THE LOOK AHEAD

The No. 18 ranked Southwest Minnesota State University women's basketball team hits the road for a pair of games in Denton, Texas, in the DII CCA Tip-Off Classic.

The Mustangs open their season against Alabama-Huntsville at 1 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 7, before tipping off Saturday, Nov. 8 against Tampa, also at 1 p.m. All games in the classic are being played at the Kitty Magee Arena in Denton, Texas, on the campus of Texas Woman's University.

This is the first time SMSU women's basketball is participating in the CCA Tip-Off Classic.

GAME COVERAGE 

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

The games against Alabama-Huntsville and Tampa will mark the first time SMSU has played against either school.

SMSU is 1-0 against teams in the Gulf South Conference (GSC), defeating Delta State back in 2008.

SMSU is 2-2 against teams in the Sunshine State Conference (SSC), with the last game against a team from the SSC being Nova Southeastern in 2011.

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 124-119 record, including 91-95 in NSIC play. 

Webb is 215-242 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.

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).
 

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 2023-24

• The Mustangs are 0-0 in road games this season after recording an 11-3 mark in road games in 2024-25.

SMSU was also 5-1 in neutral site games last season.

• 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 12-1 47.1 35.7 80.0 43.7 85.2 12.1 

Away 11-3 46.4 36.5 81.5 41.7 81.3 14.3

Neutral 5-1 47.2 30.0 76.9 39.3 78.3 20.3  

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 314-430 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 1,421 games compiling an all-time record of 698-723.

• 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.

ALABAMA-HUNTSVILLE NOTES  

• 2024-25 Record: 25-7 overall, 18-4 GSC

• Head Coach: Allen Sharpe, 1st season, 0-0

• Senior guard Lili Wilkin, the reigning GSC Player of the Year, returns this season after averaging 18.0 ppg and 6.5 rpg, while shooting 48.9% from the field. Wilkin was named to the GSC Preseason First Team.

• Millie Brown was named to the GSC Preseason First Team along with Wilkin, after a campaign last year averaging 8.8 ppg and leading the team in three pointers made , shooting 36% from beyond the arc.

• UAH was picked to finish third in the 2025-26 GSC Preseason Poll, recieving two first place votes.

• UAH reached the GSC Tournament Final last season, losing to No. 1 seed Union. The Chargers also reaced the NCAA South Regional, losing to 3 seeded Nova Southeastern in the first round.

TAMPA NOTES  

• 2024-25 Record: 26-7 overall, 17-3 SSC

• Head Coach: Tom Jessee, 24th season, 492-191

• Junior guard Olivia Davis returns after a season averaging 9.5 ppg, 3.7 rpg and 1.5 apg. Davis scored in double figures in 13 of Tampa's 33 games last season.

• The Spartans will be looking for a breakout season from Giorgia Palmieri, who averaged 5.1 ppg and shooting 40.4% from behind the three point line.

• Tampa was picked to finish first in the 2025-26 SSC Preseason Poll, recieving five first place votes. The Spartans were also selected in the WBCA preseason Top 25 at No. 23.

• The Spartans reached the SSC Tournament Semifinal, losing to Nova Southeastern. The team also was awarded a bid in the NCAA South Regional Tournament, losing to Lee in the first round.