THIS WEEKEND 

•The Southwest Minnesota State University women's basketball team (7-5, 4-4 NSIC) look to end their three game skid, welcoming the University of Mary (9-7, 3-4) to the R/A Facility on Saturday, Jan 8 at 5:30 p.m.

•The Mustangs were originally scheduled to face off against Minot State on Jan. 7, but the game was canceled due to COVID-19 protocols. 

    BROADCAST INFO 

•The game will be broadcast on 105.1 FM KARL with Ryan Rohlik. 

•Live stats, radio broadcast and video broadcast can be found at SMSUmustangs.com.

    QUICK HITS

•SMSU has a three game losing streak for the first time since a five game losing skid from Dec. 5-Dec. 21, 2019

•Sam Wall shot 2 of 4 from three on Sunday, holding her three point percentage steady at 50 percent (24 of 48), good for third in the nation and first in the NSIC.

•Wall's 37.9 percentage from range over her career falls into a tie for sixth in program history. 

•After a start on Sunday afternoon, Meleah Reinhart has moved into sole possession of second in program history in games started, and is four starts behind first place. 

•With two blocks on Sunday, Abuk Akoi has tallied 25 blocks on the season, ranking 14th in the nation, and her 2.08 blocks per game average ranks 30th. 

•After five rebounds Sunday, Akoi moved into a tie for eighth in career rebounds with 667.

•Reinhart earned NSIC South Division Player of the Week honors, announced on Monday, Nov. 15.

•Stelter became the 22nd player in program history with 1,000 career points against Nebraska-Kearney on  Nov. 13.

    LAST WEEKEND

•The Sioux Falls Cougars defeated the Southwest Minnesota State Mustangs women's basketball team 69-61 behind a first quarter that saw them outscore the Mustangs 24-4 on Sunday afternoon in the R/A facility.

•SMSU outscored Sioux Falls in each of the final three quarters, but the 20-point deficit would be too much to overcome. The Mustangs ended the night shooting 38.6 percent (22 of 57), but would commit 21 turnovers, including 12 in the first quarter to suffer their third consecutive loss. USF shot 45 percent (27 of 60) from the field and 42.9 percent (6 of 14) from behind the arc. 

•Sadie Stelter led SMSU in points (15), rebounds (9) and assists (5) in the setback. Abuk Akoi would be the only other Mustang to finish in double figures, scoring 14 points while adding five rebounds, three assists, and two blocks. Meleah Reinhart would lead the team defensively with three steals and five rebounds while adding nine points. 

    ABOUT SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA STATE

•Senior guard Meleah Reinhart is leading the Mustangs in scoring with 13.9 ppg.

•Senior guard Sadie Stelter is second on the team with 13.0 ppg and leads the team with 5.5 rpg while tied for the team-lead with 28 assists.

•Senior center Abuk Akoi leads the team in blocks with 25 and is tied in assists with 28 while shooting a 52 percent from the field, 46 percent from behind the arc, and 93 percent from the free throw line.

•Sophomore guard Sam Wall leads the team with 24 three -pointers made on 50 percent shooting from deep.  

•Wall has added spark off the bench this season, recording 8.7 ppg on 46 percent shooting in 19 mpg. 

•SMSU is averaging 70 ppg while opponents are averaging 66 ppg. SMSU has a plus-2.1 rebounding margin.

•SMSU is shooting 40 percent from the field, 31 percent from the 3-point line, and 77 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 HEAD COACH TOM WEBB

•Tom Webb is in his sixth season as head coach with a 52-83 record, including 38-70 in NSIC play. 

•Webb is 144-206 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.

   UMARY HISTORY

•SMSU and UMary will meet for the 19th time with UMary holding a 12-6 advantage in a series that started in 2006. 

•The teams did not match up last season

•The teams split a pair of games in 2019-20, with SMSU winning 91-85 in OT on Jan. 18, 2020, and UMary winning 84-74 on Feb. 26, 2020, with both games taking place in Bismarck.

•SMSU won three consecutive meetings before their Feb. 26, 2020 matchup.

•UMary won six consecutive meetings from Jan. 13-2012 until Feb. 4, 2017.

•SMSU head coach Tom Webb is 3-2 all-time versus UMary. 

•Full series history can be found on page 19.

    UMARY NOTES  

•The Marauders did not play on Sunday as their game against Minot State was canceled. 

•UMary defeated Valley City State 99-47 on Dec. 30, 2021.

•The Marauders come into Saturday 9-7 on the season and 3-4 in conference play.

•UMary was picked to finish 11th in the NSIC and sixth in the NSIC South.

•Head coach Rick Neumann is in his 10th season at the helm for UMary, holding a 142-124 record. 

•The Marauders' 2021-22 squad features a graduate, two seniors, four juniors, four sophomores, and five freshman.

•Forward Lexie Schneider is the leading scorer for UMary, averaging 11.9 points per game, shooting 56 percent from the field while leading the team with 8.3 rebounds per game. 

•Guard Megan Zander is second on the team in both scoring and third in rebounding, scoring 11.6 points per game while hauling in 5.1 rebounds per game.

•UMary is shooting 45 percent from the field, 40 percent from 3-point range, and 65 percent from the free throw line.

•The Marauders average 72 points per game, while opponents average 64 points per game.

    ABUK AKOI NOTES

•Named a 2021-22 NSIC "Player to Watch."

•Has started all 12 games.

•Averaging 9.5 points and 5.3 rebounds per game while leading the team with 28 assists and 25 blocks.

•Second on the Mustangs in three point percentage, shooting 45 percent from deep.

•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 (12/4/2021).

•Holds school record with 210 career blocked shots

•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 nine of 12 games.

•Averaging 2.5 points and 3.1 rebounds per game.

    PEYTON BLANDIN NOTES

•Has appeared in 10 of 12 games this season.

•Has totaled three points and six rebounds.

    JENNA BORCHERS NOTES

•Has started all 12 games.

•Averaging 8.7 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.3 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 11th in team history in 3-point field goal percentage (37.5) and fifth in 3-pointers made (168).

•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 four games this season totaling 11 minutes.

•Scored two points and grabbed four rebounds vs. Upper Iowa (12/11/21).

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

•One of two redshirt freshmen on the roster.

    OLIVIA DRUMMER NOTES 

•Has played in six games this season totaling 11  minutes, one point, one rebounds, and one assist.

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

    MADISON GEHLOFF NOTES 

•Has played in each game this season, starting in three of them.

•Averaging 5.5 points and 4.1 rebounds per game on 59.6 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 11 of 12 games this season.

•Played a career-high 15 minutes, totaling four points and four rebounds against Sioux Falls (1/2/22)

•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 3.6 points and 3.4 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 11 games this season.

•Named NSIC South Division Player of the Week (11/15/21).

•Averaging a team-high 13.9 points and 4.8 rebounds per game 

•Leads the team with 15 steals.

•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 1,301 career points ranking 11th in team history. 

•Ranks seventh in team history in free throw percentage (81.1) and ninth in 3-point field goals (131).

•All-NSIC South first team last season.

•Two-time second team All-NSIC honoree.

    LILY SCHOKNECHT NOTES 

•Appeared in 11 of 12 games this season.

•Averaging 1.5 points per game and 0.8 rebounds per game while knocking down both three-pointers she has attempted.

•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 each game this season.

•Second on the team with 13.0 points per game leads the team with 5.5 rebounds per game, and is tied for the team-lead with 28 assists.

•Second on the team with 14 steals

•Recorded her second double-double of the season with 16 points and tied a career-high with 10 rebounds against Wayne State (12/2/21).

•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 third in team history in 3-pointers made (171) and is fifth in free throw pct. (82.4).

•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 3.0 points and 2.3 rebounds per game.

•Scored career-high seven points in 18 minutes against Augustana (12/4/21).

    SAM WALL NOTES 

•Has played in each game this season while starting one game.

•Averaging 8.7 points per game and leads the team with 24 3-pointers made on 50 percent shooting.

•Was an NSIC Top Performer after her weekend Dec. 10-11, scoring 23 points in 25 minutes off the bench in two games. 

    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 4-2 at home after finishing 6-2 in 2020-21 and 7-5 in 2019-20

•SMSU is off to a 3-3 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    4-2    41.5    33.1    69.4    38.5    69.7    13.8

Away    3-3     38.3    27.8    82.5    39.7    69.8    17.7

    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 165-161 (.506) in 326 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 260-404 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 1,313 games compiling an all-time record of 626-687.

•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.