THE LOOK AHEAD
• The Southwest Minnesota State University women's basketball team (0-2, 0-0 NSIC) travels to Michigan for a pair of non-conference games against Michigan Tech and Northern Michigan this Thursday and Friday.
• SMSU will first play in Houghton, Mich. against Michigan Tech (2-0) on Thursday, Nov. 16, with tip-off set for 4:30 p.m.
• The Mustangs then travel to Marquette, Mich. for a face-off with Northern Michigan (2-0) the following day, with start time set for 1 p.m.

GAME COVERAGE 
• Live stats and video for all games can be found under the women's basketball "schedule" tab on smsumustangs.com 
• Video for both games this week will be streamed on Flohoops.com with purchase necessary for viewing.

LAST TIME OUT 
• SMSU opened the 2023-24 season going 0-2 in the NSIC/MIAA Challenge at home this past weekend.
• Last Friday evening, the Mustangs fell to the Northwest Missouri State Bearcats 94-89.
• SMSU closed the game shooting 49.2 percent (29-59) from the field, including 9-20 from three, in comparison to 46.8 percent (37-79) shot by NWMSU. 
• SMSU closed out the NSIC/MIAA Challenge on Saturday evening with a loss to the University of Nebraska-Kearney 76-68.
• Bri Stoltzman led the Mustangs offense with 16 points on 4-14 shooting, including a perfect 7 of 7 from the free throw line. Stoltzman led SMSU in rebounds with eight. 
• Peyton Blandin scored 12 points in the affair on 4 of 14 shooting, adding three rebounds and team-second three steals. 
• Kenzie Jones posted a career-high 12 points on 4 of 15 shooting (26.7 percent), including three makes from deep, adding five rebounds and dishing three assists. 
• Hannah Parsley led the Mustangs defense with a career-high five steals, the most in the game by a player. Parsley rounded out the SMSU double-digit scorers, delivering 10 points off the bench on 4 of 8 shooting, and pulled down five rebounds.

MUSTANGS COMING OFF BEST SEASON IN NEARLY 20 YEARS
• SMSU finished the 2022-23 season with 19 wins, the most single-season victories since the 2004-05 season.
• The Mustangs closed conference action third in the NSIC South, its best finish in the NSIC division era, and tied for fourth in the NSIC overall, the highest finish since the 2004-05 season. 
• SMSU's 14 NSIC victories are the most since the 2001-02 season, and its .636 conference win percentage is the highest mark since the 2004-05 season. 
• The Mustangs developed into road warriors during the season, winning seven of its final nine road games, the best stretch since winning 11 consecutive games across two seasons from Dec. 16, 2000 to Dec. 8, 2001.

MUSTANGS BY THE NUMBERS
• For the season, SMSU has four players averaging double figures in scoring with junior Bri Stoltzman leading the way at 26.0 ppg while leading the team in rebounding at 8.5 per game and free throw percentage with 93.8 percent.
• Junior Peyton Blandin is scoring 14.5 ppg, while shooting 42 percent from the field. 
• Senior Sam Wall is averaging 11.5 ppg and shooting 87.5 percent from the line. Junior Kenzie Jones and senior Madison Gehloff round out the SMSU top scorers, averaging 10.5 ppg and 7.0 ppg, respectively. 
• SMSU is shooting 37 percent from the field, 30.6 percent from 3-point range, 70.4 percent from the free throw line and is minus 34 in rebound margin. The Mustangs are averaging 79 points per game, while opponents are averaging 85 ppg.

STONE COLD STOLTZMAN
• Bri Stoltzman recorded a career-high 36 points on 13 of 23 shooting in the loss to Northwest Missouri State on Nov. 10, 2023.
• Stoltzman trumped her previous career-best 24 points against Winona State (2/11/23) by 12 points.
• The junior guard has excelled at the line thus far shooting 93.8 percent, missing just one free throw on 16 attempts.
• The Mankato, Minn. native leads the Mustangs in rebounding this season with 17.

KEEP THE WALL ROLLING
• Southwest Minnesota State's Sam Wall set the program record for 3-pointers made in a single-season with 77 in 2022-23.
• Wall currently ranks sixth all-time in 3-pointers made with 163 in 98 games. Wall is only six made threes away from cracking the top five.
• The senior guard ranks in the top five in three-point FG percentage with .387 (163-421).
• Wall sits towards the top of the rankings in free throw percentage as well, sitting in seventh with 122 makes on 150 attempts (.813).
• More info on the SMSU women's basketball record book can be found on page 3.

MICHIGAN TECH SERIES HISTORY
• SMSU and Michigan Tech will meet for the fifth time with the Huskies holding a 3-1 edge in a series that started in 1988.
• SMSU defeated MTU 81-69 at home last season.
• The Mustangs have lost two of the last three meetings, and average 64 points per game against MTU.
• SMSU head coach Tom Webb is 1-0 all-time versus the Huskies.
•Full series history can be found on page 14.

MICHIGAN TECH NOTES  
2023-24 Record: 2-0 overall, 0-0 GLIAC
Head Coach: Sam Clayton, 5th season, 97-45 at MTU
• The Michigan Tech women's basketball team saw six players in double-figure scoring to sweep the season-opening week with an 83-64 win over Lewis on Saturday night in the SDC Gymnasium.
• Michigan Tech shot a staggering 51.7 percent from the field for the game, averaging over 20 points per quarter. Additionally, the Huskies had 26 points off the bench, with Emma Anderson and Tessa Leece setting career-highs. Anderson finished with 12 points and 2-for-2 from long range, while Leece had 10 points on 4-for-8 from the field.
• In an offensively balanced night, the Huskies were led by Rondorf and Wypych with 14 points apiece. Half of Wypych's points came in the first quarter alone. In addition to the aforementioned Anderson and Leece, Isabella Lenz and Meister also scored in double-figures with 10 and 12 points, respectively. 

NORTHERN MICHIGAN SERIES HISTORY
• SMSU and NMU will meet for the fifth time on Saturday, with the Wildcats holding the series advantage 3-1.
• Last season, SMSU defeated NMU for the first time in program history by a score of 86-74.
• NMU hosts SMSU for the second time ever, with the Wildcats taking the first game in Marquette, Mich. in 1988 by a score of 107-67.
• NMU declared victory in two of the three previous meetings.
• Tom Webb is 1-0 all-time against Northern Michigan.
•Full series history can be found on page 14.

NORTHERN MICHIGAN NOTES
2023-24 Record: 2-0 overall, 0-0 GLIAC
Head Coach: Casey Thousand, 2nd season, 17-13 at NMU
• The Green and Gold carry over plenty of firepower to the new campaign, highlighted by three-time All-GLIAC First Teamer Makaylee Kuhn, who has again been selected to the Preseason First Team. 
• The Hilbert, Wisconsin native entered the season with 1,470 career points, 229 back of the all-time lead at Northern Michigan. Through two games, she is averaging 14.5 ppg and 9.0 rpg while shooting 50% from the floor and a perfect 13-13 from the free-throw line. 
• Northern averaged 60.3 ppg last season and returns 88.4% of its scoring from a season ago, including point guard Mackenzie Holzwart, forward Abi Fraaza, wing Sarah Newcomer. Fraaza is second on the team in 2023-24 with 13.5 ppg while Holzwart is averaging 10.5 ppg through the two games and also leading the team in assists with six.  
• Jacy Weisbrod scored 11 points in her NMU debut with three triples and is averaging 7.0 ppg after the first weekend. Another new face to the 'Cats, freshman Braelyn Torres is averaging 4.5 ppg while being a disrupter on the defensive end.

SMSU HEAD COACH TOM WEBB
• Tom Webb is in his seventh season as head coach with a 77-104 record, including 57-85 in NSIC play. 
• Webb is 168-227 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.). 
• Last season, Webb guided the Mustangs to a 11-4 home record, their best home record since the 2002-03 season, and led SMSU to its first home NSIC tournament game since 2005, and first NSIC tournament victory since 2003, ending the season with their first ever tournament game inside the Pentagon.
• Webb's complete bio is found on page 15.

PEYTON BLANDIN NOTES
• Started both games this season.
• Averaging 14.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.0 steals per game
• Scored a career-high 17 points against Northwest Missouri State this season (11/10/23).

BRYNN BUSSE NOTES
• Appeared in both games this season.
• Recorded her first collegiate assist and steal against Nebraska-Kearney (11/11/23).

KENNADI BUCHHOLZ NOTES
• Has yet to play this season.
•Tallied 30 points, 26 rebounds, three steals, and five blocks in 16 games last year.
• Recorded her first double-double, scoring 11 points and grabbing 13 rebounds against Crown College (11/15/22)

ZOIE CENTERS NOTES
• Has yet to play this season.
• Tallied seven points, nine rebounds, and five assists in 18 games last season.

MADISON GEHLOFF NOTES 
• Started both games this year.
• Averaging 7.0 points and 5.0 rebounds per game. 
• Last season, tied a career-high with 20 points against Northwest Missouri State (11/11/22).
• Totaled a career-high 13 rebounds and five assists against Sioux Falls (11/22/22).

KENZIE JONES NOTES 
• Started both games this season.
• Averaging 10.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game.
• Scored a career-high 12 points against Nebraska-Kearney (11/11/23)

HANNAH PARSLEY NOTES 
• Appeared in one game this year.
• Averaging 10.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 5.0 steals per game.
• Snagged a career-high five steals against Nebraska-Kearney (11/11/23). 
• Recorded career-high 19 points against Sioux Falls (11/22/22). Snagged a career-high nine rebounds against MSU Moorhead (1/13/23).

BRI STOLTZMAN NOTES 
• Started both games this season.
• Averaging 26.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game, while adding 1.5 steals
• Scored a career-high 36 points on 13 of 23 shooting and tied a career-high five assists against Northwest Missouri State (11/10/23).
• Had a career-high in rebounds (11) against Augustana (2/16/23).
• NSIC "Shining Five" member for the first week of the season.

AUDREY SWANSON NOTES
• Appeared in both games this season.
• Recorded one steal and one assist in 14 minutes played
• Scored 6 points in 14 minutes against Crown College (11/15/22).

MADDIE THORFINNSON NOTES
• Appeared in both games this season.
• Averaging 3.0 points and 1.0 rebounds. 
• Scored 10 points in 18 minutes against Augustana (12/1/22)

ELIZABETH WAGNER NOTES 
• Appeared in both games this season.
• Recorded her first collegiate bucket and rebound against Nebraska-Kearney (11/11/23).

SAM WALL NOTES 
• Started both games this season.
• Averaging 11.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game 
• Scored a career-high 25 points on seven field goals and four three pointers against Minnesota State (12/17/22)
• Her 77 3-pointers last season broke the single-season record. 

WORKING OVERTIME 
• SMSU is 13-30 all-time in overtime games, including 1-1 last season after defeating MSU Moorhead 82-75 in overtime on Jan. 13, and suffering a loss to St. Cloud State 70-59 on Jan. 20. 
• SMSU is 4-4 in double OT games.

HOME AND AWAY  
• SMSU is 0-2 at home this season after finishing 11-4 at home in 2022-23 and 10-3 in 2021-22.
• The Mustangs are 0-0 in road/neutral site games this season after recording a 3-9 mark in road/neutral site games in 2022-23.
• The following is a statistical comparison of the Mustang team averages for home and away/neutral games in 2023-24:

          W-L FG% 3-FG% FT% REB PTS TO
Home 0-2 37.3 30.6 70.4 33.5 78.5 11.0
Away  0-0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

SMSU ALL-TIME IN THE NSIC 
• The 2023-24 campaign will mark the 45th season SMSU has competed in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.
• SMSU has an all-time record of 279-419 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 55th season of women's basketball in 2023-24.
• SMSU has played 1,359 games compiling an all-time record of 651-708.
• SMSU has recorded 28 winning seasons, including the last three seasons. The 2019-20 squad that finished 16-12 was the program's first winning season since 2009-10.