throw percentage (79.7)
•Taylor Silva was ranked sixth in assists (111) and fifth in assists per game (4.1)
RODNING NAMED TO NSIC ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
Caleigh Rodning was named the NSIC All-Freshman team after finishing the 2016-17 season ranked ninth in the NSIC?in scoring average with 15.0 ppg (NSIC?games only). Rodning led SMSU in scoring on the season (13.7 ppg), averaged 7.8 rpg, and set an SMSU?freshman record with 114 made free throws. She ended the regular season on a stretch of eight consecutive double-doubles, during which she averaged 18.0 ppg and 11.4 rpg while shooting 46 percent from the field and 82 percent from the free throw line.
 
2016-17 NSIC PRESEASON POLL
•SMSU was picked to finish 15th overall and eighth in the South Division in the annual 16-team NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll released in October.
•Winona State was chosen as the overall preseason favorite earning 201 points including seven first place votes and were also picked to win the South Division
 
MUSTANG HISTORY
•SMSU?is in its 48th year of women's basketball in 2016-17
•SMSU has played in 1,204 games all-time with a 577-628 (.479) all-time record overall
•SMSU is 225-353 (.389) in conference games
           
LAURIE BOHLER NOTES
Has played in 57 career games ... signed with SMSU during the late signing period on April 16, 2014.
 
            2016-17: Named Academic All-NSIC ... appeared in 24 games ... scored six points with career high three rebounds at Augustana (12/30)
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EMILY BUYSSE NOTES
Appeared in 19 games as a true freshman ... Younger sister of teammate Sarah Buysse ... Signed with SMSU in the spring of 2016.
 
            2016-17: Appeared in 19 games and averaged 15.0 mpg as a true freshman despite missing eight games due to illness/personal reasons ... scored season high 11 points while hitting 3 of 6 three pointers at Minnesota State (2/17) ... had team high 43 percent shooting percentage from behind the arc (min. 10 attempts).
 
SARAH BUYSSE NOTES
Has appeared in 52 career games and started all 29 games as a true freshman in 2015-16 ... signed with SMSU during late signing period on April 15, 2015.
 
            2016-17: Named Academic-All NSIC ... started in 16 games while averaging over 30 minutes per game ... averaged 7.3 ppg and 2.7 rpg with six double digit scoring nights.
 
ABBY CONNELL NOTES
Has appeared in 84 career games with 54 starts ... started 27 of 29 games in 2015-16 with 26 starts as a senior ... signed with SMSU in spring of 2013.
 
            2016-17: Named Academic All-NSIC ... led SMSU with 45 made three pointers ... scored season high 14 points at Wayne State (12/31).
 
LAUREN HEDLUND NOTES
Has played in 83 games with 58 starts ... ranks second all-time in offensive rebounds per game (3.0 orpg) ... ranks seventh in school history in rebounding average (7.1 rpg) ... signed with SMSU on April 16, 2014.
 
            2016-17: Academic All-NSIC ... Started in all 27 games ... Averaged 12.1 points per game ... Led the team in rebounding with 8.5 rebounds per game ... Had 17 blocks from her post position and averaged 28.7 minutes per game ... Her 93 offensive rebounds were the seventh most in school history and her 230 total rebounds was good for 10th all-time ... Scored a career high 27 points vs. St. Cloud State (12/10/16) ... Pulled in a career high 18 rebounds vs. Winona State (1/6/17) ... Had a career high four blocks vs. Wayne State (2/10/17).
 
TAYLOR HOLICKY NOTES
Holicky Notes: Has played in 72 career games ... Ranks eighth in school history in defensive rebounding average (4.4 drpg) ... signed with SMSU during early signing period on Nov. 13, 2013.
 
            2016-17: Named Academic All-NSIC ... started in all 27 games ... averaged 9.1 ppg and 7.7 rpg ... Her 6.3 defensive rebounds per game ranks third for a single season in school history and her 170 total defensive rebounds was fourth most in school history ... scored a career high 22 points vs. Minnesota Crookston (1/13/17) ... pulled in a career high 15 rebounds at Bemidji State (1/14/17) ... Had a career high four blocks vs. MSU Moorhead (1/27/17).
 
CALEIGH RODNING NOTES
Rodning Notes: Played in 26 games with 14 starts ... Her .797 free throw percentage ranks fifth in school history ... Has led the Mustangs in scoring 13 times ... Signed with SMSU during the early signing period on Nov. 11, 2015.
 
            2016-17: Named to the NSIC All-Freshman team ... named Academic All-NSIC ... made 14 starts as a true freshman ... Averaged 13.7 points per game and 7.8 rebounds per game ... Had 10 double-double performances during her freshman year ... scored season high 24 points both vs. Augustana (2/11/17) and at U-Mary (2/4/17).
 
TAYLOR SILVA NOTES
Silva Notes: Appeared in 56 career games after transferring to SMSU ... signed with SMSU during the late signing period on April 29, 2015.
 
            2016-17: Named Academic All-NSIC ... Started in all 27 games ... averaged 5.1 points per game ... Scored career high 21 points at Upper Iowa (12/2/16) ... her 3.2 career assists per game ranks 10th in school history.  
 
            KENDRA SNAZA NOTES
Snaza Notes: Has appeared in 48 career games games ... appeared in a career-high 26 games last season ... signed with SMSU on Nov. 15, 2012.
 
            2016-17: Sat out a majority of her senior season with an injury ... Appeared in eight games.
 
JAMIE SPICER NOTES
Spicer notes: Appeared in 25 games as a true freshman ... was second on the team with 114 three-point field goal attempts in 2016-17.
 
            2016-17: Appeared in 25 games with one start as a true freshman ... Had 42 made three point field goal attempts which was good for second on the team ... averaged 6.4 points per game ... had season high 17 points and five three pointers vs. Minnesota State (1/21/17).
 
BRIANNA VONWAHLDE NOTES
VonWahlde Notes: Has played in 48 career games ... signed with SMSU during early signing period in November 2012.
 
            2016-17: Named Academic All-NSIC ... appeared in 18 games during her senior season ... averaged 5.7 minutes on the court. 
 
 
ANGIE WENNING
SMSU Notes: Has appeared in 12 games ... Signed with SMSU during early signing period on Nov. 13, 2013 ... redshirted during the 2014-15 season ... did not play last season.
 
2016-17: Made career debut during 2016-17 season appearing in 12 total games ... scored four points vs. Northern State (1/28/17).