PREVIEWING THIS WEEKEND
•The Southwest Minnesota State University women's basketball team opens the 2019-20 regular season on Nov. 8-9 with a pair of games in Wichita, Kan., at the Clarion Inn Central Region Classic hosted by Newman University.
•SMSU opens play on Friday afternoon versus East Central (Okla.) with game time set for 12 p.m. 
•SMSU closes the weekend facing the Ouachita Baptist (Ark.) on Saturday morning at 10 a.m. 
•Both games will be held inside Fugate Gymnasium versus opponents from the NCAA Central Region and the Great American Conference (GAC).
•This is the first time in school history that SMSU will face either of these opponents. 

    QUICK HITS
•SMSU is opening up its 51st season of women's collegiate basketball. 
•SMSU will open its home schedule against Presentation (S.D) on Saturday, Nov. 16. 
•SMSU finished with a 9-5 home record last season earning its first home winning season since 2009-10. 

    ABOUT SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA STATE IN 2019-20
•SMSU returns 11 letter winners and seven players who started games throughout last season.
•The 2018-19 squad graduated only one senior. 
•SMSU was tabbed ninth overall and sixth in the South Division in the NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll. 
•Senior forward Caleigh Rodning was named an NSIC "Player to Watch."
•The 2019-20 team features three seniors, seven juniors, one sophomore, two redshirt freshmen and two freshmen. 
•Rodning started all 28 games last season and is the squad's top returning scoring after leading the team in scoring 13.5 ppg. Rodning also led in rebounding with a 6.9 rpg. Rodning closed the season shooting 39 percent (117 of 298) from the field and connected on 34 3-pointers.  
•Junior guard Meleah Reinhart started 28 games and averaged 11.7 points and 3.4 rebounds per game, while recording 33 steals. 
•Junior guard Sadie Stelter, who started 27 games, and junior guard Erin Baxter, who made 13 starts, both averaged 9.6 ppg ranking third on the team. Stelter led the team with 45 3-pointes, while Baxter led the team in steals with 39.

    A LOOK BACK AT SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA STATE IN 2018-19 
•SMSU concluded the 2018-19 season with a 12-16 overall record and 9-13 in NSIC play.
•SMSU lost 87-57 at Minnesota Duluth in the first round of the NSIC Tournament.
•SMSU's 12 victories was the program's highest since the 2009-10 team finished with 15. 
•SMSU finished the season shooting 39 percent from the field, 33 percent from 3-point range, 76 percent from the free throw line and was minus-0.3 in rebound margin. 
•SMSU averaged 71 points per game, while opponents averaged 79 points per game. 
•The 2018-19 squad set a team single-game record with 19 3-pointers made and most three-point attempts (34) in a victory over William Jewell. 
•SMSU also earned a three-game winning streak from Nov. 16-20 and once again from Jan. 26-Feb. 2, for the program's first three-game winning streak since the 2011-12 season. 

    RODNING: NSIC "PLAYER TO WATCH"
•For the second consecutive season, senior forward Caleigh Rodning, was named an NSIC "Player to Watch" entering into the 2019-20 season. 
•Rodning started all games a season ago and led the team in scoring an rebounding with 13.5 ppg and 6.9 rpg.
•Rodning ranks third in the SMSU all-time career books in free throws after going making 111 out of 129 attempts last season. 
•Rodning became the 20th player in Mustang history to reach 1,000 career points.

    RODNING AND REINHART: ALL-NSIC IN 2018-19
•Senior Caleigh Rodning and junior Meleah Reinhart were both named second team All-NSIC team last season.
•Rodning averaged a team-high 13.5 points per game and also led the squad with 6.9 rebounds per game. She finished the season shooting 39.3 percent (117 of 298) from the field and 85 percent (110 of 129) from the free throw line. 
•In NSIC play, Rodning ranked eighth in the league in free throw pct. (82.6), 15th in rebounding (6.4) and 18th in scoring (12.3).
•Reinhart averaged a team second-best 11.7 points per game last season. She finished the season shooting 42 percent (108 of 259) from the field, 42 percent from the 3-point line (43 of 102), and 82 percent from the free throw line (68 of 84). 
•In NSIC play, Reinhart ranked ninth in free throw pct (81.9), ninth in 3-point pct. (41.0), and 22nd in scoring (11.8). 

    SMSU PRESEASON SCRIMMAGES 
•SMSU prepared for the 19-20 season with scrimmages versus Dordt College, Black Hills State, and North Dakota State College of Science. 

    SCOUTING EAST CENTRAL 
•ECU finished last season 21-8 overall and 16-6 conference play.
•ECU was picked to finish seventh in the 12-team Great American Conference.
•ECU graduated its two top scorers from a season ago.  
•The Tigers' 2019-20 squad features five seniors, three juniors, two sophomores, and four true freshman.
•Stefany Lourenco is the Tiger's top returning scorer, after coming in third last season with 9.0 ppg. 
•ECU shot 40 percent from the field, 36 percent from 3-point range, 75 percent from the free throw line and was minus-13.1 in rebound margin last season. 
•ECU averaged 68.1 points per game, while opponents averaged 60.3 points per game. 

    SCOUTING OUACHITA BAPTIST 
•Ouachita Baptist finished last season 7-21 overall and 5-17 in conference play.
•OBU was picked to finish 11th in the 12-team Great American Conference.
•The Tigers' 2019-20 squad features two seniors, four juniors, one sophomore, and one freshman.
•Madison Brittain leads the returners in scoring with 12.9 ppg. 
•Ouachita shot 39 percent from the field, 32 percent from 3-point range, 66 percent from the free throw line and was plus-1.6 in rebound margin last season. 
•Ouachita averaged 62.3 points per game, while opponents averaged 75.4 points per game. 

    SMSU HEAD COACH TOM WEBB
•Tom Webb is in his fourth season as head coach with a 20-61 record, including 16-50 in NSIC play. 
•SMSU finished 3-24 during his first season in 2016-17, before improving to 5-21 in 2017-18 and jumping to seven more victories last season and finishing 12-16 overall .
•Webb is 112-183 overall in his 12th season as head coach at the Division II level after compiling a record of 91-123 in eight 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 PICKED NINTH IN NSIC PRESEASON POLL
•SMSU was picked to finish ninth overall and sixth in the South Division in the 16-team NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll. 
•MSU Moorhead was chosen as the North Division and overall favorite, while Sioux Falls was picked to win the South Division. 
•SMSU senior forward Caleigh Roding was named a "Player to Watch".

    ABUK AKOI NOTES
•Appeared in 23 games with 11 starts last season. 
•Had five blocked shots vs. Minnesota State (12/7/18).
•Ranks second in all-time record in blocking average with 1.7.
•Recorded her first double-double of the season with 15 points and 10 rebounds against Upper Iowa on Jan. 26.  
•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
•Appeared in 28 games with 13 starts in 2018-19.
•Ranked fourth on the team averaging 9.6 ppg.
•Led the team in steals with 39. 
•Career-high five 3-pointers vs. William Jewell (11/17/18).
•Career-high 25 points at Concordia-St. Paul on (1/19/18).

    TAYLOR BONESTROO NOTES
•Played in 15 games last season. 
•Scored a career-high three points against Upper Iowa on Jan. 26.

    JENNA BORCHERS NOTES
•Appeared in all 28 games as a true freshman with 17 starts a season ago.
•Averaged 6.6 ppg and 2.3 rpg with 43 3-pointers. 
•Finished with 41 assists and 31 steals.
•Career-high 21 points at UMD (2/27/19)
•Career-high five steals against UMC (2/1/19).
•Scored the game-winning 3-pointer against Augustana on Jan. 4.

    EMILY BUYSSE NOTES
•Played in 26 games last season and is averaged 2.3  ppg.
•Finished the season with 15 3-pointers. 

    OLIVIA DRUMMER NOTES 
•Sat out the 2018-19 season as a redshirt. 

    MORGAN FRANK NOTES 
•Played in 15  games and averaged 1.5 ppg and 1.1 rpg a season ago. 
•Scored a career-high seven points with six rebounds vs. North Central (11/20/18).


    MADISON GEHLOFF  NOTES 
•Will be a true freshman in the 2019-20 season.

    MATEYA HUTTON NOTES 
•Played in 19 games and averaged 1.9 ppg and 2.5 rpg last season. 
•Tied career-high with six rebounds vs. North Central (11/20/18).
•Tied her career-high points (7) twice last season. 
•Played in 24 games as a true freshman in 2017-18.

    MELEAH REINHART NOTES 
•Started all 28 games in 2018-19.
•Averaged a team second-best 11.7 ppg and averaged 3.4 rpg. 
•Led the team in scoring in 10 games. 
•Recorded a career-high five assists and six steals against Minnesota State (1/12/19). 
•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).
•Named All-NSIC second team in 2018-19.

    CALEIGH RODNING NOTES 
•Named a 2019-20 NSIC "Player to Watch." 
•NSIC South Division Player of the Week on Nov. 19, 2018.
•Started all 28 games and led the team in both scoring (13.5) and rebounding (6.9). 
•Also led the team in field goals made (116) and free throws made (114). 
•Became the 20th Mustang to score 1,000 career points against Upper Iowa on 2/15/19. 
•Has a team-high five 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 2018-19.
•Shot 85.3 percent from the free throw line last season to rank third in team single-season history.

    LILY SCHOKNECHT NOTES 
•Sat out the 2018-19 season as a redshirt. 

    SADIE STELTER NOTES 
•Started 27 games last season. 
•Led the team with 45 3-pointers. 
•Ranked third on the team averaging 9.6 ppg and 3.5 rpg. 
•Scored season-high 18 points--one shy of her career-high--in season opener vs. Fort Hays State (11/9/18) with a season-high three 3-pointers. 
     
    SARA TESKE NOTES 
•Played in 28 games with 14 starts while averaging 4.1 ppg and 4.3 rpg last season. 
•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).

    SAM WALL NOTES 
•Will be a true freshman in the 2019-20 season.







    HOME AND AWAY     
•SMSU finished 9-5 at home last season. 
•SMSU is 0-0 in road/neutral site games this season after finishing 3-11 in away/neutral games last season.
•The following is a statistical comparison of the Mustang team averages for home and away/neutral games in 2019-20:
        W-L    FG%    3-FG%    FT%    REB    PTS    TO        
Home    0-0     0    0    0    0    0    0        
Away    0-0    0    0    0    0    0    0          
     
    HOME SWEET HOME 
•The 2019-20 season marks the 24th year the R/A Facility has served as the home arena for SMSU women's basketball. 
•SMSU has a record of 148-152 overall record and a 92-121 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    9-5    6-5    3-0
    2019-20    0-0    0-0    0-0        
    Totals:     148-152     92-121     65-31. 

    SMSU ALL-TIME IN THE NSIC 
•The 2019-20 campaign marks the 41st season SMSU has competed in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. 
•SMSU has an all-time record of 238-384 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 51st season of women's basketball in 2019-20.
•SMSU has played 1,259 games compiling an all-time record of 594-665. 
•SMSU has recorded 26 winning seasons, but has not had  a winning season since the 2009-10 team finished 15-12.