THIS WEEK
•The Southwest Minnesota State University women's basketball team (2-0, 0-0 NSIC) returns to action this Saturday and Sunday opening Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play hosting Upper Iowa University (1-3, 0-2 NSIC) inside the R/A Facility.
•Saturday's game will begin at 4 p.m., while Sunday's match-up will start at 1 p.m.
•The two teams were scheduled to play this Friday and Saturday, but the games were pushed back one day to allow for COVID-19 protocols.    
•SMSU has not played since beating Minot State on Jan. 2-3 in Marshall. SMSU had games last week versus both Winona State and Northern State canceled due to COVID-19 protocols.
•Due to guidance from the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System, no spectators will be allowed inside the arena.

    BROADCAST INFO
•Both games will be broadcast on 101.7 FM/1400 AM KMHL.
•Live stats, radio broadcast and video broadcast can be found at SMSUmustangs.com.

    SERIES HISTORY VERSUS UPPER IOWA
•SMSU and Upper Iowa meet for the 29th and 30th time this weekend with SMSU leading 15-13.
•SMSU holds a slight 8-6 advantage in games played in Marshall, including 76-51 last season.
•SMSU is on a six-game winning streak in the series since Dec. 1, 2017.
•UIU won nine straight in the series from Jan. 27, 2012, to Jan. 8, 2016.
•SMSU head coach Tom Webb is 7-1 all-time versus UIU.
•Game-by-game results of the series is located on page 17.

    SMSU HEAD COACH TOM WEBB
•Tom Webb is in his fifth season as head coach with a 38-73 record, including 27-61 in NSIC play.
•SMSU has improved its victory total each season since taking over 2016-17.
•SMSU's 16 victories last season was the program's most since recording 19 during the 2004-05 season.  
•Webb is 127-196 overall in his 13th season as head coach at the Division II level after compiling a record of 91-123 in eight seasons (2008-16) 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 16.

    ABOUT SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA STATE
•SMSU opened the 2020-21 season two weekends ago at home sweeping Minot State, 74-62 and 73-58.
•In the season opening win, Meleah Reinhart scored a team-high 20 points on 7 of 15 from the field, while Sadie Stelter added 18 points on 8 of 15 shooting.
•SMSU held a 46-31 rebound advantage in the victory and forced MSU into 19 turnovers.
•In game two, SMSU had five players score in double figures and made 10 3-pointers in the victory. Jenna Borchers scored a team-high 15 points with four 3-pointers.
•For the season, SMSU is shooting 43 percent from the field, 33 percent from 3-point range, 67 percent from the free throw line and is plus-11.0 in rebound margin. SMSU is averaging 74 points per game, while opponents average  60 ppg.

    MUSTANGS IN THE SMSU RECORD BOOK
•Six Mustangs are ranked among the top 15 in several SMSU career records, which are 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. (83.2), sixth in free throws attempts (464) and ninth with 638 rebounds.
•Senior Abuk Akoi ranks second in team history with 143 blocked shots.
•Senior Meleah Reinhart ranks sixth in free throw pct. (79.6) and is 21st in scoring with 958 points.
•Senior Erin Baxter ranks seventh in free-throw percentage (79.3).
•Junior Jenna Borchers ranks third in three-point percentage (41.5) and eighth in three-point field goals (122).
•Senior Sadie Stelter ranks fourth in 3-point field goals made (143) and ranks 12th in free-throw percentage at 77.6.

    NEW LOOK NSIC SCHEDULE AND POSTSEASON  
•Each NSIC team was scheduled to have 16 regular season games with 14 conference games versus teams within their division.
•The NSIC Sanford Tournament has been reduced to an eight-team tournament with the top four teams in each division advancing to the tournament in Sioux Falls, S.D.  

    SCOUTING UPPER IOWA
•Upper Iowa is 1-3 overall, 0-2 NSIC, following two home losses last weekend to Sioux Falls, 86-66 and 86-77.
•UIU opened the season on Jan. 2-3, splitting two games at St. Cloud State, winning 75-71 in overtime, before losing 66-50.
•Freshman guard Lydia Haack is averaging a team-high 17.5 ppg and has 12 assists and seven steals.
•Sophomore guard Jessica Musgrave averaged 15.5 ppg and 9.5 rpg in the first two games, but did not play last weekend versus USF.  
•UIU is shooting 39 percent from the field, 29 percent from 3-point range, 78 percent from the free throw line and is minus-10.0 in rebound margin. UIU is averaging 67 points per game, while opponents are averaging 77 ppg.
•UIU was picked to finish seventh in the NSIC South Division preseason poll. The Peacocks finished 3-26 overall, including 2-20 in NSIC play last season.
•Head coach Nate Oakland is in his second season with a record of 4-29. He served as head coach at Coe College from 2015-17 and was an assistant at North Dakota State from 2017-19.  

    SMSU PICKED 5TH IN NSIC PRESEASON POLL
•SMSU was picked to finish tied for fifth in the South Division in the NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll.
•SMSU senior guard Meleah Reinhart was named a "Player to Watch".
•Minnesota State was chosen as the South Division favorite, followed by Augustana, Winona State and Sioux Falls State rounding out the top four.    

    ABUK AKOI NOTES
•Has started both games and is averaging 9.0 ppg and 3.5 rpg.
•Ranks second in team history with 143 blocked shots.
•One of three Mustangs to start all 28 games last season.
•Named to 2019-20 NSIC All-Defensive team.
•Led the NSIC in rebounding and finished second in blocked shots last season.
•Scored a career-high 22 points vs. Sioux Falls (12/21/19).
•Tied program single-game record with seven blocked shots  versus UMary (2/3/18) and Minnesota State (1/11/20).

    ERIN BAXTER NOTES
•Has started both games this season and is averaging 5.5 ppg and 4.5 rpg.
•Scored season-high 11 points vs. Minot State (1/3/21).
•Appeared in all 28 games last season with 13 starts.
•Averaged 5.2 ppg and 3.0 rpg in 2019-20.
•Ranks sixth in team history in free throw percentage (79.6).

    JENNA BORCHERS NOTES
•Has started both games and is averaging 13.0 ppg and 3.5 rpg.
•Leads the team with seven 3-pointers.
•Scored 15 points vs. Minot State (1/3/21).
•One of three Mustangs to start all 28 games last season.
•Connected on a team-high 72 3-pointers also led the team with 77 assists.
•Led the conference in 3-point pct. at 44.2 percent.
•Scored a career-high 30 points at UMary (1/28/20).
•Ranks third in team history in 3-point field goal percentage (41.5).
•Her 72 3-pointers in 2019-20 was one shy of team single-season record.
•Named NSIC South Division Player of the Week (2/24/20).

    SARAH CONLON NOTES
•Has not appeared in any games this season.
•One of two true freshmen on the roster.

    OLIVIA DRUMMER NOTES
•Has played in one game this season.
•Appeared in 18 games and averaged 0.7 ppg and 0.6 rpg.
•Scored career-high five points at Minot State (1/17/20).

    MADISON GEHLOFF NOTES
•Has played in both games and is averaging 6.0 ppg and 6.0 rpg.
•Scored eight points with six rebounds vs. Minot State (1/2/21).
•Appeared in all 28 games and averaged 5.0 ppg and 2.6 rpg a season ago.
•Scored a career-high 20 points with eight field goals at Augustana (1/3/20).

    MATEYA HUTTON NOTES
•Has played in one game this season.
•Appeared in 15 games last season and scored four points.
•Tied career-high with six rebounds vs. North Central (11/20/18).
•Recorded a field goal vs. Minnesota State (1/11).  

    HANNAH PARSLEY NOTES
•Has played in both games and is averaging 2.5 ppg and 3.0 rpg.
•Scored five points vs. Minot State (1/2/21).
•One of two true freshmen on the roster.

    MELEAH REINHART NOTES
•Has started both games and is averaging 15.0 ppg and 3.0 rpg.
•Scored season-high 20 points vs. Minot State (1/2/21).
•Started all 27 games last season and averaged a team-best 15 ppg, while averaging 4.1 rpg.
•Two-time second team All-NSIC honoree
•Has scored 958 career points in 82 games.
•Scored a career-high 27 points with 12 field goals at UMary (2/26/20).
•Ranks sixth in team history in free throw percentage (79.6).
•Named NSIC South Division player of the week on Nov. 12.

    CALEIGH RODNING NOTES
•Has played in two games this season and is averaging 1.0 ppg and 4.5 rpg.
•Missed all but six games last season due to an injury and averaged 9.3 ppg and 7.5 rpg.
•Ranks second in team history in free throws made with 386.
•Ranks 13th in team history with 1,115 points.
•Named All-NSIC second team in both 2017-18 and 2018-19.
•Shot 86.8 percent from the free throw line in 2018-19 to rank second in team single-season history.

    LILY SCHOKNECHT NOTES
•Has played in both games this season.
•Played in 24 games last season and averaged 0.5 ppg and 1.2 rpg.
•Scored four points at Sioux Falls (11/20/19).

    SADIE STELTER NOTES
•Has appeared in both games and is averaging 14.5 ppg with four 3-pointers.
•Scored 18 points vs. Minot State (1/2/21).
•Ranks fourth in team history in 3-pointers made (143).
•Played in all 28 games last season with 21 starts, while averaging 10.7 ppg and 2.9 rpg.
•Second on the team with 56 3-pointers last season.
•Scored career-high 24 points at UMary (1/18/20).
    
    SARA TESKE NOTES
•Has played in two games this season.
•Scored four points vs. Minot State (1/3/21).
•Appeared in all 28 games last season with one start and finished averaging 3.7 ppg and 4.6 rpg.
•Tied a career-high 11 points at Concordia Portland (11/29/19).

    SAM WALL NOTES
•Has started both games this season and is averaging 4.0 ppg and 1.0 rpg.
•Scored eight points vs. Minot State (1/3/21).
•Appeared in all 28 games with 13 starts and averaged 4.9 ppg and 1.8 rpg.
•Scored a career-high 14 points with four 3-pointers vs. Presentation (11/16/19).

    REINHART & AKOI EARN 2019-20 ALL-NSIC HONORS  
•Senior Meleah Reinhart was named second team All-NSIC for the second straight season in 2019-20.
•In NSIC play, Reinhart ranked eighth in the league in free throw pct. and 11th in scoring.
•Senior Abuk Akoi was named to the NSIC All-Defensive team as she led the league in blocked shots and finished second in rebounding.  

    WORKING OVERTIME
•SMSU is 11-27 all-time in overtime games, including finishing 1-1 last season. SMSU lost at Concordia-St. Paul, but won at UMary.  
•SMSU is 3-4 in double overtime games and has never played into triple overtime.

    HOME AND AWAY    
•SMSU is 2-0 at home this season after finishing 7-5 last season and 9-5 in 2018-19.
•SMSU was 9-7 in road/neutral site 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    2-0    43.4    32.8    66.7    42.0    73.5    12.5    
Away    0-0    -    -    -    -    -    -     

    SEASON OPENERS
•SMSU is now 31-21 all-time in season openers following last week's win over Minot State. It was the first time SMSU had opened a season at home since Nov. 13, 2015.

    HOME SWEET HOME
•The 2020-21 season marks the 25th year the R/A Facility has served as the home arena for SMSU women's basketball.
•SMSU has a record of 157-157 (.500), including 98-126 in NSIC play inside the R/A 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    7-5    6-5    1-0    
    2020-21    2-0    0-0    2-0    
    Totals:     157-157     98-126    59-31

    SMSU ALL-TIME IN THE NSIC
•The 2020-21 campaign marks the 42nd season SMSU has competed in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.
•SMSU has an all-time record of 249-395 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 52nd season of women's basketball in 2020-21.
•SMSU has played 1,289 games compiling an all-time record of 612-677.
•SMSU has recorded 26 winning seasons, including last season's squad that finished 16-12. It was the program's first winning season since 2009-10.