PREVIEWING THIS WEEKEND
•The Southwest Minnesota State University women's basketball team (5-6, 2-4 NSIC) continues NSIC play this weekend with a pair of home games at the R/A Facility.
•On Friday, Jan. 4, SMSU will take on nationally-ranked and NSIC leading Augustana University (14-1, 6-0 NSIC) starting at 5:30 p.m.
•Augustana is ranked No. 13 in this week's D2SIDA Top 25 poll and is ranked No. 22 in the WBCA Top 25 poll.
•SMSU closes the weekend on Saturday, Jan. 5, facing Wayne State College (8-4, 3-3 NSIC) with game time set for 4 p.m.
•SMSU is coming off a 77-61 road victory over the University of Sioux Falls last Sunday afternoon.
•SMSU is looking to snap a seven-game losing streak to Augustana and an 18-game losing streak to Wayne State.
•Both SMSU and Augustana like the 3-point shot this season. AU ranks second in Division II with 145 3-pointer made, while SMSU ranks 35th with 92.  
•The last time SMSU beat a ranked team was on Jan. 26, 2015, versus No. 4 Northern State (53-52).

    SMSU QUICK HITS
•SMSU's win at Sioux Falls on Sunday snapped an 11-game losing streak to the Cougars dating back to 2013.
•Freshman Jenna Borchers scored a career-high 13 points with three 3-pointers in the victory.
•SMSU had five players score in double figures in the victory on Sunday. It was the first time since five Mustangs reached double figures in a game since Feb. 12, 2011.
•Junior Caleigh Rodning became the ninth player in team history to reach 300 career free throws made during SMSU's win at USF.
•SMSU's next victory will be its sixth on the season. It will be the program's first time reaching six wins since the 2011-12 team finished 6-20.

    BROADCAST INFO
•Both game will be broadcast on 105.1 FM KARL.
•Friday's game will be broadcast live regionally on Midco Sports Network.
•Live stats and video can be found at SMSUmustangs.com.
 
    SERIES HISTORY VS. AUGUSTANA
•SMSU and Augustana meet for the 43rd time on Friday with AU holding a 30-12 advantage.
•AU leads 12-9 in games played in Marshall and have won the last three at the R/A Facility.
•Augustana has won 21 of the last 23 games overall dating back to the 2003-04 season. SMSU won on Dec. 3, 2010 and on Jan. 3, 2015, with both victories coming in Marshall.
•SMSU head coach Tom Webb is 0-4 all-time versus AU.
•Game-by-game results on page on page 15.

    SERIES HISTORY VS. WAYNE STATE
•SMSU and Wayne State meet for the 55th time on Saturday with WSC leading 36-18.
•WSC has won 18 straight in the series and 26 of the last 28 overall since the 2004-05 season.
•SMSU's last win in the series came on Feb. 25, 2009, in Wayne, Neb.
•WSC leads 16-12 in games played in Marshall, including winning the last 14 games. SMSU's last win over WSC in Marshall came during the 2004-05 season.  
•SMSU head coach Tom Webb is 0-4 all-time versus WSC.
•Game-by-game results on page on page 16.

    ABOUT SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA STATE
•SMSU snapped a three-game losing streak last Sunday with a victory at Sioux Falls and is now 5-6 overall, 2-4 NSIC.   
•Junior forward Caleigh Rodning is averaging a team-high 15.6 ppg and a team-high 7.4 rpg. She also has connected on a team-high 20 3-pointers.
•Sophomore guard Meleah Reinhart is averaging 11 ppg and has made 16 3-pointers.
•Sophomore guard Erin Baxter is averaging 10 ppg and has dished out a team-high 19 assists, while also leading the team with 16 steals.
•SMSU is shooting 38 percent from the field, 31 percent from the 3-point line, 75 percent from the free throw line and is minus-3.6 rebounding margin.
•SMSU is averaging 69 points per game, while opponents    are averaging 70 points per game.

    SMSU HEAD COACH TOM WEBB
•Tom Webb is in his third season as head coach with a 13-51 record, including 6-40 in NSIC play.
•SMSU finished 3-24 during his first season in 2016-17, before improving to 5-21 in 2017-18.
•Webb is 104-174 overall in his 11th season as head coach at the Division II level after compiling a record of 91-123 in nine seasons as head coach at Cameron University (Okla.)
•Webb recorded his 100th career win against Wisconsin-Parkside (91-83) on Nov. 16, 2018.
•Webb's complete bio is found on page 14.

    SMSU SETS TEAM-RECORD 19 3-POINTERS
•In SMSU's victory over William Jewell (Mo.) on Nov. 17,  the Mustangs set a single-game record of 19 3-pointers made and also a school record for most three-point attempts (34) in a game.
•The previous record was 15 made against Minnesota-Morris on Dec. 19, 2008.
•SMSU made 11 3-pointers in the first half, eight of which came in the second quarter.
 
    THREE CONSECUTIVE WINS
•SMSU's three-game winning streak earlier this season was the program's first since the 2011-12 season.
•SMSU earned its first back-to-back wins since the 2015-16 season after defeating Wisconsin-Parkside and William Jewell (Mo.) at the Ramada Classic on Nov. 16-17.
•SMSU's last four-game winning streak came during the 2009-10 season when the team won six straight.  

    90-POINT GAMES
•The Mustangs scored 90 of more points in three straight victories earlier this season.
•The last time SMSU scored 90 or more points in three consecutive games was in November 2008 with a 111-75 victory over Chadron State (Neb.), 107-45 victory over Mayville State (ND), and a 93-75 victory over Mount Mercy (Iowa).

    SCOUTING AUGUSTANA    
•Augustana is 14-1 overall and 6-0 in NSIC play following an 88-74 road victory over Wayne State on Sunday.
•Senior center Shelby Selland, who has led the team in scoring six straight games, scored 20 points and had 11 rebounds in the win.
•Selland leads the team in scoring at 16 ppg and is the team leader with 9.4 rpg. She also has a team-high 26 3-pointers.
•Senior guard Lynsey Prosser is averaging 12.6 ppg with 25 3-pointers.  
•AU is shooting 45 percent from the field, 36 percent from the 3-point range, 73 percent from the free throw line and is  plus-6.3 in rebound margin.
•AU is averaging 83 points per game, while opponents are averaging 59 points per game.
•Head coach Dave Krauth is in his 30th season with a record of 620-259. He has led the Vikings to 14 NCAA Tournament appearances.

    SCOUTING WAYNE STATE    
•WSC is 8-4 overall, 3-3 NSIC, and will play at Sioux Falls on Friday night.
•The Wildcats suffered an 88-74 home loss to Augustana last Sunday afternoon.  
•Sophomore forward Erin Norling is one of four Wildcat players to average in double figure scoring with 14.7 ppg and is second on the team with 6.2 rpg.
•Sophomore center Brittany Bongartz and sophomore guard Halley Busse are both averaging 12.7 ppg with Busse connecting on a team-high 23 3-pointers.  
•Senior forward Andrea Larson leads the team with 7.1 rpg.
•WSC is shooting 38 percent from the field, 32 percent from the 3-point range, 69 percent from the free throw line and is  plus-1.7 in rebound margin.
•WSC is averaging 72 points per game, while opponents are averaging 69 points per game.
•Head coach Brent Pollari is in his first season. He came to WSC following three seasons as head coach at St. Mary's compiling a record of 50-29.

    RODNING EARNS NSIC WEEKLY AWARD
•Junior forward Caleigh Rodning was named the NSIC South Division Player of the Week on Nov. 19.
•It's the first time Rodning has received this award and is
the first Mustang to earn the honor under head coach Tom Webb.  
•In two SMSU victories, Rodning recorded back-to-back double-doubles with 34 points and 16 rebounds against Wisconsin-Parkside, followed by 17 points and 10 rebounds against William Jewell.
•Rodning shot 59 percent from the field (16 of 27), 67 percent from beyond the arc (6 of 9), and went 13-15 from the free throw line throughout the weekend.

    NCAA STATISTICAL RANKINGS
•The latest NCAA statistics (through Jan. 1) are located on page 19.
•Caleigh Rodning ranks 16th in free throw pct. and 47th in free throws made.
•SMSU ranks 21st in 3-point field goals attempts, 28th in 3-point field goals per game, 31st in free throw pct. and 35th in 3-point field goals made.

    NSIC STATISTICAL RANKINGS
•The latest NSIC statistics (conference games only) are located on pages 17-18.
•Abuk Akoi ranks third in steals and fourth in blocked shots.

    RODNING IN THE SMSU RECORD BOOK
•Junior forward Caleigh Rodning appears in the SMSU all-time career book several categories.
REBOUNDING AVERAGE
1.     10.3     Mary Becker (71 games)      1978-81
2.     8.9     Cindy Olson (74 games)     1976-80
3.     8.7     Lillie Brown (103 games)    1992-96
4.     8.5     Anne Pryor (94 games)    1978-82
5.     8.2     Julie Thein (112 games)     1987-91
6.     7.6     Caleigh Rodning (60 games)    2016-19

FREE THROW PERCENTAGE
1.     .856      Abby Oakland (125-146)      2005-09
2.     .842      Mary Roddel (256-304)     2000-04
3.     .838      Caleigh Rodning (300-358)     2016-19

FREE THROWS MADE
1.     409    Andrea Schreier (111 games) - 1997-01
2.     380    Shelli Schoeneck (122 games) - 1999-03
3.     349    Michelle Bruns (119 games) - 2001-05
4.     345    Erin Frye (107 games) - 1997-01
5.     330    Dani Coleman (110 games) - 1996-00
6.     313    Cindy Olson (74 games) - 1976-80
    313    Lauren Hedlund (107 games) - 2014-18
8.     302    Lillie Brown (103 games) - 1992-96
9.     300     Caleigh Rodning (60 games) - 2016-19  

    MUSTANG 20-POINT GAMES  
•A total of four SMSU players have scored 20 or more points in a game during their careers, including five times this season.
•Junior Caleigh Rodning has three 20-point games this season and 12 in her career.
•Sophomore Erin Baxter has three, while sophomore Meleah Reinhart and senior Sarah Buysse each have one career 20-point game.
20 or More Point Games - 2018-19 Season
    34    Caleigh Rodning     Wisconsin-Parkside, 11/16/18
    24    Caleigh Rodning    Concordia-St. Paul, 12/08/18
    22    Caleigh Rodning     Missouri Western, 11/10/18
    22    Meleah Reinhart    North Central, 11/20/18
    21    Erin Baxter    William Jewell, 11/17/18

    ABUK AKOI NOTES
•Averaging 7.6 ppg and 4.6 rpg in seven games with one start.
•Missed four games early this season with an injury.
•Career-high 14 points at St. Cloud State (12/14/18).
•Recorded six steals vs. Concordia-St. Paul (12/8/18).
•Had five blocked shots vs. Minnesota State (12/7/18).
•Played in all 26 games as a true freshman.
•Recorded a team-high 49 blocked shots in 2017-18 to rank seventh in single-season team history.
•Tied program single-game record with seven blocked shots vs. UMary (2/3/18).

    ERIN BAXTER NOTES
•Has appeared in 11 games with six starts.
•Ranks third on the team averaging 10 ppg.
•Leads the team with 16 steals and also leads team with 19 assists.
•Has led the team in scoring twice this season.
•Career-high five 3-pointers vs. William Jewell (11/17/18).
•Career-high 25 points at Concordia-St. Paul on (1/19/18).
•Led the 2017-18 team with 34 steals.

    TAYLOR BONESTROO NOTES
•Has played in seven games.
•Scored two points vs. William Jewell (11/17/18).
•Played in 17 games as a true freshman.




    JENNA BORCHERS NOTES
•Has appeared in all 11 games as a true freshman with five starts.
•Averaging 5.5 ppg and 1.5 rpg with 13 3-pointers.
•Second on the team with 18 assists.
•Career-high 13 points at Sioux Falls (12/30/18) on 5 of 7 shooting with three 3-pointers.

    EMILY BUYSSE NOTES
•Has played in 10 games and is averaging 1.4 ppg.
•Scored season-high five points vs. William Jewell (11/17/18).  
•Played in all 24 games in 2017-18.

    SARAH BUYSSE NOTES
•Has played in 11 games and averaging 5.0 ppg and 3.0 rpg.
•Has made two 3-pointers in four games.  
•Season-high 11 points vs. Wisconsin-Parkside (11/16/18).
•Scored 10 points with two 3-pointers and grabbed a season-high eight rebound at Sioux Falls (12/30/18).   

    MORGAN FRANK NOTES
•Has played in six games and is averaging 1.6 ppg and 2.2 rpg.
•Scored a career-high seven points with six rebounds vs. North Central (11/20/18).

    MATEYA HUTTON NOTES
•Has played in 10 games and averaging 2.6 ppg and 3.2 rpg.
•Tied career-high with six rebounds vs. North Central (11/20/18).
•Has scored a season-high five points three times.
•Missed the conference opener with an injury.
•Played in 24 games as a true freshman in 2017-18.

    MELEAH REINHART NOTES
•Reinhart is averaging a team second-best 11 ppg and is averaging 3.2 rpg.
•Ranks second on the team with 16 3-pointers.
•Scored a career-high 22 points with for 3-pointers vs. North Central (11/22/18).
•Season-high seven rebounds at Sioux Falls (12/30/18).

    CALEIGH RODNING NOTES
•Named a 2018-19 NSIC "Player to Watch."
•NSIC South Division Player of the Week on Nov. 19, 2018.
•Has started all 11 games and leads the team in both scoring (15.6) and rebounding (7.4).
•Also leads the team in field goals made (51), 3-pointers made (20) and free throws made (50).
•Has a team-high four double-doubles, including three straight (34 points and 16 rebounds vs. Wisconsin-Parkside, 17 points and 10 rebounds vs. William Jewel, and 12 points and 10 rebounds vs. North Central).
•Named All-NSIC second team in 2017-18.
•Shot 85 percent from the free throw line last season to rank third in team single-season history.
•Ranks third in team history with 83.8 free throw pct.
•Ranks sixth in team history with 7.6 rpg.

    SADIE STELTER NOTES
•Stelter has started all 11 games this season.
•Averaging 8.4 ppg and 3.6 rpg.
•Scored season-high 18 points--one shy of her career-high--in the season opener vs. Fort Hays State (11/9/18) with a season-high three 3-pointers.

     SARA TESKE NOTES
•Has played in 11 games with 10 starts while averaging 5.0 ppg and 4.9 rpg.
•Earned first double-double vs. Wisconsin-Parkside (11/16/18) with career-highs in both points (11) and rebounds (13).
•Career-high four steals vs. Minnesota State (12/7/18).

    HOME AND AWAY    
•SMSU is 4-2 in home games this season.
•SMSU is 1-4 in road/neutral site games this season after finishing 1-13 in away/neutral games last season.
•The following is a statistical comparison of the Mustang team averages for home and away/neutral games in 2018-19:
        W-L    FG%    3-FG%    FT%    REB    PTS    TO        
Home    4-2     41.2    33.3    74.6    39.7    76.5    13.7        
Away    1-4    34.1    28.6    75.9    35.6    60.4    17.4          
    
    HOME SWEET HOME
•This season marks the 23rd year the R/A Facility has served as the home arena for SMSU women's basketball.
•SMSU has a record of 143-149 overall record and a 87-118 conference record in the facility.
SMSU in the R/A Facility
    Year    Overall    NSIC    Non
    1996-97    6-5     2-3     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     4-8     2-7     2-1
    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     5-9     2-7     3-2    
    2008-09     9-6     4-6     5-0    
    2009-10     10-5     6-4     4-1
    2010-11     6-7     5-6     1-1    
     2011-12    3-9     3-8     0-1    
     2012-13     2-10     1-10     1-0
    2013-14    3-9    2-9    1-0        
    2014-15     3-11     3-8     0-3
     2015-16    3-12     2-9     1-3
     2016-17    0-11     0-11     0-0
     2017-18    4-8     3-8     1-0
    2018-19    4-2    1-2    3-0
    Totals:     143-149     87-118     65-31

    RODNING ALL-NSIC IN 2017-18
•Caleigh Rodning was the lone Mustang to earn All-NSIC honors last season as she was named second team.

    SMSU ALL-TIME IN THE NSIC
•The 2018-19 campaign marks the 40th season SMSU has competed in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.
•SMSU has an all-time record of 231-375 in conference games and have won four regular season championships (1979-80, 1980-81, 2000-01, 2001-02) and one NSIC Tournament championship (2002).
 
    MUSTANG HISTORY
•Southwest Minnesota State is competing in its 50th season of women's basketball in 2018-19.
•SMSU has played 1,242 games compiling an all-time record of 589-653.
•SMSU has recorded 26 winning seasons, but has not had  a winning season since the 2009-10 team finished 15-12.