THE LOOK AHEAD

The No. 18 ranked Southwest Minnesota State University women's basketball team continues non-conference play away from home in the Central Region Challenge this weekend.

The Mustangs open the challenge against Central Oklahoma at 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 14, before tipping off Saturday, Nov. 15 against Washburn (Kan.) at 1 p.m. All games in the challenge are being played at the Hamilton Field House in Edmond, Okla., on the campus of the University of Central Oklahoma.

GAME COVERAGE 

Both games can be viewed via pay-per-view at SMSUmustangs.com/watchnow through the MIAA Network.

Most 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

This will be the second ever meeting between SMSU and Central Oklahoma, and the third meeting between SMSU and Washburn.

The lone meeting between the Mustangs and the Bronchos (UCO) took place last season, with the Mustangs winning 73-62.

The Mustangs are 1-1 all time against the Ichabods with SMSU winning last year's matchup 82-72.

SMSU is 9-24 all time against teams from the MIAA, with Tom Webb holding a record of 5-11 at SMSU against MIAA teams.

2025-26 SEASON OUTLOOK

SMSU was picked to finish fourth overall and fifth in the NSIC South Division in the annual 16-team Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll

SMSU is coming off a 28-5 season and a second-place finish in the NSIC with a 19-3 league mark. SMSU advanced to the NCAA tournament for the third team in team history and first since 2002. The Mustangs won their first two NCAA tournament games before losing in the region championship game to Pittsburg State (Kan.).

Forward Audrey Swanson is one of four seniors on the team and was named a 'Player to Watch' in the NSIC this season. Swanson was named to the All-NSIC first team last season after starting all 33 games and averaging 16.2 points per game. Swanson set a single-season program record with 317 rebounds, averaging 9.6 rebounds per game. She recorded 17 double-doubles, ranking seventh in Division II, and scored in double figures 30 times with six 20-point games.

Senior forward Maddie Thorfinnson appeared in all 33 games with 32 starts averaging 2.9 ppg and 2.9 rpg. Senior center Kennadi Buchholz appeared in 15 games last season averaging 2.4 ppg and 2.2 rpg, while senior guard Zoie Centers returns after appearing in 18 games a season ago.

Junior forward Natalie Nielsen started all 33 games last season, scoring 10.5 ppg game and averaging 7.3 rpg, the second most on the team. Nielsen, who led the squad with 48 blocked shots, set a team single-season record shooting 59 percent from the field and set a team single-season record with 110 offensive rebounds.

Junior guard Brynn Busse played in 32 games last season and averaged 2.1 ppg and 1.6 rpg, while sophomores Brylee Iverson and Allison Milbrandt both gained valuable experience, playing in 18 games and 17 games respectively. Sophomore guard Nicole Maenke played in all 33 games last season and averaged 6.2 ppg and 1.7 rpg. She ranked second on the team with 45 3-pointers including setting a program single-game record for 3-point field goal percentage making all six shots at Winona State. Sophomore Elizabeth Wagner returns after sitting out last season due to injury, while her sister Christina Wagner is also back after missing nearly all last season with an injury.

The 2025-26 team includes three newcomers, including sophomore forward Kylan Gerads, a transfer from St. Cloud State, who averaged 8.0 ppg and 5.3 rpg in 29 games with the Huskies. The Mustangs also added two freshman guards, Logan Smidt from Brookings, S.D., and Allie Haabala from Alexandria, Minn.

SMSU HEAD COACH TOM WEBB

Tom Webb is in his 10th season as head coach at SMSU with a 125-120 record, including 91-95 in NSIC play. 

Webb is 216-243 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 2024-25, SMSU advanced to the NSIC championship, and the NCAA Central Region Championship, the first time for Coach Webb at SMSU.

The team finished with 28 victories a season ago, the most in a single season in program history.

SMSU also recorded a second place finish in the NSIC last season posting a 19-3 league mark, the programs most conference wins in a season.

Webb's complete bio is found on page 15.

MUSTANGS RANKED 18th IN PRESEASON POLL

In the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) annual preseason poll, the Mustangs were ranked 18th.

The Mustangs are one of three NSIC schools in the preseason top 25, with Concordia-St. Paul leading the conference at No. 11, and Minnesota State at No. 15.

Last season the Mustangs finished a season best No. 15 in the final poll of 2024-25 and was ranked in the WBCA poll 12 times during the season.

MUSTANG TIP-OFF TIDBITS

In the final 2024-25 NSIC stats (league games only), SMSU led the NSIC in field-goal pct. (46.7), free throw pct. (78.9), and rebounds (42.0 rpg), finished second in scoring offense (82.3 ppg), scoring margin (15.3), and three-point field-goal pct. (35.3)

Audrey Swanson was eighth in scoring averaging 16.2 ppg, first in rebounds grabbing 9.6 boards per game, and third in total field goal percentage (49.8). 

SMSU shot 50 percent or higher eight times last season, and hit a season-high 57 percent against Bethany Lutheran.

SMSU dished out a season-high 23 assists twice last season and recorded 20 or more assists five times.

MUSTANGS BY THE NUMBERS

• Last season, SMSU had four players averaging double figures in scoring. Audrey Swanson was second with 16.2 ppg while leading the team in rebounds with 317 total, a school season record, and averaging 9.6 boards a game. 

• Junior Natalie Nielsen averaged 10.5 points per game, was second in rebounding with 240 total boards and 7.3 per game, and had 48 blocks, leading the team.

• Sophomore Nicole Maenke averaged 6.2 ppg and shot 43.7% from behind the three-point line.

• SMSU finished the year shooting above 46 percent from the field, 35 percent from 3-point range, 79 percent from the free throw line and is plus-6.9 in rebound margin. The Mustangs averaged 82 points per game.

SMSU IN THE NCAA STATS 

In the final 2024-25 Division II national statistics, SMSU ranked fourth in both field goal percentage (46.7) and scoring offense (82.3), ninth in free throw percentage (78.9), No. 12 in three point percentage (35.3),  No. 13 in scoring margin (15.3) and No. 15 in rebounds per game (41.9).

Audrey Swanson was seventh in Divison II with 17 double doubles, and was in the top 50 in rebounds per game (9.6), total rebounds (317), and field goal percentage (49.7).

Natalie Nielsen was in the top 50 in total blocks (48).

CENTRAL OKLAHOMA NOTES  

• 2024-25 Record: 8-20 overall, 7-12 MIAA

• Head Coach: Hannah Moeller, 1st season, 0-0

• Senior forward Talia Pogi returns for the Bronchos after starting 27 of 28 games last season, averaging 10.3 ppg, 2.8 rpg, and 1.9 apg.

• The Bronchos will hope to find more production from sophomore guard Peyton Walker who started 25 of 28 games for Central Oklahoma last season, shooting 35.4 percent from 3-point range, and averaging 2.2 apg.

• UCO was picked to finish 12th in the MIAA Preseason Coaches and Media polls.

• The Bronchos have missed the last two MIAA Tournaments after making the previous 10.

WASHBURN NOTES  

• 2024-25 Record: 18-13 overall, 11-8 MIAA

• Head Coach: Lora Westling, 4th season, 42-46

• Senior guard Payton Sterk, the MIAA-Co Newcomer of the Year and All-MIAA Second Team member returns after a season averaging 15.7 ppg, 3.4 rpg and 2.3 apg. Sterk shot 38 percent (62-163) on 3-pointers and 84.6 percent from the charity stripe.

• The Ichabods also return senior center Yiibari Nwidadah, who was on the MIAA All-Defensive Team last season, after averaging 16.8 ppg on 62.6 percent field goal shooting. Nwidadah also averaged 8 rpg and added 30 blocks and 20 steals.

• Washburn was picked to finish third in the MIAA Preseason Media Poll with three first place votes, and despite having more first place votes in the Coaches Poll than first place Fort Hays State, was picked to finish second.

• The Ichabods reached the MIAA Tournament semifinal, falling to Pittsburg State.