THE LOOK AHEAD
The Southwest Minnesota State University women's basketball team (2-3, 0-1 NSIC) make its home debut on Sunday against Northern State University (3-1, 0-0 NSIC) in a non-conference match up at 1 p.m. inside the R/A Facility in Marshall.
NSU will host Jamestown in its NSIC opener on Wednesday and then will play a non-conference game at Sioux Falls on Saturday before taking on SMSU.  
SMSU opened NSIC play on Tuesday night suffering a 92-80 loss at the University of Sioux Falls. SMSU led 60-55 with four minutes left in the third quarter before USF rallied to earn the victory. 

    GAME COVERAGE
Sunday's game will be broadcast on 94.7 FM KKCK with Anthony Rohlik providing play-by-play.
Live stats, radio and video broadcasts of all games can be found at SMSUmustangs.com.

    SERIES HISTORY
Sunday will mark the 75th meeting between SMSU and Northern State with the Wolves holding a 54-20 advantage.
NSU leads 22-14 all-time in games played in Marshall.
The series is tied 3-3 in the last six meetings.
NSU holds a 15-6 advantage since the 2009-10 season. 
SMSU head coach Tom Webb is 4-6 all-time versus NSU.

    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.).

    SMSU HEAD COACH TOM WEBB
Tom Webb is in his 10th season as head coach at SMSU with a 126-122 record, including 91-96 in NSIC play. 
Webb is 217-245 overall in his 18th 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 17.

    2025-26 MUSTANGS BY THE NUMBERS
SMSU has four players averaging double figures in scoring this season, with Audrey Swanson leading the team averaging 17 ppg with three 20-plus scoring games this season. 
Nicole Maenke ranks second in scoring at 16.2 ppg and has made a team-high 15 3-pointers. 
Natalie Nielsen leads the team averaging 10 rpg and is averaging 10 ppg. She missed the USF game with an injury. 
Kylan Gerads is scoring 12.8 ppg and is second with 8.4 rpg.
The Mustangs are shooting 38 percent from the field, 32 percent from 3-point shots, 67 percent from the free throw line and are plus-6.0 in the rebound margin. SMSU is averaging 67 ppg while opponents are averaging 68 ppg.

      MAENKE TIES TEAM SINGLE-GAME RECORD
Nicole Maenke tied a school single-game record in SMSU's NSIC opening loss at Sioux Falls connecting on seven 3-pointers. 
She is the fourth player to tie the record joining Jenna Borchers (twice, in 2021 and 2023), Sam Wall (2024) and Kelly Crimi (2006). 

      MUSTANG TIP-OFF TIDBITS
SMSU scored a season-high 80 points in the loss to Sioux Falls on Tuesday.
Audrey Swanson scored a career-high 29 points on 13 of 24 shooting with two 3-pointers in Tuesday's loss at Sioux Falls.
Nicole Maenke poured in a career-high 28 points with seven 3-pointers in the loss to Sioux Falls on Tuesday. 
SMSU's leading rebounder Natalie Nielsen missed Tuesday's game due to injury.
Brynn Busse made her first career start on Tuesday versus Sioux Falls. 
SMSU opened the season ranked No. 18 in the preseason WBCA Top 25. 
SMSU, which finished a season best No. 15 in the final 2024-25 poll, was ranked in the WBCA Top 25 poll 12 times last season. 

    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 Division 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).
• SMSU in the latest 2025-26 NCAA stats can be found on pages 19-20. 

    KENNADI BUCHHOLZ NOTES
Appeared in three games this season totaling five minutes.
Recorded 10 points and six rebounds against Bethany Lutheran last season (11/30/24). 

    BRYNN BUSSE NOTES
Appeared in all five games with one start averaging 4.8 ppg and 2.8 rpg.
Scored 10 points and grabbed seven rebounds vs. Washburn (11/15/25).
Had three steals at Central Oklahoma (11/14/25).

    ZOIE CENTERS NOTES
Has not appeared this season due to injury.
Scored six points against Augustana last season (1/30/25).

    KYLAN GERADS NOTES
Started in all five games averaging 12.8 ppg and 8.4 rpg.
Scored a season-high 20 points, making four 3-pointers against Tampa (11/8/25).
Recorded a career-high 14 rebounds vs. Washburn (11/15/25).
Played last season at St. Cloud State averaging 8.0 ppg and 5.3 rpg. 

    ALLIE HAABALA NOTES
Has appeared in all five games averaging 4.4 ppg. 
Scored season-high nine points at Sioux Falls (11/25/25).
Seven points and three assists vs. Central Oklahoma (11/14/25).
Three rebounds vs. Alabama-Huntsville (11/7/25).

    BRYLEE IVERSON NOTES
Has appeared in all five games.. 
Recording three rebounds and one block against Washburn (11/15/25).
 
    NICOLE MAENKE NOTES
Started all five games averaging 16.2 ppg.
Scored career-high 28 points with a school record tying seven 3-pointers at Sioux Falls 911/25/25).
Leads team with 15 3-pointers. 
Scored 16 or more points in four games.
Six rebounds at Sioux Falls (11/25/25).

    ALLISON MILBRANDT NOTES
Has played in two games this season.
Scored six points against Bethany Lutheran last season (11/30/24).

    NATALIE NIELSEN NOTES 
Started first four games but missed the Sioux Falls game with injury. 
Shooting 41.9 percent (13-31 from the field), averaging 10 ppg and 10 rpg.
Scored season-high 13 points and recorded 13 rebounds vs. Alabama-Huntsville and Central Oklahoma. 
Made two game winning free throws with 0.1 seconds remaining against Tampa (11/8/25).

    LOGAN SMIDT NOTES
Appeared against Central Oklahoma (11/14/25).
Grabbed one rebound in the game.

    AUDREY SWANSON NOTES
Started in all five games averaging a team-high 17 ppg.
Scored a career-high 29 points vs. Sioux Falls (11/25/25).
Ranks third on the team with 7.6 rpg. 
Season-high 12 rebounds vs. Sioux Falls (11/25/25).
Three 20-point games this season.

    MADDIE THORFINNSON NOTES
Started in all five games and averaging 3.4 ppg and 3.8 rpg.
Scored eight points vs. Sioux Falls (11/25/25).
Twice has grabbed five rebounds this season.
Dished out four assists against Tampa (11/8/25).

    CHRISTINA WAGNER NOTES 
Played in four games this season.
Two rebounds vs. Central Oklahoma (11/14/25)

    ELIZABETH WAGNER NOTES 
Has appeared in three games this season.
Three rebounds, one block, and one steal against Central Oklahoma (11/14/25).

    WORKING OVERTIME 
• SMSU is 13-30 all-time in overtime games and has not play one in the last two seasons. 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 0-0 at home this season after finishing 12-1 at home last season and 11-5 at home in 2024-25
• The Mustangs are 1-1 in road games this season after recording an 11-3 mark in road games in 2024-25.
SMSU is 1-2 in neutral site games this season.
• The following is a statistical comparison of the Mustang team averages for home, away, and neutral games in 2025-26:
    W-L    FG%    3-FG%    FT%    REB    PTS    TO
Home    0-0    0.0    0.0    0.0    0.0    0.0    0.0 
Away    1-1    37.3    34.9    72.0    44.5    73.0    16.0     
Neutral    1-2    38.2    28.8    63.6    40.7    62.5    13.7     

    SMSU ALL-TIME IN THE NSIC 
• The 2025-26 campaign marks the 47th season SMSU has competed in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.
• SMSU has an all-time record of 313-430 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 57th season of women's basketball in 2025-26.
• SMSU has played 1,426 games compiling an all-time record of 700-726.
• SMSU has recorded 31 winning seasons, including the last five seasons. 

    NORTHERN STATE NOTES  
• 2025-26 Record: 3-1 overall, 0-0 NSIC
• Head Coach: Paula Krueger, 8th season, 102-92. 
• NSU hosts Jamestown in its NSIC opener on Wednesday before playing at Sioux Falls in a non-conference game on Saturday. 
• Senior guard Izzy Moore, an NSIC Preseason 'Player to Watch' leads the Wolves averaging 16.3 ppg  and has a team-high six steals. Moore is shooting 50 percent from the field.
• Senior guard Morgan Fiedler is second on the team averaging 10.8 ppg and leads the Wolves in assists with 14.
• Northern State was picked to finish 10th overall in the NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll and fifth in the North Division.
• The Wolves finished the 2024-25 season with a 19-11 record, and a 15-7 record in the NSIC, reaching the NSIC Tournament Final.

























    SMSU ALL-TIME INSIDE THE R/A FACILITY 
•The 2025-26 season marks the 30th year the R/A Facility has served as the home arena for SMSU women's basketball. 
•SMSU has an all-time record of 204-171 (.544) in 375 games with 16 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    11-5    9-3    2-2
    2024-25    12-1    10-1    2-0
    2025-26    0-0    0-0    0-0    
    Totals:     204-171    138-138    67-34