THIS WEEKEND
•The Southwest Minnesota State University women's basketball team (3-1) kicks off its conference slate on the road against the University of Sioux Falls (2-2) in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Tuesday.
•The Mustangs will face the Cougars with tip-off slated for 5:35 p.m. inside the Stewart Center on the campus of USF.
BROADCAST INFO
•The game will be broadcast on 105.1 FM KARL with Ryan Rohlik.
•The game will be broadcast live regionally on Midco Sports Network.
•Live stats, radio broadcast and video broadcast can be found at SMSUmustangs.com.
LAST WEEKEND
•SMSU erased a halftime deficit for the third consecutive game, defeating Maryville (Mo.) 79-65 to open up their home schedule at the EverSpring Inn & Suites Classic in the R/A Facility on Friday night.
•After trailing 33-32 at the half, SMSU outscored Maryville 47-32 in the second half to cruise to victory. Three-point shooting was the key, as the Mustangs shot 39.4 percent from deep (13-of-33) and held Maryville to 8.3 percent (1-of-12), while outscoring Maryville 12-9 off second chance points.
•Sadie Stelter led the offense with 16 points and five assists to help the Mustangs to victory, shooting 37.5 percent (3-of-8) from behind the arc. Jenna Borchers shot 50 percent (3-of-6) as part of a 13 point, three rebound night. Meleah Reinhart led the team with seven rebounds while adding 13 points, including five points in the fourth quarter. Sam Wall brought energy off the bench to ignite the Mustangs, scoring 11 points while shooting 50 percent (3-of-6) from three-point range and flying around defensively to make life difficult for her assignments. She added five rebounds and a steal to lead the bench unit.
•SMSU was unable to overcome a first quarter deficit on Saturday night, losing 73-62 to Truman State at the R/A Facility to conclude the EverSpring Inn & Suites Classic.
•SMSU was outscored 21-10 in the first quarter before tying the final three quarters 52-52.
•SMSU ended the night shooting 38.7 percent (24-of-62) with the Mustangs leading scorer, Reinhart, putting up 16 points along with a team-high six rebounds. Freshman Hannah Parsley would score a career-high 10 points while adding five rebounds in the loss, with both slotting second on the team. Abuk Akoi would pick up both of SMSU's blocks on the night, while also leading the team with a pair of steals.
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 guard Meleah Reinhart is leading the Mustangs in scoring with 18.5 ppg.
•Reinhart also leads SMSU in rebounding with 7.0 rpg and steals with 1.5 spg
•Senior guard Sadie Stelter leads the team in assists with nine.
•Senior center Abuk Akoi leads the team in assists with 1.5 blocks per game.
•SMSU is averaging 70.3 ppg while opponents are averaging 63.0 ppg. SMSU has a plus-1.5 rebounding margin.
•SMSU is shooting 40.4 percent from the field, 34.1 percent from the 3-point line, and 83.8 percent the free-throw line.
SERIES HISTORY
•SMSU and Sioux Falls meet for the 38th time with USF leading 19-18 in a series that started in 1969-70.
•The teams split a pair of games last season, matching up in the final two games of the year.
•SMSU won on Feb, 21, 2021 77-54 before falling in the season finale 88-83 in overtime on Feb. 22.
•USF has won 14 of the last 16 meetings between the two teams since the 2013-14 season.
•SMSU won 11 straight in the series from 1989-90 to 2002-03.
•SMSU head coach Tom Webb is 2-8 all-time versus Sioux Falls, and 2-3 in his last five games against them.
•Full series history can be found on page 21
REINHART EARNS NSIC SOUTH PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONORS
•For the second time in her career, Meleah Reinhart earned NSIC South Division Player of the Week honors, announced on Monday afternoon.
•She finished the weekend averaging 22.5 points per game and 7.5 rebounds per game after recording 18 points and seven rebounds against Northwest Missouri State and 27 points and eight rebounds against Nebraska-Kearney. Reinhart shot 44.8 percent from the field, going 13-of-29 and shooting 94.4 percent from the free-throw line, connecting on 17-of-18 attempts.
•Reinhart averaged the second most points in the NSIC (22.5) and fourth most rebounds (7.5), while her 27 points was the second highest total in the conference.
STELTER REACHES 1,000-POINT MILESTONE
•Sadie Stelter became the 22nd player in program history with 1,000 career points against Nebraska-Kearney on Nov. 13.
• Her jumper to go over the 1,000-point total was an important one, as her jumper cut the UNK lead to 54-53 in the fourth quarter.
•Stelter also recorded her first-career double-double on Nov. 12, when she totaled 16 points and a career-high 10 rebounds to help lead the Mustangs to victory.
SMSU HEAD COACH TOM WEBB
•Tom Webb is in his sixth season as head coach with a 48-79 record, including 34-66 in NSIC play.
•Webb is 139-202 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.
SIOUX FALLS NOTES
•The Cougars went 2-0 last weekend with a 86-36 win against Presentation College before knocking off Black Hills State 74-56.
•Sioux Falls comes into this weekend 2-2 on the season
• The Cougars finished last season 8-6 overall and 8-5 in the NSIC reaching the conference tournament before losing to Minnesota Duluth in the first round.
•Head coach Travis Traphagen is in his 14th season at the helm for Sioux Falls
•The Cougars' 2021-22 squad features two graduates, four seniors, six sophomores, and nine freshman.
•Guard Megan Fannin is the Cougars' top scorer, averaging 16.5 points per game on 49 percent shooting.
•Forward Krystal Carlson is averaging 11.8 points per game and 4.8 rebounds per game, both good for second on the team.
•Sioux Falls is shooting 47.3 percent from the field, 35.4 percent from 3-point range, and 73.5 percent from the free throw line.
•The Cougars average 75.3 points per game, while opponents average 62.5 points per game.
ABUK AKOI NOTES
•Named a 2021-22 NSIC "Player to Watch"
•Has started all four games
•Averaging 5.3 points and 3.5 rebounds per game.
•Holds school record with 193 career blocked shots
•Leads the Mustangs in three point percentage
•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
•Has started all four games
•Averaging 2.3 points and 2.3 rebounds per game.
•Ranks 12th in team history in free throw percentage (78.3).
•Led the team while finishing fifth in the NSIC in steals per game (2.0).
PEYTON BLANDIN NOTES
•Has appeared in each game this season
•Has totaled one rebound and one assist
JENNA BORCHERS NOTES
•Has started all four games
•Averaging 10.3 points, 2.5 rebounds and two assists per game
•Scored season-high 16 points vs. Nebraska-Kearney, including eight points in the fourth quarter (11/13/21).
•Made a season-high three 3-pointers vs. Maryville (11/19/21)
•Ranks fourth in team history in 3-point field goal percentage (39.5) and fifth in 3-pointers made (159).
•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).
•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 two games this season totaling three minutes
•Made 3-pointer vs. Upper Iowa (1/17/21).
•One of two redshirt freshmen on the roster.
OLIVIA DRUMMER NOTES
•Has played in two games this season totaling two minutes
•Scored career-high five points at Minot State (1/17/20).
MADISON GEHLOFF NOTES
•Has played in each game this season
•Averaging four points and 4.3 rebounds per game
•Totaled a career-high eight rebounds against Northwest Missouri State (11/12/21)
•Scored a career-high 20 points with eight field goals at Augustana (1/3/20).
KENZIE JONES NOTES
•Has appeared in three games this season
•Made her first career three-pointer and added her first rebound against Maryville (11/19/21)
HANNAH PARSLEY NOTES
•Has played in each game this season
•Averages 4.5 points and 4.8 rebounds per game
•Scored career-high ten points against Truman State (11/19/21) and six rebounds vs. Augustana (2/6/21).
•One of two redshirt freshmen on the roster.
MELEAH REINHART NOTES
•Has started all four games
•Named NSIC South Division Player of the Week (11/15/21).
•Averaging a team-high 18.5 points and seven rebounds per game
•Scored a season-high 27 points against Nebraska-Kearney and tied a career-high with eight rebounds against Nebraska-Kearney (11/13/21)
•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 1,222 career points ranking 11th in team history.
•Ranks seventh in team history in free throw percentage (81.3) and ninth in 3-point field goals (127).
•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 each game this season
•Averaging 2.8 points per game
•Made her first career three-pointer against Maryville (11/19/21)
•Had three blocked shots vs. Upper Iowa (1/6/21).
SADIE STELTER NOTES
•Has started all four games
•Second on the team with 12.5 points while leading the team with nine assists
•Became the 22nd player in program history with 1,000 career points against Nebraska-Kearney (11/13/21).
•Recorded her first career double-double with 16 points and a career-high 10 rebounds against Northwest Missouri State (11/12/21).
•Ranks fourth in team history in 3-pointers made (165) and is fifth in free throw pct. (82.7).
•Led the team with 41 assists last season.
•Scored career-high 24 points at UMary (1/18/20).
BRI STOLTZMAN NOTES
•Has appeared in each game this season.
•Averaging 7.3 minutes per game.
SAM WALL NOTES
•Has played in each game this season
•Averaging 7.5 points per game and leads the team with eight 3-pointers made on 53.3 percent shooting.
•Only Mustangs to make a three pointer in each game this season.
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.
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 has started this season 1-1 at home after finishing 6-2 in 2020-21 and 7-5 in 2019-20
•SMSU began 2-0 in road/neutral site games this season after recording a 3-3 mark in road/neutral site games in 2020-21.
•The following is a statistical comparison of the Mustang team averages for home and away/neutral games in 2021-22:
W-L FG% 3-FG% FT% REB PTS TO
Home 1-1 40.5 32.8 75.7 36.5 70.5 13.0
Away 2-0 40.4 37.5 90.7 38.5 70.0 12.0
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 162-160 (.503) in 322 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 1-1 0-0 1-1
Totals: 162-160 102-128 60-32
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 in its 53rd season of women's basketball in 2021-22.
•SMSU has played 1,235 games compiling an all-time record of 622-683.
•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.
•Southwest Minnesota State is entering its 53rd season of women's basketball in 2021-22.
