PREVIEWING THIS WEEKEND
•The Southwest Minnesota State University women's basketball team (5-6, 0-6 NSIC) will look to snap a five-game losing streak when it returns to action with a pair of Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference road games to open the 2020 calendar year.
•SMSU will take on Augustana University (6-4, 2-4 NSIC) on Friday, Jan. 3, at the Sanford Pentagon with game time set for 5:30 p.m.
•On Saturday, Jan. 4, SMSU concludes the weekend facing Wayne State College (9-3, 4-2 NSIC) with tip-off slated for 3:30 p.m. at Rice Auditorium in Wayne, Neb.
•SMSU wrapped-up the 2019 calendar year on Saturday, Dec. 21, suffering a 74-71 home loss to the University of Sioux Falls.
•SMSU returns home on Friday, Jan. 10, 2020, versus Concordia-St. Paul.

    BROADCAST INFO
•Both games will be broadcast on 105.1 FM KARL with Ryan Rohlik providing play-by-play.
•Live stats, radio broadcast and video can be found at SMSUmustangs. com.

    SMSU QUICK HITS
•SMSU is in its 51st of women's collegiate basketball and has amassed 599 all-time victories.
•SMSU has lost five straight games, including a 74-71 setback to Sioux Falls at home on Dec. 21. SMSU trailed by 17 points in the second quarter, but rallied to take the lead in the fourth quarter. SMSU missed a 3-pointer to tie the game in the final seconds.
•Abuk Akoi had a big game for SMSU versus USF, scoring a career-high 22 points and grabbed 13 rebounds. Meleah Reinhart scored a team-high 25 points on 7 of 13 shooting.
•Junior guard Meleah Reinhart is leading the Mustangs in scoring with 16.4 ppg and is 61 of 66 from the free throw line.  Reinhart is a perfect 22 of 22 from the foul line the last three games.
•Junior center Abuk Akoi leads the team in rebounding with 9.0 rpg. Akoi became the first Mustang this season to record a double-double with 15 points and 15 rebounds at Concordia-St. Paul on Dec. 7.
•Sophomore guard Jenna Borchers has connected on a team-high 27 3-pointers and leads the team in assists with 25.
•Senior forward Caleigh Rodning has missed the last five games with an injury.
•SMSU is averaging 70 ppg, while opponents are averaging 68 ppg.
•SMSU is shooting 36 percent from the field, 32 percent from the 3-point line, and 83 percent the free-throw line and has a plus-1.2 rebounding margin.

    MUSTANGS IN THE SMSU RECORD BOOK
•Five Mustangs rank among the top 15 in several SMSU career records located on page 4.   
•Senior Caleigh Rodning ranks second in free throws made with 386 and is 23 from tying Andrea Schreier (1997-2001) for the all-time record of 409. She also ranks fourth in free throw pct. (83.6) and sixth in free throws attempts (464). Rodning is also five rebounds shy of becoming the 11th in player in team history to record 600 rebounds.
•Junior Abuk Akoi is sixth in team history with 110 blocked shots.
•Junior Meleah Reinhart ranks tied for sixth in free throw pct. (81.1).
•Junior Erin Baxter ranks tied for sixth in free-throw percentage (81.1).
•Sophomore Jenna Borchers ranks fourth in three-point percentage (39.1).

    SMSU HEAD COACH TOM WEBB
•Tom Webb is in his fourth season as head coach with a 25-67 record, including 16-56 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 116-185 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 Division II win against Wisconsin-Parkside (91-83) on Nov. 16, 2018.
•Webb's complete bio is found on page 18.

    SERIES HISTORY VERSUS AUGUSTANA
•SMSU and Augustana meet for the 45th time on Friday with Augustana leading 31-13 with the first meeting during the 1969-70 season.
•Augustana leads the series 19-3 in games played in Sioux Falls, including winning 13 straight. One AU victory was a non-conference game played at the Sioux Falls Arena in 2008.   
•SMSU's last victory in the series played in Sioux Falls came during the 2001-02 season.
•SMSU won four straight in the series from 1995-2004, but Augustana has won 22 of the last 25 games since the 2004-05 season.
•The teams split last season with SMSU winning 74-71 in Marshall, while Augustana won 95-83 in Sioux Falls.
•SMSU head coach Tom Webb is 1-5 all-time versus Augustana.
•A complete listing of each game is located on page 16.

    SERIES HISTORY VERSUS WAYNE STATE
•SMSU and Wayne State meet for the 57th time on Saturday with WSC leading 38-18 with the first meeting during the 1991-92 season.
•WSC has won the last 20 games with SMSU's last victory coming on Feb. 25, 2009, in Wayne, Neb.  
•WSC has won 28 of the previous 30 games since the 2004-05 season. SMSU's two victories during that span occurred on Jan. 12, 2008, and Feb. 25, 2009.  
•WSC holds a 21-5 series advantage in games played in Wayne, including winning 10 straight.   
•WSC won both games last season, 76-74 in Marshall and 72-67 in Wayne.
•SMSU head coach Tom Webb is 0-6 all-time versus Wayne State.
•A complete listing of each game is located on page 17.

    SCOUTING AUGUSTANA
•Augustana is 6-4 overall, 2-4 NSIC, after losing at home to Wayne State 77-67 on Dec. 21.
•Freshman guard Lauren Sees is scoring 12.8 ppg with 15 3-pointers.
•Senior guard Abby Hora is averaging 12.7 ppg with a team-high 17 3-pointers.
•Sophomore guard Vishe' Rabb averaged 14.2 ppg through six games but has missed the last four games with an injury.  
•Dave Krauth is in his 31st season as head coach and holds a 635-274 overall record.
•AU is shooting 39 percent from the field, 29 percent from 3-point range and 67 percent from the free throw line.
•AU is averaging 72 points per game, while opponents average 63 points per game. AU has a minus-1.9 rebounding margin.

    SCOUTING WAYNE STATE
•Wayne State is 9-3 overall, 4-2 NSIC, after defeating Augustana on the road, 77-67 on Dec. 21. WSC will host Sioux Falls on Jan. 3 before taking on SMSU..
•Senior guard Erin Norling, who reached 1,000 career points on Dec. 21, leads the team in scoring at 20.3 ppg and is also the leader in rebounding at 7.7 rpg.  
•Senior forward Halley Busse is averaging 12.9 ppg with a team-leading 21 3-pointers.
•Brent Pollari is in his second season as head coach with a 24-18 overall record. He was head coach at St. Mary's for three seasons (2015-18) prior to WSC.
•WSC is shooting 44 percent from the field, 34 percent from 3-point range and 73 percent from the free throw line.
•WSC is averaging 78 points per game, while opponents average 69 points per game. WSC has a plus-5.0 rebounding margin.

    NCAA RANKINGS
•In the latest Division II statistics (Jan. 2), SMSU ranks third in free-throw percentage, 26th in blocked shots and 30th in three-point field goals per game.
•Meleah Reinhart ranks ninth in free-throw pct (92.4) and 10th in free throws made (61).
•Abuk Akoi ranks 14th in blocked shots (26) and 16th in blocked shots per game (2.3).
•The latest 2019-20 NCAA statistics are located on page 19.

    NSIC RANKINGS
•In the NSIC statistics (NSIC only), SMSU leads the conference in free-throw percentage (84.0) and is fifth in 3-point field goals made (8.0).
•Meleah Reinhart ranks fourth in scoring, is fourth in free throw pct. and 13th in 3-point field goals per game.
•Jenna Borchers ranks seventh in 3-point field goals per game.
•Abuk Akoi is first in blocked shots and is second in rebounding.
•Sadie Stelter is sixth in 3-point field goals per game.
•The latest NSIC team statistics (NSIC games) are located on page 20.

    REINHART NAMED NSIC SOUTH PLAYER OF THE WEEK
•SMSU junior Meleah Reinhart was named the NSIC South Division Player of the Week on Nov. 12. It's the first time in her career she has earned the award.
•Reinhart averaged 15 points and four rebounds in two victories during opening weekend on Nov. 8-9. She shot 44 percent from the field and was a perfect 14 of 14 from the free throw line. She scored 18 points on 5 of 7 shooting and 8 of 8 from the foul line in SMSU's win over Ouachita Baptist.

    WEBB ANNOUNCES EARLY SIGNINGS
•Head coach Tom Webb announced on Nov. 13, that three high school standouts have signed letters of intent.
•SMSU signed Hannah Parsley, from Flandreau, S.D., Katelyn Marunich from Proctor, Minn., and Sarah Conlon from St. Peter, Minn.

    ABUK AKOI NOTES
•Has started all 10 games this season and is averaging 6.7 ppg and a team-high 8.6 rpg.
•Leads the team with 23 blocked shots.
•Akoi surpassed 100 blocks and now has 107 in her career.
•Earned the first double-double of the season in the loss to CSP with 15 points and 15 rebounds.
•Tied program single-game record with seven blocked shots vs. UMary (2/3/18).

    ERIN BAXTER NOTES
•Has started all 10 games this season and is averaging 5.1 ppg and 2,5 rpg.
•Scored a season-high 15 points vs. UMD on Dec. 14, 2019.
•Has led the team in scoring in two games.
•Ranks sixth in all-time history in free throw percentage (81.1)
•Led the team in steals with 39 in 2018-19.
•Career-high five 3-pointers vs. William Jewell (11/17/18).
•Career-high 25 points at Concordia-St. Paul (1/19/18).

    TAYLOR BONESTROO NOTES
•Has played in three games and averages 1.0 ppg.
•Connected on a 3-pointer and had one rebounds vs. Presentation this season.
•Appeared in 15 games a season ago.

    JENNA BORCHERS NOTES
•Has started all 10 games this season.
•Averaging a team second-best 13.1 ppg.
•Borchers became the second Mustang to earn a 20-point game with a team-high 21 points, tieing her career-high, versus CSP.
•Had a career-high four assists versus SCSU (12/13/19).
•Leads the team in 3-pointers (26) and assists (14).
•Career-high five steals against UMC (2/1/19).

    EMILY BUYSSE NOTES
•Has played in nine games and is averaging 1.0 ppg and 10 rpg.
•Made two 3-pointers vs. Presentation.
•Played in 26 games last season and averaged 2.3  ppg.
•Finished the 2018-19 season with 15 3-pointers.

    OLIVIA DRUMMER NOTES
•Has appeared in five games and is averaging 0.8 ppg and 0.4 rpg.
•Made a 3-pointer vs. Presentation.
•Sat out the 2018-19 season as a redshirt.

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

    MADISON GEHLOFF  NOTES
•One of two true freshmen playing this season.
•Has appeared in all 10 games this season and is averaging 1.5 ppg and 0.9 rpg.
•Scored a season-high four points versus MSU.

    MATEYA HUTTON NOTES
•Has appeared in four games this season.
•Tied career-high with six rebounds vs. North Central (11/20/18).
•Tied her career-high seven points twice last season.
•Played in 24 games as a true freshman in 2017-18.

    MELEAH REINHART NOTES
•Has started all 10 games this season.
•Averaging a team-best 15.5 ppg and averaging 4.5 rpg.
•Has made 53-of-58 from the free throw line.
•Reinhart is the only Mustangs to record double-figures in all 10 games.
•Scored a career-high 26 points on 9 of 15 shooting at Sioux Falls (11/20/19).
•Ranks seventh in program history in free throw percentage at 80.3 percent.
•Recorded a career-high five assists and six steals against Minnesota State (1/12/19).
•Named NSIC South Division player of the week on Nov. 12.
•Named All-NSIC second team in 2018-19.

    CALEIGH RODNING NOTES
•Named a 2019-20 NSIC "Player to Watch."
•Has started six games and is averaging 9.3 ppg and 7.5 rpg •Has missed four games due to injury.
•Became the 20th Mustang to reach 1,000 career points on Feb. 15, 2019.
•Named All-NSIC second team in 2018-19.
•Shot 86.8 percent from the free throw line in 2018-19 to rank second in team single-season history.
•Ranks second in the all-time career books in three throws made with 386.

    LILY SCHOKNECHT NOTES
•Has appeared in six games and is averaging 1.0 ppg and 1.5 rpg.
•Scored four points at Sioux Falls (11/20/19).
•Sat out the 2018-19 season as a redshirt.

    SADIE STELTER NOTES
•Has appeared in all 10 games with four starts.
•Averaging 10.7 ppg and 2.8 rpg.
•Scored career 21 points vs. CSP to become the third Mustang to earn a 20-point game this season.
•Has a team second-best 21 3-pointers.
•Started 27 games last season and led the team with 45 3-pointers.
•Ranked third on the team last season averaging 9.6 ppg.
    
    SARA TESKE NOTES
•Has appeared in all 10 games this season and is averaging 3.5 ppg and 5.4 rpg.
•Tied her career-high 11 points versus Concordia Portland (11/29/19).
•Scored season-high seven points at Sioux Falls (11/20/19).
•Played in 28 games with 14 starts last season, while averaging 4.1 ppg and 4.3 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).

    SAM WALL NOTES
•One of two true freshmen playing this season.
•Has appeared in 10 games and is averaging 5.6 ppg and 1.8 rpg.
•Career-high 14 points with four 3-pointers vs. Presentation.

    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.

    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 and rebounding with 13.5 ppg and 6.9 rpg.
•Rodning became the 20th player in Mustang history to reach 1,000 career points last season.

    A LOOK BACK AT SMSU 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 AND REINHART EARN ALL-NSIC IN 2018-19
•Senior Caleigh Rodning and junior Meleah Reinhart were both named second team All-NSIC 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).


    HOME AND AWAY    
•SMSU is 1-3 at home in 2019-20 after finishing 9-5 last season.
•SMSU is 4-1 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    1-3    34.4    36.1    87.3    41.2    67.5    13.8        
Away    4-3     36.4    29.4    80.7    41.1    70.9    118          
    
    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 149-155 (.490) overall record, including 92-124 in NSIC play.
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    1-3    0-3    1-0        
    Totals:     149-155     92-124     57-31

    SMSU ALL-TIME IN THE NSIC
•The 2019-20 campaign marks the 51st season SMSU has competed in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.
•SMSU has an all-time record of 238-390 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 1,270 games compiling an all-time record of 599-671.
•SMSU has recorded 26 winning seasons, but has not had a winning season since the 2009-10 team finished 15-12.