THIS WEEKEND 

•The Southwest Minnesota State University women's basketball team opens the 2021-22 season in Maryville, Mo., at the Northwest Missouri State Classic.

•The Mustangs will play the host Northwest Missouri State Bearcats at 7:30 p.m., on Friday before facing the No. 15-ranked Nebraska-Kearney Lopers at 5:30 p.m., on Saturday.

    FAST BREAK

•SMSU begins its 53rd campaign of women's collegiate basketball.

•SMSU opens it's home schedule hosting Maryville (Mo.) and Truman State (Mo.) on Nov. 19-20 for the EverSpring Inn & Suites Classic.

•SMSU finished 6-2 at home last season, its best home win percentage since the 2002-03 season.

    SMSU HEAD COACH TOM WEBB

•Tom Webb enters his sixth season as head coach with a 45-78 record, including 34-66 in NSIC play. 

•Webb is 136-201 overall heading into his 14th 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.). 

•SMSU improved its victory total each season since Webb took over prior to the 2016-17 season (not including the COVID 2020-21 season).

•SMSU recorded back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 2001-2003 after finishing over .500 in 2019-20 and 2020-21. 

•SMSU's .643 win percentage in 2020-21 was the program's best since their .655 percentage in the 2004-05 season.  

•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 17.

    SERIES HISTORY

•SMSU and Northwest Missouri State meet for the fourth time with SMSU holding a 2-1 advantage. 

•SMSU won the first two meetings in 2000 and 2004, while NWMSU won the most recent meeting in 2012. 

•SMSU and Nebraska-Kearney will also meet for the fourth time with UNK leading the series 2-1.

•SMSU won the first meeting in 2001, with UNK defeating SMSU in 2014 and 2015

•It will be the first time in the Tom Webb era SMSU will match up with each team.

    NORTHWEST MISSOURI STATE NOTES  

2020-21 Record: 7-15, 7-15

Head Coach: Austin Meyer, fourth season

Mascot: Bearcats

•Last season the Bearcats finished 7-15 for ninth in the MIAA, just short of clinching a spot in the conference tournament.

•The Bearcats were picked to finish ninth in the MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll

•The Bearcats return the MIAA freshman of the year Molly Hartnett, who also garnered honorable mention all-conference honors along with teammate Mallory McConkey. 

    NEBRASKA-KEARNEY NOTES  

2020-21 Record: 23-4, 19-3

Head Coach: Carrie Eighmey, seventh season

Mascot: Lopers

•Last season the Lopers won the MIAA Tournament and  advanced to the NCAA Division II Tournament.

•UNK was picked to finish third in the MIAA preseason poll

•The Lopers return four All-MIAA honorees in Elisa Backes, Brooke Carlson, Haley Simental and Klaire Kirsh, while Kelsey Sanger was named to the MIAA All-Defensive team. 

• UNK was ranked 15th in the D2SIDA WBB Preseason Poll

    ABOUT SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA STATE

•SMSU returns its top seven scorers from last season and all five starters.

•SMSU was tabbed seventh overall and second in the South Division in the NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll

•The team features four seniors, one junior, four sophomores, and six freshmen.

•Senior Abuk Akoi was named a "Player to Watch," returning to anchor a defense that allowed 61.9 points per game a season ago, the third lowest total in the NSIC. Akoi was named to the All-NSIC Defensive team for the second straight season after leading the NSIC in blocks and finishing third in rebounding (8.3) to go along with 9.3 ppg. Akoi is the all-time leading shot blocker in SMSU history.

•Senior Meleah Reinhart returns after being named All- NSIC South Division first team last season.

•Reinhart led the team with 15.7 ppg while shooting 42 percent from 3-point range a season ago. She currently ranks 12th in school history with 1,148 points.

•Senior Sadie Stelter returns after averaging 13.2 ppg a season ago while leading the team with 41 assists after primarily coming off the bench.

•Jenna Borchers is a returning starter that averaged 12.6 ppg and led the team with 40 3-pointers. 

•Erin Baxter also returns after finishing fifth in the NSIC and leading the team with 2.0 steals per game.

    SMSU IN THE FINAL NCAA & NSIC WEEKLY STATISTICS

•In the final 2020-21 NCAA statistics, SMSU ranked first in defensive rebounds (34.4), third in 3-point field goal pct. defense (23.8), fifth in rebounds per game (45.6), sixth in free throw pct. (80.2), ninth in field goal pct. defense (34.5), 27th in 3-point field goals per game (8.4) and 28th in 3-point field goal pct. (35.5). 

•Sadie Stelter ranked third in the country in free throw pct. (94.8); Abuk Akoi ranked fourth in blocked shots per game (3.2) and 13th in total blocked shots (46); Jenn Borchers ranked 17th in 3-pointers per game (2.8).

•In the final NSIC stats (conference games only), Meleah Reinhart was seventh in free throw pct. (86.8) and fourth in scoring (15.8); Akoi was first in blocked shots (3.7) and third in rebounding (8.3); Borchers ranked first in 3-point field goal pct. (34.4) and first in 3-point field goals per game (2.8); Stelter was first in free throw pct. (94.5); Erin Baxter ranks fifth in steals (2.0).  

•The final 2020-21 NCAA statistics can be found on page 19, while the final 2020-21 NSIC stats are on page 17-18.

    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.   

    SMSU PICKED SEVENTH IN NSIC PRESEASON POLL

•SMSU was picked to finish seventh overall and second in the South Division in the NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll. 

•SMSU senior center Abuk Akoi was named a "Player to Watch".

•Minnesota Duluth was chosen as the North Division favorite as well as the favorite in the NSIC, while Augustana was tabbed the South favorite. 

    ABUK AKOI NOTES

•Played all 14 games with 13 starts, averaging 9.3 ppg and 7.6 rpg.

•Season-high 16 points on four field goals vs. Minnesota State (1/22/21).

•Holds school record with 187 career blocked shots

•One of four Mustangs to start at least 13 games last season.

•Named to 2020-21 NSIC All-Defensive team.

•Led the NSIC in blocked shots and finished third in rebounding 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) Minnesota State (1/11/20), (1/23/21) and versus Augustana (2/6/21).

    ERIN BAXTER NOTES

•Started all 14 games and averaged 5.5 ppg and 3.7 rpg.

•Scored season-high 11 points vs. Minot State (1/3/21).

•Ranks ninth in team history in free throw percentage (78.7).

•Led the team while finishing fifth in the NSIC in steals per game (2.0).

    JENNA BORCHERS NOTES

•Started 13 of 14 games and averaged 12.6 ppg and 3.2 rpg.

•Leads the team with 40 3-pointers.

•Scored season-high 25 points vs. Augustana (2/6/21).

•Ranks third in team history in 3-point field goal percentage (39.7) and fifth in 3-pointers made (155).

•One of four Mustangs to start at least 13 games last season.

•Led the NSIC last year in 3-point field goals per game (2.9).

•Scored a career-high 30 points at UMary (1/28/20).

•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 played in four games.

•Made 3-pointer vs. Upper Iowa (1/17/21).

•One of two redshirt freshmen on the roster.

    OLIVIA DRUMMER NOTES 

•Has played in five games.

•Scored career-high five points at Minot State (1/17/20).

    MADISON GEHLOFF NOTES 

•Played in all 14 games and is averaging 3.7 ppg and 3.2 rpg.

•Scored season-high 14 points on 5 of 8 shooting at Wayne State (2/13/21).

•Scored a career-high 20 points with eight field goals at Augustana (1/3/20).

    HANNAH PARSLEY NOTES 

•Has played in 13 of 14 games and averaged 2.5 ppg and 2.5 rpg.

•Scored season-high eight points against Augustana (2/5/2021) and six rebounds vs. Augustana (2/6/21).

•One of two redshirt freshmen on the roster.

    MELEAH REINHART NOTES 

•Started all 14 games and averaged 15.7 ppg and 4.6 rpg.

•Reached double figures in scoring all but one game last season. 

•Scored career-high 28 points on 19 field goals while tying a career-high with eight rebounds at Sioux Falls (2/21/21).

•Has scored 1,148 career points ranking 12th in team history. 

•Ranks seventh in team history in free throw percentage (80.8) and ninth in 3-point field goals (125).

•All-NSIC South first team last season

•Two-time second team All-NSIC honoree.

•Named NSIC South Division player of the week on Nov. 12, 2020.

    LILY SCHOKNECHT NOTES 

•Appeared in 12 games last season and grabbed 14 rebounds.

•Had three blocked shots vs. Upper Iowa (1/6/21).

    SADIE STELTER NOTES 

•Has appeared in all 14 games with five starts and averaged 13.2 ppg with 20 3-pointers.

•Scored season-high 23 points at Sioux Falls (2/21/21).   

•Ranks fourth in team history in 3-pointers made (159) and is fifth in free throw pct. (82.0).

•Led the team with 41 assists last season

•Scored career-high 24 points at UMary (1/18/20).

    SAM WALL NOTES 

•Played in 14 games with nine starts and averaged 4.5 ppg and 2.6 rpg.

•Scored a season-high nine points three times.

•Scored a career-high 14 points with four 3-pointers vs. Presentation (11/16/19).

 

    REINHART & AKOI EARN 2020-21 ALL-NSIC HONORS  

•Senior Meleah Reinhart was named first team All-NSIC in 2020-21. She was named second team All-NSIC in both 2018-19 and 2019-20. 

•Senior Abuk Akoi was named to the NSIC All-Defensive team for the second straight season.  

    WORKING OVERTIME 

•SMSU is 11-29 all-time in overtime games, including 0-2 in 2020-21 after losing to Augustana on Feb. 5 and Sioux Falls on Feb. 21.

•SMSU is 3-4 in double overtime games and has never played into triple overtime.    

    HOME AND AWAY     

•SMSU finished 6-2 at home last season after finishing 7-5 in 2019-20 and 9-5 in 2018-19.

•SMSU closed 3-3 in road games last season after recording a 9-7 mark in road/neutral site games in 2019-20.

•The following is a statistical comparison of the Mustang team averages for home and away/neutral games in 2020-21:

    W-L    FG%    3-FG%    FT%    REB    PTS    TO    

Home    6-2    37.0    34.1    77.6    47.2    70.2    14.5    

Away    3-3     40.3    36.0    84.1    44.2    70.2    21.5     

    HOME SWEET HOME 

•The 2021-22 season marks the 26th year the R/A Facility has served as the home arena for SMSU women's basketball.

•SMSU has a record of 161-159 (.503) in 320 games 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    6-2    4-2    2-0

    2021-22    0-0    0-0    0-0    

    Totals:     161-159     102-128    59-31

    SMSU ALL-TIME IN THE NSIC 

•The 2021-22 campaign marks the 43nd season SMSU has competed in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.

•SMSU has an all-time record of 256-400 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 entering its 53rd season of women's basketball in 2021-22.

•SMSU has played 1,231 games compiling an all-time record of 619-682.

•SMSU has recorded 27 winning seasons, including the last two seasons. The 2019-20 squad that finished 16-12 was the program's first winning season since 2009-10.