THIS WEEKEND
•The Southwest Minnesota State University women's basketball team (5-2, 2-1 NSIC) continues its homestand, hosting Winona State University (4-3, 1-2 NSIC) and Upper Iowa University (1-6, 0-3 NSIC) at the R/A Facility on Friday and Saturday.
•The Mustangs will welcome Winona State on Friday for a 7:30 p.m. tip-off before hosting the Peacocks on Saturday at 5:30 p.m.
BROADCAST INFO
•The games will be broadcast on 105.1 FM KARL with Ryan Rohlik.
•Live stats, radio broadcast and video broadcast can be found at SMSUmustangs.com.
LAST WEEK
•SMSU was outscored 7-0 in the final 1:34 of overtime, falling on the road against Wayne State 69-65 at the Rice Auditorium in Wayne, Neb.
•After leading 28-25 at the half, SMSU would be outscored 27-18 in the third quarter to trail by six before outscoring the Wildcats 15-9 to send the game into overtime. The Mustangs would hold a three-point lead, but the late WSC run would doom SMSU.
•Sadie Stelter led the team with 16 points and 10 rebounds, tying a career high in rebounds while recording her second double-double of the season. Abuk Akoi picked up 12 points and 7 rebounds, with Madison Gehloff scoring a season-high 11 points and collecting five rebounds.
•The Mustangs controlled the middle quarters behind a dominant performance by Abuk Akoi to take down Augustana 72-58 in an NSIC clash inside the R/A Facility on Saturday night.
•Trailing 15-13 into the second quarter, the Mustangs would catch fire, outscoring the Vikings 49-25 in the second and third quarters to cruise to victory. SMSU also saw an advantage in their depth, outscoring the Vikings 27-13 off the bench.
•Akoi, the senior from Sioux Falls, S.D., had her best performance of the season, going for 11 points, 12 rebounds, six blocks and tying a career-high with four assists while going a career-best 3 of 6 behind the arc.
•SMSU had four players in double figures. Akoi was joined by Stelter, who led the way with 13 points while collecting three assists. Meleah Reinhart returned to the lineup with 12 points and a pair of steals. Gehloff led the bench efforts, going for 12 points and adding five rebounds. Bri Stoltzman played the best game of her young career, reaching career-highs in points, with seven, and rebounds, with four.
ABOUT SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA STATE
•Senior guard Meleah Reinhart is leading the Mustangs in scoring with 17.0 ppg.
•Reinhart also leads SMSU in rebounding with 5.5 rpg and steals with nine.
•Senior guard Sadie Stelter leads the team in assists with 17
•Senior center Abuk Akoi leads the team in blocks with 14.
•Sophomore guard Sam Wall leads the team with 10 three -pointers made.
•Sophomore guard Madison Gehloff has provided a spark off the bench this season, recording 6.1 ppg on 58.1 percent shooting, and 4.7 rpg in 22.6 mpg
•SMSU is averaging 70 ppg while opponents are averaging 64 ppg. SMSU has a plus-3.8 rebounding margin.
•SMSU is shooting 41 percent from the field, 32 percent from the 3-point line, and 86 percent the free-throw line.
•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.
SMSU NINTH IN D2SIDA REGIONAL POLL
•SMSU is ranked ninth in this week's D2SIDA Central Region poll released on Monday, Dec. 6.
•Each of the eight regions have representatives from D2SIDA that coordinate the regional committee, with a regional poll that will be released every Monday during the regular season.
•The D2SIDA weekly rankings are independent of the official NCAA Regional Rankings that will be released towards the end of the regular season and determine the NCAA Tournament teams.
D2SIDA Central Region Poll (Dec. 6)
Rank Team (First-Place Votes) W-L Pts. Prev.
1 Fort Hays State (6) 7-0 60 1
2 Nebraska-Kearney 7-1 48 3
3 Missouri Western 6-0 46 6
4 Minnesota State 7-0 40 9
5 Southwestern Oklahoma State 8-2 39 4
6 Arkansas Tech 5-1 29 8
7 St. Cloud State 5-1 27 7
8 Concordia-St. Paul 6-1 14 NR
9 Southwest Minnesota State 5-2 10 5
10 Northwest Missouri 7-1 8 RV
SMSU HEAD COACH TOM WEBB
•Tom Webb is in his sixth season as head coach with a 50-80 record, including 36-67 in NSIC play.
•Webb is 141-203 overall in 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.
WINONA SERIES HISTORY
•SMSU and Winona State meet for the 86th time with SMSU leading 44-41 in a series that started in 1973.
•The teams have not met since the 2019-20 season, with Winona State winning 74-58 on Jan. 24, 2020 and 86-63 on Feb. 15, 2020.
•WSU has won the last 12 meetings since the 2014-15 season.
•WSU has won 25 of 27 meetings in the series from 2005-06 to 2019-20.
•SMSU head coach Tom Webb is 0-8 all-time versus Winona State.
•Full series history can be found on page 18.
UPPER IOWA HISTORY
•SMSU and Upper Iowa will meet for the 31st time with SMSU leading 17-13 in a series that started in 2004.
•SMSU won both meetings last season, winning 70-47 on Jan. 16 and 68-37 on Jan. 17.
•SMSU has won eight straight meetings between the two teams since the 2017-18 season.
•UIU has won 10 of the last 19 meetings since Jan. 27, 2012.
•Tom Webb is 9-1 all-time versus Upper Iowa.
•Full series history can be found on page 19.
WINONA STATE NOTES
•The Warriors went 0-2 last week with a 83-42 loss at Concordia-St. Paul before losing 76-67 at home against Minnesota State.
•Winona State comes into this weekend 4-3 on the season and 1-2 in NSIC action.
• The Warriors finished last season 5-7 overall and 5-6 in the NSIC.
•Head coach Scott Ballard is in his 18th season leading the charge at Winona State, compiling a 290-198 record overall and 189-149 record in conference play.
•The Warriors' 2021-22 squad features four seniors, four sophomores, one redshirt freshman and seven freshmen.
•Guard Taylor Hustad is the Warriors' top scorer, averaging 12.0 points per game on 52.8 percent shooting and leading the team with 6.9 rebounds per game.
•Forward Ema Fee is averaging 10.6 points per game while collecting 5.9 rebounds per game.
•Winona State is shooting 44 percent from the field, 24 percent from 3-point range, and 79 percent from the free throw line.
•The Warriors average 62 points per game, while opponents average 62 points per game.
UPPER IOWA NOTES
•The Peacocks went 0-2 last week, dropping Thursday's game on the road against Minnesota State 88-48 and losing at home to Concordia-St. Paul 70-61.
•Upper Iowa comes into this weekend 1-6 on the season and 0-3 in conference play
• The Peacocks finished last season 1-15 overall and 0-14 in the NSIC.
•Head coach Nate Oakland is in his third season at the helm for Upper Iowa, coming in with a 5-47.
•The Peacocks' 2021-22 squad features two seniors, four juniors, seven sophomores, and four freshmen.
•Guard Lydia Haack is the Peacocks' lead scorer, averaging 15.3 points per game on 45.8 percent shooting
•Forward Jessica Musgrave is second on the team in both points per game (14.3) and rebounds per game (6.2)
•Upper Iowa is shooting 40 percent from the field, 33 percent from 3-point range, and 72 percent from the free throw line.
•The Peacocks average 68 points per game, while opponents average 80 points per game.
REINHART EARNS 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, Nov. 15.
•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.
•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 against Northwestern Missouri State
ABUK AKOI NOTES
•Named a 2021-22 NSIC "Player to Watch."
•Has started all seven games.
•Averaging 8.0 points and 5.4 rebounds per game.
•Recorded a double-double, scoring 11 points and a season-high 12 rebounds while adding six blocks and making a carer-high three 3-pointers on six attempts against Augustana (Dec. 4).
•Holds school record with 201 career blocked shots
•Leads the Mustangs in three point percentage at 46.2 percent.
•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 seven games.
•Averaging 2.6 points and 3.7 rebounds per game.
•Ranks 12th in school history in free throw percentage (78.0).
PEYTON BLANDIN NOTES
•Has appeared in each game this season.
•Has totaled four rebounds and one assist.
JENNA BORCHERS NOTES
•Has started all seven games.
•Averaging 11.1 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game.
•Scored season-high 18 points at Sioux Falls while going a career-high 11 for 11 on free throws (11/23/21).
•Made a season-high three 3-pointers vs. Maryville (11/19/21).
•Ranks fourth in team history in 3-point field goal percentage (39.2) and fifth in 3-pointers made (162).
•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 three 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 four games this season totaling three minutes.
•Scored career-high five points at Minot State (1/17/20).
MADISON GEHLOFF NOTES
•Has played in each game this season.
•Averaging 6.1 points and 4.7 rebounds per game on 58 percent shooting.
•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 six 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 3.7 points and 4.0 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 six games this season.
•Named NSIC South Division Player of the Week (11/15/21).
•Averaging a team-high 17.0 points and 5.5 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 1,250 career points ranking 11th in team history.
•Ranks sixth in team history in free throw percentage (81.6) and ninth in 3-point field goals (128).
•All-NSIC South first team last season.
•Two-time second team All-NSIC honoree.
LILY SCHOKNECHT NOTES
•Appeared in each game this season.
•Averaging 1.9 points per game and 1.0 rebounds 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 seven games.
•Second on the team with 13.4 points per game and 5.1 rebounds per game while leading the team with 17 assists.
•Recorded a double-double with 16 points and Tied a career-high with 10 rebounds against Augustana (12/4/21).
•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 (166) and is fifth in free throw pct. (82.6).
•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 2.4 points and 1.6 rebounds per game.
•Scored career-high four points in nine minutes against Truman State (11/20/21).
SAM WALL NOTES
•Has played in each game this season while starting one game.
•Averaging 6.1 points per game and leads the team with ten 3-pointers made on 38.5 percent shooting.
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 11-30 all-time in overtime games, including 0-1 in 2021-22 after losing at Wayne State 69-65.
•SMSU is 3-4 in double overtime games.
HOME AND AWAY
•SMSU has started this season 2-1 at home after finishing 6-2 in 2020-21 and 7-5 in 2019-20
•SMSU is off to a 3-0 start 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 2-1 40.4 34.1 70.9 38.7 71.0 12.3
Away 3-1 38.8 21.7 88.8 39.8 70.0 17.0
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 163-160 (.503) in 323 games inside the R/A Facility.
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 258-401 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 1,308 games compiling an all-time record of 624-684.
•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.
