THE LOOK AHEAD
• The Southwest Minnesota State University women's basketball team (7-6, 5-2 NSIC) returns to Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play this Friday, Jan. 5, taking on Bemidji State University (3-7, 0-6 NSIC) with game time at 7:30 p.m., before closing the weekend on Saturday with a 5:30 p.m. match-up versus St. Cloud State University (7-3, 4-2 NSIC).
• SMSU, currently tied for third in the NSIC standings, enters the weekend having won five straight games and will be looking for its first six-game winning streak since the 2009-10 season.
• A preview for BSU and SCSU can be found on page 3.

    GAME COVERAGE
• All games will be broadcast on 105.1 FM KARL with Ryan Rohlik providing play-by-play.
• Live stats, radio and video broadcasts of all games can be found at SMSUmustangs.com.

    BEMIDJI STATE SERIES HISTORY
• SMSU and BSU will meet for the 80th time with SMSU leading 44-35 in a series that began in 1977-78.
• SMSU have won four of the previous five meetings, including last season's lone meeting, 69-64, in Bemidji.
• SMSU is 25-13 all-time in games played in Marshall and has won eight of the last nine, but BSU won the last game in Marshall, 70-67, on Jan. 22, 2022.
•SMSU head coach Tom Webb is 4-2 all-time versus BSU.
•Game-by-game results of the series is located on page 16.

    ST. CLOUD STATE SERIES HISTORY
• SMSU and SCSU will meet for the 60th time with the Huskies leading 42-17 in a series that started in 1969-70.
• The teams split two games last season with SCSU winning in overtime in Marshall, before SMSU snapped a 15-game losing streak in the series with a 76-68 win in the NSIC Tournament quarterfinals.  
• The Mustangs are 9-18 all-time at home in the series and last defeated the Huskies in Marshall on Jan. 25, 2010.
• SMSU head coach Tom Webb is 1-6 all-time versus SCSU.
• Game-by-game results of the series is located on page 17.

    SMSU HEAD COACH TOM WEBB
• Tom Webb is in his eighth season as head coach with an 84-108 record, including 62-87 in NSIC play.
• Webb is 175-231 overall in his 15th 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.).
• In 2022-23, SMSU advanced to the NSIC semifinals for the fourth time in program history and first time since 2003.
• The team finished with 19 victories a season ago, tying for fifth most in program history, and highest total since 2004-05.
• SMSU also recorded a top three finish in the NSIC South last season, best in the division era, while earning a top four finish in the NSIC regular season standings for the first time since 2004-05.
• Webb's complete bio is found on page 16.

    MUSTANG TIP-OFF TIDBITS
• SMSU's also had a five-game winning streak last season from Nov. 15-Dec. 1. The program's last six-game winning streak occurred during the 2009-10 season. If SMSU wins both games this weekend, it would be the program's first seven-game win streak since winning the first seven games of the 2004-05 campaign.
• SMSU opened the new year on Tuesday with a 91-35 victory over Division III Martin Luther.  SMSU had four players score in double figures with Audrey Swanson and Bri Stoltzman leading the way with 16 points apiece. Swanson's 16 points grant a career-high for the sophomore as she added five rebounds and four assists. Stoltzman went 6 of 9 from the field while also capturing five rebounds and four assists. Elizabeth Wagner also had a career night, posting 13 points while blocking four shots and grabbing six rebounds. Sam Wall scored 11 points on 4 of 5 shooting with three 3-pointers on three attempts.
• The Mustangs finished the game shooting 55 percent (34 of 62) from the field including a season-high 56 percent from 3-point range (14 of 25).
• SMSU has shot 50 percent or higher four times this season, including three of its last four games.
• SMSU dished out a season-high 22 assists in the victory over Martin Luther.
• Wall enters the weekend having scored 964 points in 111 career games and ranks third in team history with 191 3-pointers.
• Stoltzman ranks third in team history in field goal pct. (52.1, 275 of 528).
 
    MUSTANGS BY THE NUMBERS
• For the season, SMSU has two players averaging double figures in scoring, and five averaging over eight points per game. Junior Bri Stoltzman leads the way at 18.9 ppg while leading the team in both rebounding at 6.9 per game and assists with 35.
• Senior Sam Wall is averaging 11.6 ppg and shooting 88 percent from the foul line. She leads the team with 28 3-pointers.
• Senior Madison Gehloff is scoring 9.5 ppg and is second on the team with 29 free throws made.
• Junior Peyton Blandin ranks second on the team with 21 3-pointers and is averaging 8.4 ppg with senior Hannah Parsley averaging 8.1 ppg. Junior Kenzie Jones is tied for third on the team with 19 3-pointers and is scoring 7.8 ppg.
• SMSU is shooting 42 percent from the field, 34 percent from 3-point range, 76 percent from the free throw line and is plus-0.9 in rebound margin. The Mustangs are averaging 74 points per game, while opponents are averaging 69 ppg.

    SMSU IN THE NCAA STATS   
• In the latest Division II national statistics (Jan. 2), SMSU ranks sixth in 3-pointers per game (9.0), 12th in 3-point field goals attempts (26.2), 44th in scoring offense (73.8), 46th in free throw pct. (75.5) and 64th in turnovers per game (14.8).
• Bri Stoltzman ranks ninth in field goals (89), 20th scoring (18.9) and 61st in free throws made (49).
• Sam Wall ranks 39th in 3-point field goals made (28) and 41st in 3-point field goal attempts (79).
• SMSU in the latest NCAA stats can be found on page 15.

    STONE COLD STOLTZMAN
• Bri Stoltzman recorded a career-high 36 points on 13 of 23 shooting in a loss to Northwest Missouri State on Nov. 10. She recorded her second 30-point game of her career with 31 points on 9 of 18 shooting in the win over No. 19 Minnesota Duluth on Dec. 9.
• Stoltzman is leading the team in scoring, rebounding, assists, steals and free throws made.

    KEEP THE WALL ROLLING
• Sam Wall set the program record for 3-pointers made in a single-season last season with 77.
• Wall ranks third all-time in 3-pointers made in program history with 191 in 111 games. She is nine away from moving into second place all-time and passing Sadie Stelter (2017-22).
• She also ranks fifth in free throw percentage at .822 (143 of 174) and is fifth in 3-point field goal percentage at .382 (191 of 600).

    PEYTON BLANDIN NOTES
• Has started every game and is averaging 8.4 ppg, 3.5 rpg, and is second on the team in 3-pointers with 21.
• Scored a career-high 17 points vs. Northwest Missouri State (11/10/23).

    KENNADI BUCHHOLZ NOTES
• Has played in eight games and is averaging 2.6 ppg and 2.3 rpg.
• Scored season-high six points vs. Bethany (11/27/23) and Martin Luther (1/2/24).
• Season-high nine rebounds vs. Martin Luther (1/2/24).
• Recorded her first double-double, scoring 11 points and grabbing 13 rebounds last season vs. Crown College (11/15/22).

    BRYNN BUSSE NOTES
• Has played in 10 games and is averaging 1.6 ppg.
• Scored seven points on three field goals vs. Martin Luther (1/2/24).

    ZOIE CENTERS NOTES
• Has played in five games and scored a season-high three points vs. Sioux Falls (12/14/23).
• Tallied seven points, nine rebounds, and five assists in 18 games last season.

    MADISON GEHLOFF NOTES
• Has started all 13 games and is averaging 9.5 ppg and 4.7 rpg.
• Scored season-high 18 points on 7 of 14 shooting at Winona State (12/1/23).  
• Last season, tied a career-high with 20 points against Northwest Missouri State (11/11/22).
• Recorded a career-high 13 rebounds and five assists against Sioux Falls (11/22/22).

    KENZIE JONES NOTES
• Has played in every game with eight starts and is averaging 7.8 ppg and 2.8 rpg and is tied for third on the team in 3-pointers with 19.
• Scored a career-high 14 points with four 3-pointers at Michigan Tech (11/16/23).

    HANNAH PARSLEY NOTES
• Has played in 12 games with five starts and is averaging 8.1 ppg and 4.9 rpg. Missed one game with an injury.
• Scored season-high 15 points at Wayne State (11/21/23).
• Career-high five steals vs. Nebraska-Kearney (11/11/23).
• Scored career-high 19 points vs. Sioux Falls (11/22/22).
• Recorded a career-high nine rebounds vs. MSU Moorhead (1/13/23).

    BRI STOLTZMAN NOTES
• Has started all 13 games and is averaging 18.9 ppg, 6.9 rpg, and has dished out a team-high 35 assists.
• Scored a career-high 36 points on 13 of 23 shooting and tied a career-high five assists vs. Northwest Missouri State (11/10/23).
• Scored 31 points with nine field goals vs. Minnesota Duluth (12/9/23).
• Named All-NSIC second team in 2022-23.

    AUDREY SWANSON NOTES
• Has played in nine games and is averaging 3.0 ppg
• Scored career-high 17 points with four 3-pointers and grabbed five rebounds vs. Martin Luther (1/2/24).

    MADDIE THORFINNSON NOTES
• Has played in all 13 games and has scored nine points, grabbed 14 rebound rebounds, and four blocks.
• Scored season-high six points vs. Nebraska-Kearney (11/11/23).
• Scored career-high 10 points vs. Augustana (12/1/22) last season.

    CHRISTINA WAGNER NOTES
• Has played in six games and has scored four points.
• Scored four points and recorded five rebounds with two steals vs. Bethany (11/27/23).

    ELIZABETH WAGNER NOTES
• Has played in 12 games and is averaging 4.0 ppg and 3.3 rpg.
• Scored a career-high 13 points and pulled down six rebounds vs. Martin Luther (1/2/24).

    SAM WALL NOTES
• Has started every game and is averaging 11.6 ppg and leads the team with 28 3-pointers.  
• Ranks third in team history with 191 3-pointers.
• Season-high 18 points at Wayne State (11/21/23).
• Scored a career-high 25 points on seven field goals and four 3-pointers last season at Minnesota State (12/17/22).
• Made a school single-season record 77 3-pointers last season.

    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 5-2 at home this season after finishing 11-4 at home in 2022-23 and 10-3 in 2021-22.
• The Mustangs are 2-4 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    5-2    45.5    40.3    74.8    39.0    82.9    12.9    
Away    2-4    37.6    27.1    76.5    34.3    63.3    17.2    

    SMSU ALL-TIME IN THE NSIC
• The 2023-24 campaign marks the 45th season SMSU has competed in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.
• SMSU has an all-time record of 284-421 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 1,370 games compiling an all-time record of 658-712.
• 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.

    BEMIDJI STATE NOTES  
• 2023-24 Record: 3-7 overall, 0-6 NSIC
• Head Coach: Chelsea Stoltenberg, 9th season, 68-147
• BSU closed the pre-holiday schedule with a 67-57 win over Valley City State on Dec. 19.  
• Alyssa Hill leads the team in scoring at 15.2 ppg with a team-high 61 field goals.
• Sam Pogatchnik is scoring 8.7 ppg ranking second on the club.
• Amme Sheforgen is scoring 7.0 ppg and leads the team with 5.8 rpg.
• BSU is shooting 39 percent from the field, 27 percent from 3-point range, 66 percent from the free throw line and is minus-5.8 in rebound margin. The Beavers are averaging 61 points per game, while opponents are averaging 65 ppg.

    ST. CLOUD STATE NOTES  
• 2023-24 Record: 7-3 overall, 4-2 NSIC
• Head Coach: Lori Fish, 16th season, 251-166 (SCSU) ; 20th season overall, 313-219
• SCSU, which closed the pre-holiday schedule with wins over UMary and Bemidji State, will play at Sioux Falls on Jan. 5 before facing SMSU.
• Jada Eggebrecht is scoring 12.8 ppg with 10 3-pointers to pace the Huskies.
• Jasmine Litt ranks second in scoring at 9.9 ppg and has made a team high 14 3-pointers.
• SCSU is shooting 41 percent from the field, 34 percent from 3-point range, 68 percent from the free throw line and is plus-0.8 in rebound margin.
• The Huskies are averaging 66 points per game, while opponents are averaging 57 ppg.

    SMSU ALL-TIME INSIDE THE R/A FACILITY
•The 2023-24 season marks the 28th year the R/A Facility has served as the home arena for SMSU women's basketball.
•SMSU has an all-time record of 186-167 (.526) in 353 games with 13 winning seasons.
SMSU in the R/A Facility
    Year    Overall    NSIC    Non
    1996-97    6-5     2-3     4-2
     1997-98    5-6     3-3    2-3
     1998-99     11-2    6-0     5-2
    1999-00    11-3     7-2    4-1
     2000-01     12-0     9-0    3-0
    2001-02     11-2    8-1     3-1
    2002-03     11-3     7-2    4-1
    2003-04     3-7     2-6     1-1
    2004-05      10-4     5-2     5-2
    2005-06     5-9     3-4     2-5    
    2006-07     5-8     3-6    2-2
     2007-08     5-9     2-7     3-2    
    2008-09     9-6     4-6     5-0    
    2009-10     10-5    6-4     4-1
    2010-11     6-7     5-6     1-1    
     2011-12    3-9     3-8     0-1    
     2012-13     2-10    1-10     1-0
    2013-14    3-9    2-9    1-0    
    2014-15     3-11    3-8    0-3
     2015-16    3-12    2-9     1-3
     2016-17    0-11     0-11     0-0
     2017-18    4-8     3-8     1-0
    2018-19    9-5    6-5    3-0
    2019-20    7-5    6-5    1-0    
    2020-21    6-2    4-2    2-0
    2021-22    10-3    8-2    2-1
    2022-23    11-4    8-4    3-0
    2023-24    5-2    3-0    2-2    
    Totals:     186-167    121-133    65-34