THIS WEEKEND 

•The Southwest Minnesota State University women's basketball team (11-11, 8-10 NSIC) enter the final weekend with a playoff spot on the line, hosting Wayne State on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. for Senior Night before traveling to Sioux Falls, S.D. to close out the regular season with a 3:30 p.m. match-up with Augustana.

•The Mustangs currently sit in sixth place in the South Division. 

•A win or a Wayne State loss over the weekend will clinch a tournament berth. 

•SMSU is also just one game back of third place, with multiple scenarios to host a first-round tournament match-up.

    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.

    OPENING TIPS

•With three blocks over the weekend, Abuk Akoi has upped her total to 62 blocks on the season, ranking seventh in the nation, while her 2.82 blocks per game is also good for seventh, and her 56 blocks in conference play rank third in the NSIC. 

•Her 11 blocks on Friday, Feb. 4 were tied for the most in a DII game since Mar. 6, 2019. 

•Akoi also moved into a tie for fourth in program history in rebounds with 729.

•The Mustangs have excelled from the charity stripe this season, ranking 36th in the nation in free throw percentage, shooting 76.2 percent on the season.

•SMSU is holding opponents to just 37.9 percent shooting in league play, ranking second in the NSIC. 

•The Mustangs have also cleaned the defensive glass throughout the season, ranking 31st in the nation with 29.1 defensive rebounds per game.

•Their 38.9 rebounds per game in league play rank third in the NSIC, while their 29.2 defensive rebounds per game rank second.

•Meleah Reinhart holds the program record with 114 career starts, while ranking ninth in scoring with 1,461 points.

•Her 82.9 free-throw percentage in league play ranks second in the NSIC, and 81.6 percentage in her career ranks fifth in program history. 

•Sadie Stelter made her 187th career three-pointer over the weekend, moving within three made threes from tying the school record. 

•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.

•SMSU made all 18 of their free throws on Jan. 22 against Bemidji State, breaking a program record for most free throws made without a miss, beating the previous record of 17, set exactly one year ago from Saturday, Jan. 22, 2021 against Minnesota State

    LAST WEEKEND

•SMSU had its two-game winning streak snapped on Friday night, suffering a 68-51 loss to Upper Iowa University inside Dorman Gymnasium.

•The Mustangs shot a season-low 25 percent (16 of 63) from the field, including 16 percent (4 of 25) from 3-point range.

• Abuk Akoi and Meleah Reinhart each led the Mustangs with 11 points with Akoi grabbing a team-high eight rebounds.

•The Mustangs dropped their eighth consecutive road game on Saturday afternoon, falling to Winona State 55-52 inside the McCown Gymnasium in Winona.

• The Mustangs ended the game shooting 37.7 percent (20 of 53) but would shoot just 21.1 percent (4 of 19) from behind the arc while getting out-rebounded 35-25. WSU shot 43.6 percent (24 of 55) from the field and 33.3 percent (5 of 15) from behind the arc and would record 13 assists to the five of the Mustangs.

•Reinhart would score a game-high 21 points on 8 of 13 shooting in the loss. Akoi would tally 16 points, four rebounds, three blocks, and two steals, and Jenna Borchers would add six points and three rebounds. Erin Baxter scored four points while grabbing three boards, and Madison Gehloff would dish two assists while grabbing three rebounds and a steal. 

    ABOUT SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA STATE

•Senior guard Meleah Reinhart is leading the Mustangs in scoring with 14.9 ppg.

•Senior guard Sadie Stelter is second on the team with 12.5 ppg and 5.5 rpg while leading the team with 28 steals, and is third on the team with 41 assists.

•Senior center Abuk Akoi leads the team in blocks with 62 and rebounding with 5.7 a game, and is second in assists with 45, all while shooting a 43 percent from the field and 37 percent from behind the arc.

•Sophomore guard Sam Wall leads the team with 39 three-pointers made on 40 percent shooting from deep.  

•Wall has added spark off the bench this season, recording 7.6 ppg on 38 percent shooting in 20.5 mpg. 

•Jenna Borchers leads team with 48 assists and a shoots a team-best 84.6 percent from the free throw line. 

•SMSU is averaging 66 ppg while opponents are averaging 65 ppg. SMSU has a minus-0.3 rebounding margin.

•SMSU is shooting 38 percent from the field, 30 percent from the 3-point line, and 76 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 56-89 record, including 42-76 in NSIC play. 

•Webb is 148-212 overall in his 14th season as head coach at the Division II level after compiling a record of 92-123 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.

    EARLIER THIS SEASON VERSUS WSC AND AU

•SMSU fell to Wayne State (69-65, OT) on the road and beat Augustana (72-58) at home in  early December.

•Box scores from both games can be found on pages 21-22.

    WAYNE STATE SERIES HISTORY

•SMSU and Wayne State meet for the 62nd time with WSC leading 41-20 in a series that started in 1991.

•The teams split a pair of games last season in Wayne, Neb., with WSC defeating SMSU 74-60 on Feb. 12 and SMSU toppling WSC 85-49 on Feb. 13.

•SMSU has won two of the last four meetings between the two teams since Feb. 21, 2020.

•WSC won 21 straight meetings in the series from 2009-10 to 2019-20.

•The Mustangs are 13-17 in Marshall, with their last home win coming on Feb. 21, 2020.

•SMSU head coach Tom Webb is 2-9 all-time versus Wayne State, and 2-4 in his last six games against them.

•Full series history can be found on page 19.
 

    AUGUSTANA HISTORY

•SMSU and Augustana meet for the 50th time with Augie leading 32-17 in a series that started in 1969.

•The teams split a pair of games last season in Marshall, with Augie defeating SMSU 83-81 in overtime on Feb. 5 and SMSU defeating Augie 75-62 on Feb. 6.

•SMSU has won five of the last seven meetings between the two teams since Feb. 4, 2019.

•Augie won 21 of 23 games against SMSU from Dec. 11, 2004 to Feb. 10, 2018.

•SMSU is 4-18 all-time at Augustana, with their last road win coming on Jan. 3, 2020

•Tom Webb is 5-6 all-time versus Augustana, and 4-1 in his last five games against the Vikings

•Full series history can be found on page 20.

    WAYNE STATE NOTES  

•The Wildcats went 0-2 last week on the road, losing to Minnesota State 95-58 on Friday before falling to CSP 76-71 on Saturday.

•Wayne State comes into this weekend 9-13 on the season and 6-12 in NSIC action.

•Head coach Brent Pollari is in his fourth season leading the charge at Wayne State, collecting a record of 46-51.

•The Wildcats' 2021-22 squad is constructed with one senior, four juniors, three sophomores, and six freshman.

•Guard Kylie Hammer is the Wildcats' top scorer, averaging 20.8 points per game on 47 percent shooting from the field and 40.8 percent from behind the arc. 

•Guard Lauren Zacharias is averaging 12 points per game with 5.1 rebounds per game while leading the team with 59 assists.

•Wayne State is shooting 40.3 percent from the field, 32.5 percent from 3-point range, and 73.4 percent from the free throw line.

•The Wildcats average 66.9 points per game, while opponents average 69.3 points per game.

    AUGUSTANA NOTES  

•The Vikings went 0-2 on the road last week, dropping a 65-64 game to CSP before losing 80-72 to Minnesota State on Saturday. 

•Augustana comes into this weekend 12-9 on the season and 8-9 in conference play

•Head coach Dave Krauth is in his 33rd season at the helm for Augustana, totaling a record of 669-294. 

•The Vikings' 2021-22 squad features three seniors, five juniors, two sophomores, and six freshman.

•Guard Lauren Sees is the Vikings' lead scorer, averaging 15.6 points per game and leading the team with 35 three-pointers.

•Forward Aislinn Duffy is averaging a double-double on the season, scoring 14.7 points per game and a team-high 11.1 rebounds.

•Augustana is shooting 42.1 percent from the field, 28.2 percent from 3-point range, and 75.2 percent from the free throw line.

•The Vikings average 72.2 points per game, while opponents average 67.2 points per game.

    ABUK AKOI NOTES

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

•Has started all 22 games.

•Averaging 9.0 points and 5.7 rebounds per game while leading the team with 62 blocks.

•Shooting 43 percent from the field and 37 percent from deep. 

•Shattered her own program record, recording 11 blocks while adding 10 rebounds against Minnesota State (2/4/22)

•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 (12/4/21).

•Holds school record with 249 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).

    ERIN BAXTER NOTES

•Has started 19 of 22 games.

•Averaging 3.0 points and 2.9 rebounds per game.

    PEYTON BLANDIN NOTES

•Has appeared in 15 of 20 games this season.

•Has totaled three points and eight rebounds.

    JENNA BORCHERS NOTES

•Has started all 22 games.

•Averaging 7.6 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.2 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 third in program history with 178 3-pointers 

•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 nine games this season totaling 20  minutes, one point, three rebounds, and two assists.

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

    MADISON GEHLOFF NOTES 

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

•Averaging 4.1 points and 3.7 rebounds per game on 47 percent shooting.

•Totaled a career-high 10 rebounds against UMary (1/18/22).

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

    KENZIE JONES NOTES 

•Has appeared in 17 of 20 games this season.

•Has scored 14 points while collecting 12 rebounds

•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 3.4 points and 2.6 rebounds per game.

•Scored career-high 14 points against Concordia-St. Paul (2/5/22) and six rebounds vs. Augustana (2/6/21).

•One of two redshirt freshmen on the roster.

    MELEAH REINHART NOTES 

•Has started 21 games this season.

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

•Averaging a team-high 14.9 points while adding 5.1 rebounds per game 

•Second on the team with 25 steals.

•Secured her first double-double with 22 points and 11 rebounds against Minnesota State (2/4/22)

•Scored a season-high 27 points 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 1,429 career points ranking ninth in program history. 

•Ranks fifth in program history in free throw percentage (81.9) and ninth in 3-point field goals (136).

•All-NSIC South first team last season.

•Two-time second team All-NSIC honoree.

    LILY SCHOKNECHT NOTES 

•Appeared in 20 of 22 games this season.

•Averaging 1.1 points per game and 1.1 rebounds per game while knocking down all three 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 12.5 points per game, and  5.5 rebounds per game.

•Leads the team with 28 steals.

•Scored career-high 25 points vs. Minnesota Crookston (1/21/22).

•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 second in team history in 3-pointers made (187) and is eighth in free throw pct. (80.0).

•Led the team with 41 assists last season.

    BRI STOLTZMAN NOTES 

•Has appeared in each game this season.

•Averaging 2.9 points and 2.1 rebounds per game.

•Scored career-high nine points in 16 minutes against UMary (1/8/22).

    SAM WALL NOTES 

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

•Averaging 7.6 points per game and leads the team with 39 3-pointers made on 40 percent shooting from deep.

•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 12-30 all-time in overtime games, including 1-1 in 2021-22 after defeating Concordia-St. Paul 94-85 in double overtime. 

•SMSU is now 4-4 in double OT games.    

    HOME AND AWAY     

•SMSU is 8-3 at home this season after finishing 6-2 in 2020-21 and 7-5 in 2019-20

•SMSU is 3-8 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    8-3    39.6    33.8    78.4    41.8    70.5    15.5

Away    3-8     35.8    23.6    74.3    35.5    61.7    15.2

    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 169-162 (.511) in 331 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 264-410 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 1,323 games compiling an all-time record of 630-693.

•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.