THIS WEEKEND 

•The Southwest Minnesota State University women's basketball team (11-9, 8-8 NSIC) hit the road for a pair of NSIC South clashes, traveling to Fayette, Iowa for a battle with Upper Iowa at 5:30 p.m. on Friday before dueling with Winona State at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday. 

    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 a staggering 19 blocks over the weekend, breaking the previous program record of seven blocks each night, Abuk Akoi has tallied 59 blocks on the season, ranking seventh in the nation, while her 2.95 blocks per game average ranks fifth. Her 11 blocks on Friday night were tied for the most in a DII game since Mar. 6, 2019. 

•Akoi also moved to fifth in program history in rebounds with 717 after 19 rebounds over the weekend.

•The Mustangs have excelled from the charity stripe this season, ranking 26th in the nation in free throw percentage, shooting 77 percent on the season.

•SMSU has also cleaned the defensive glass throughout the season, ranking 18th in the nation with 29.6 defensive rebounds per game.

•Meleah Reinhart holds the program record with 112 career starts, while ranking ninth in scoring with 1,429 points after a 45 point weekend.

•Sadie Stelter made her 186th career three-pointer over the weekend, moving within four 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

•The Mustangs would use a dominant second quarter while Abuk Akoi had a career day patrolling the paint to defeat Minnesota State 63-46 and avenge its loss in Mankato earlier in the season in a conference match-up inside the R/A Facility on Friday night. 

•With MSU leading 18-15 after the opening frame, the Mustangs would bring toughness defensively, outscoring the Mavericks 17-1 in the second quarter while holding MSU to 0 of 22 shooting from the field and 0 of 6 from the three-point line. 

• Akoi would shatter her own school record for blocks in a game, sending 11 shots away while completing a double-double with 10 rebounds, added a team-high three steals and three assists in 31 minutes of action. 

•Meleah Reinhart would lead the way offensively, leading the team with 22 points and a career-high 11 rebounds on her way to her first career double-double. Sadie Stelter would add to the offense with 17 points on just 6 of 10 shooting while adding eight rebounds. Sam Wall would also reach double-figures, scoring 13 points on 4 of 10 shooting from deep. Jenna Borchers was the lead distributer for SMSU, handing out five assists while collecting six rebounds and five points.

•SMSU would benefit from another disruptive game from Akoi and a career-scoring night from Hannah Parsley to defeat Concordia-St. Paul 94-85 in double overtime in an NSIC clash inside the R/A Facility on Saturday afternoon.  

 •Akoi would finish the game with 15 points, nine rebounds, eight blocks, and three assists to help lead the Mustangs to victory, a night after breaking the program-record (previously seven) for blocks in a game with 11. Parsley would finish with a career-high 14 points, including nine points in the overtime periods. 

 •Five Mustangs would score at least 14 points, with Akoi and Parsley joined by Reinhart, whose 23 points and four steals led the team, while adding nine rebounds. Borchers would collect her first career double-double, scoring 14 points while adding a team-high 10 rebounds and five assists. Sadie Stelter would also score 14 points, adding six rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Wall would add eight points off the bench, while Erin Baxter would score six points, making both three pointers attempted, dishing four assists, and grabbing two rebounds. 

    ABOUT SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA STATE

•Senior guard Meleah Reinhart is leading the Mustangs in scoring with 14.8 ppg.

•Senior guard Sadie Stelter is second on the team with 13.2 ppg and leads the team with 5.9 rpg and 26 steals, and is third on the team with 40 assists.

•Senior center Abuk Akoi leads the team in blocks with 59,  is second in rebounding with 5.2 a game and assists with 44, all while shooting a 44 percent from the field and 43 percent from behind the arc.

•Sophomore guard Sam Wall leads the team with 38 three-pointers made on 43 percent shooting from deep.  

•Wall has added spark off the bench this season, recording 8.2 ppg on 41 percent shooting in 20.4 mpg. 

•Jenna Borchers leads team with 48 assists and a shoots a team-best 85.7 percent from the free throw line. 

•SMSU is averaging 68 ppg while opponents are averaging 65 ppg. SMSU has a plus-1.5 rebounding margin.

•SMSU is shooting 38 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 56-87 record, including 42-74 in NSIC play. 

•Webb is 148-210 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 UIU AND WSU

•SMSU defeated both Upper Iowa (75-51) and Winona State (69-64) at home earlier this season in mid-December.

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

    UPPER IOWA SERIES HISTORY

•SMSU and Upper Iowa will meet for the 32nd time with SMSU leading 18-13 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 nine straight meetings between the two teams since the 2017-18 season.

•SMSU is 6-7 in Fayette all-time, but have won the last four road meetings. 

•Tom Webb is 10-1 all-time versus Upper Iowa.

•Full series history can be found on page 19.

    WINONA STATE HISTORY

•SMSU and Winona State meet for the 87th time with SMSU leading 45-41 in a series that started in 1973.

•Prior to their earlier meeting, the teams had met in the 2019-20 season, with Winona State winning 74-58 on Jan. 24, 2020 and 86-63 on Feb. 15, 2020. 

•WSU had won the last 12 meetings since the 2014-15 season prior to this season's SMSU victory.

•WSU has won 25 of 28 meetings in the series since 2005-06.

•The Mustangs are 16-27 all-time in Winona, with their last road victory coming on Jan. 15, 2015

•SMSU head coach Tom Webb is 1-8 all-time versus Winona State.

•Full series history can be found on page 20.

    UPPER IOWA NOTES  

•The Peacocks went 0-2 on the road last week, falling to Wayne State (74-72), and Augustana (68-64).

•Upper Iowa comes into this weekend 5-17 on the season and 2-14 in conference play.

•UIU was picked to finish 14th in the NSIC and eighth in the NSIC South.

•Head coach Nate Oakland is in his third season at the helm for Upper Iowa, coming in with a 9-58 record.

•The Peacocks' 2021-22 squad features two seniors, four juniors, seven sophomores, and four freshmen.

•Guard Lydia Haack is the Peacocks' lead scorer, averaging 13 points per game while leading the team with 86 assists. 

•Forward Jessica Musgrave is second on the team in points per game (12.1) and leads the team with 7.3 rebounds per game.

•Upper Iowa is shooting 37 percent from the field, 31 percent from 3-point range, and 73 percent from the free throw line.

•The Peacocks average 64 points per game, while opponents average 69 points per game.

    WINONA STATE NOTES  

•The Warriors went 0-2 on the road last week, dropping games at Augustana (75-57) and Wayne State (87-84).

•WSU comes into this weekend 11-11 on the season and 8-10 in NSIC action.

•WSU was picked to finish tenth in the NSIC and fifth in the NSIC South.

•Head coach Scott Ballard  is in his 18th season leading the charge at Winona State, compiling a 297-206 record overall and 296-157 record in conference play.

•The Warriors' 2021-22 squad features four seniors, four sophomores, one redshirt freshman and seven freshmen.

•Forward Taylor Hustad leads the Warriors in both scoring (13.4 ppg), and rebounding (7.3 rpg)

•Guard Emily Kleck is the Warriors' second leading scorer, averaging 11.5 points per game while leading the team with 92 assists

•WSU is shooting 44 percent from the field, 29 percent from 3-point range, and 77 percent from the free throw line.

•The Warriors average 65 points per game, while opponents average 65 points per game.

    ABUK AKOI NOTES

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

•Has started all 20 games.

•Averaging 8.6 points and 5.7 rebounds per game while leading the team with 59 blocks.

•Leads the Mustangs in three point percentage, shooting 43 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 246 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 17 of 20 games.

•Averaging 2.8 points and 3.0 rebounds per game.

    PEYTON BLANDIN NOTES

•Has appeared in 14 of 20 games this season.

•Has totaled three points and eight rebounds.

    JENNA BORCHERS NOTES

•Has started all 20 games.

•Averaging 7.9 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.4 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 program history with 176 3-pointers 

•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 eight games this season totaling 17  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 4.4 points and 3.8 rebounds per game on 50 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 15 of 20 games this season.

•Has scored 12 points while collecting 11 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 3.7 points and 2.8 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 19 games this season.

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

•Averaging a team-high 14.8 points and 5.3 rebounds per game 

•Second on the team with 24 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 1,429 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 18 of 20 games this season.

•Averaging 1.2 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 13.2 points per game, and leads the team with 5.8 rebounds per game and 26 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 (186) 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 2.2 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 8.2 points per game and leads the team with 38 3-pointers made on 41 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 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 off to a 3-6 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    8-3    39.6    33.8    78.4    41.8    70.5    15.5

Away    3-6     36.8    25.0    75.5    37.0    64.0    16.4

    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 264-408 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 1,321 games compiling an all-time record of 630-691.

•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.