THE LOOK AHEAD
• The Southwest Minnesota State University women's basketball team returns to conference play this weekend hosting Minnesota Duluth (2-4, 0-1 NSIC) and Concordia-St. Paul (7-0, 1-0 NSIC).
• SMSU begins the weekend versus the Bulldogs on Friday, with tip-off set for 5:30 p.m.
• The Mustangs round out their weekend on Saturday with a 3:30 p.m. tip-off against the Golden Bears
• A preview for UMD and CSP can be found on page 3. 

GAME COVERAGE 
• All regular season 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

SERIES HISTORY
• Friday will be the 82nd meeting between UMD and SMSU, with the Bulldogs holding a 62-19 advantage in a series that began in 1976.
• The teams met twice a season ago, splitting the season series 1-1.
• SMSU broke a seven-game losing streak to the Bulldogs last season with an 86-80 win.
• SMSU is 9-27 all-time at home versus UMD.
• Saturday will be the 67th meeting between CSP and SMSU, with the Golden Bears leading 45-21 in a series that started in 1974.
• SMSU took both games in the season series last year, winning 64-62 at home before earning a 76-75 victory on the road.
• The Mustangs snapped a 17-game skid to CSP in 2021 and have since posted a 5-5 mark in the previous 10 meetings.
• SMSU is 11-19 all-time at home versus CSP.

SMSU HEAD COACH TOM WEBB
• Tom Webb is in his ninth season as head coach at SMSU with a 103-114 record, including 73-92 in NSIC play. 
• Webb is 194-237 overall in his 16th 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 2023-24, SMSU advanced to the NSIC semifinals for the fifth time in program history and the second consecutive season since 2003. 
• The team finished with 19 victories a season ago, tying for fifth most in program history and the highest total since 2004-05, tying the 2022-23 team. 
• SMSU also recorded a top-five finish in the NSIC last season posting a 15-7 league mark, the most conference wins since going 17-1 in NSIC play in the 2000-01 season.
• Webb's complete bio is found on page 16.

MUSTANG TIP-OFF TIDBITS
• In the current NSIC stats, SMSU leads the league in scoring offense (88.1), scoring margin (24.4), and field goal pct. (50.7), while ranking second in rebounding (43.3), third in rebounding margin (8.3), 3-point field goal pct. (37.4), and assists per game (16.00), and sixth in blocked shots per game (4.29).
• Stoltzman ranks fourth in the league in scoring (18.0) and first in field goal pct. (58.6), while Blandin ranks second in free throw pct. (91.3) fifth in field goal pct. (50.6), and eighth in scoring (16.3). Swanson ranks seventh in rebounding (7.9) and second in field goal pct. (55.6). Nielsen ranks third in the conference in blocks per game (2.3).
• SMSU shot a season-high 57 percent versus Bethany Lutheran and has shot 50 percent or higher four times this season.
• SMSU dished out a season-high 24 assists in the victory over Bethany Lutheran and has recorded 20 assists or more twice this season.

MUSTANGS BY THE NUMBERS
• On the season, SMSU has three players averaging double figures in scoring, and five averaging over eight points per game. Bri Stoltzman leads the way at 18.0 ppg while leading the team in field goals made, assists, and steals.
• Peyton Blandin ranks second averaging 16.3 ppg and scored a career-high 27 points versus Wayne State on Nov. 26.
• Audrey Swanson ranks third on the team averaging 15.7 ppg and leads the team in rebounding with 7.9 rpg. She has also recorded seven steals and a pair of double-doubles.
• True freshman Nicole Maenke is fourth on SMSU with 9.1 ppg and leads the Mustangs with 12 3-pointers.
• Natalie Nielsen averages 8.6 ppg, 6.3 rpg and leads the SMSU defense with 2.3 bpg.
• SMSU is shooting 51 percent from the field, 37 percent from 3-point range, 74 percent from the free throw line, and is plus-8.3 in rebound margin. The Mustangs average 88 points per game.

SMSU IN THE NCAA STATS 
• In the latest Division II national statistics (Dec. 1), SMSU ranks second in field goal pct. (50.7), No. 4 in scoring offense (88.1), No. 13 in scoring margin (24.4), and No. 23 in 3-point field goal pct. (37.4).
• Bri Stoltzman ranks 44th in scoring (18.0) and 26th in field goal pct. (58.6), while Natalie Nielsen ranks 16th in blocks per game (2.29) and 10th in total blocks (16).

LAST TIME OUT 
• SMSU improved to 7-0 with a 111-58 non-conference victory over Division III Bethany Lutheran College on Saturday inside the R/A Facility.
• The 7-0 start is SMSU's first since the 2004-05 season and is one shy of the school mark of eight straight victories to begin a season set by the 1974-75 team.
• SMSU shot a season-high 57 percent (43 of 75) from the field with 11 3-pointers in reaching 100-plus points for the second time this season.
• SMSU had six players reach double figures in scoring with Peyton Blandin pouring in a team-high 17 points on 7 of 10 shooting with a pair of 3-pointers. Natalie Nielsen was a perfect 6 of 6 from the field in scoring a career-high 16 points, while Audrey Swanson also added 16 points while making 7 of 9 field goals. Natalie Maenke (11), Kennadi Buchholz (10) and Maddie Thorfinnson (10) also reached double figures in scoring. 

PEYTON BLANDIN NOTES
• Has started every game and is averaging 16.3 ppg and 3.4 rpg.
• Ranks second on the team with 21 made free throws and 11 3-pointers.
• Scored a career-high 27 points on 12 of 20 shooting with five rebounds vs. Wayne State on Nov. 26.

KENNADI BUCHHOLZ NOTES
• Has played in four games and is averaging 4.3 ppg and 3.3 rpg.
• Recorded 10 points on 5 of 7 shooting with six rebounds and an assist vs. Bethany Lutheran on Nov. 30.
• 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 six games and is averaging 4.0 ppg and 2.2 rpg.
• Scored a season-high nine points on three field goals vs. Augsburg on Nov. 16.

ZOIE CENTERS NOTES
• Has played in six games adding 11 points, five rebounds, and seven assists.
• Tallied 19 points, eight rebounds, and six assists last season.

BRYLEE IVERSON NOTES
• Has played in six games and is averaging 2.7 ppg and 1.7 rpg.
• Scored a season-high seven points with a pair of 3-pointers and grabbed four rebounds vs. Augsburg on Nov. 16.

KENZIE JONES NOTES 
• Has played in every game with one start and is averaging 7.0 ppg, 3.9 rpg, and 2.4 apg.
• Scored a career-high 15 points with four 3-pointers vs. Augsburg on Nov. 16.

NICOLE MAENKE NOTES
• Has played in every game and is averaging 9.1 ppg and 2.3 rpg as a true freshman.
• Leads SMSU with 12 3-pointers.
• Scored a career-high 22 points on 6-of-7 shooting versus Central Oklahoma on Nov. 9.

ALLISON MILBRANDT NOTES
• Has played in four games adding 10 points, a pair of assists, and a rebound.
• Scored a season-high six points vs. Bethany Lutheran on Nov. 30.

NATALIE NIELSEN NOTES 
• Has started every game and is averaging 8.6 ppg, 6.3 rpg, and 2.3 bpg.
• Ranks third in the NSIC in blocks per game.
• Scored a career-high 16 points on 100 percent shooting with four rebounds and two blocks vs. Bethany Lutheran on Nov. 30.

BRI STOLTZMAN NOTES 
• Has played in six games with six starts, missing one game due to injury.
• Leads SMSU averaging 18.0 ppg and 1.5 steals per game. 
• Also averages 6.5 rpg and 2.4 apg.
• Named NSIC Player of the Week on Nov. 25
• Recorded a season-high 28 points on 10-of-13 shooting versus Washburn (Kan.) on Nov. 8.
• 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).

AUDREY SWANSON NOTES
• Has started every game and is averaging 15.7 ppg , 7.9 rpg, and 2.0 apg.
• Scored a career-high 23 points with eight rebounds vs. Chadron State (Neb.) on Nov. 20.
• Has secured two double-doubles this season.
• Recorded her first double-double, scoring 12 points and grabbing a career-high 16 rebounds on Nov. 9 versus Central Oklahoma.

MADDIE THORFINNSON NOTES
• Has started every game and is averaging 4.4 ppg and 3.3 rpg.
• Tied a career-high 10 points twice this season.

CHRISTINA WAGNER NOTES 
• Has played in three games.
• Added 10 points, 15 rebounds, and four blocks in limited playing time last season.

ELIZABETH WAGNER NOTES 
• Has not played this season.
• Averaged 3.6 ppg and 4.0 rpg with a team-high 15 blocks last season.
• Pulled down career-high eight rebounds three times this season.
• Scored a career-high 13 points vs. Martin Luther (1/2/24).

WORKING OVERTIME 
• SMSU is 13-30 all-time in overtime games and did not play one last season. SMSU was 1-1 in 2022-23 defeating MSU Moorhead 82-75, and suffering a loss to St. Cloud State 70-59. 
• SMSU is 4-4 all-time in double OT games.

HOME AND AWAY     
• SMSU is 2-0 at home this season after finishing 11-5 at home in 2023-24 and 11-4 in 2022-23.
• The Mustangs are 2-0 in road games this season after recording a 7-6 mark in road games in 2023-24.
• SMSU is 2-0 in neutral site games this season after finishing 1-1 in neutral site contests in 2023-24.
• The following is a final statistical comparison of the Mustang team averages for home and away games in 2024-25:
    W-L    FG%    3-FG%    FT%    REB    PTS    TO
Home    3-0    52.2    37.3    77.9    43.7    95.7    9.0     
Away    2-0    49.5    35.5    69.2    44.5    87.5    13.5
Neutral    2-0    48.7    31.0    73.5    41.5    77.5    21.0

SMSU ALL-TIME IN THE NSIC 
• The 2024-25 campaign marks the 46th season SMSU has competed in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.
• SMSU has an all-time record of 295-426 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
• SMSU is in its 56th season of women's basketball in 2024-25.
• SMSU has played 1,395 games compiling an all-time record of 677-718.
• SMSU has recorded 31 winning seasons, including the last five seasons. The 2019-20 squad that finished 16-12 was the program's first winning season since 2009-10.

MINNESOTA DULUTH NOTES  
• 2024-25 Record: 2-4 overall, 0-1 NSIC
• Head Coach: Mandy Pearson, 10th season, 177-82
• Minnesota Duluth is 2-4 on the year and last played on Nov. 26 suffering an 82-64 loss to Minnesota State in its NSIC opener.
• Myra Moorjani leads the Bulldogs offense averaging 16.7 ppg and a team-high 29 free throws. Moorjani also leads UMD with 4.2 apg.
• Claire Bjorge ranks second in scoring at 12.8 ppg and leads the team with 15 3-pointers and eight steals.
• Lexi Karlen ranks third with 10.8 ppg and ranks second defensively with 5.2 rpg.
• UMD is shooting 43 percent from the field, 36 percent from 3-point range, and 74 percent from the free throw line and is minus-4.3 in rebound margin. The Bulldogs average 73 points per game with a minus-3.7 scoring margin.

CONCORDIA-ST. PAUL NOTES  
• 2024-25 Record: 7-0 overall, 1-0 NSIC
• Head Coach: Amanda Johnson, 10th season, 148-95
• Concordia-St. Paul is the only other undefeated team in the NSIC and is currently ranked No. 21 in the most recent WBCA Coaches' Poll, while receiving votes in the D2 CSC media poll.
• The Golden Bears last played on Nov. 30 earning a narrow 63-60 non-conference victory over Michigan Tech.
• Lydia Haack leads the Golden Bears offense averaging 17.4 ppg and adds a team-high 4.9 apg.
• Lindsey Becher, the reigning NSIC Player of the Week, ranks second in scoring at 13.3 ppg and adds a team-high 2.6 blocks per game.
• Leah Dengerud ranks third with 11.0 ppg and ranks first with 13 3-pointers and 13 steals.
• CSP is shooting 42 percent from the field, 30 percent from 3-point range, and 75 percent from the free throw line and is the NSIC leader at plus-9.7 in rebound margin. The Golden Bears average 75 points per game with a plus-12.7 scoring margin.