THE LOOK AHEAD

The Southwest Minnesota State University women's basketball team (5-5, 3-2 NSIC) is back in the R/A Facility this week with two pivotal NSIC games.

The Mustangs host the No. 2 ranked Minnesota State Mavericks (11-0, 5-0 NSIC) on Thursday, Dec. 18, at 7:30 p.m.

SMSU then host their final home game of the 2025 calendar year on Saturday, Dec. 20, against St. Cloud State at 4 p.m.

GAME COVERAGE 

All SMSU 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

SMSU will meet Minnesota State for the 76th time with the Mavericks holding a 52-23 advantage.

The Mavericks have won the last seven straight matchups against the Mustangs, with SMSU's last win coming in Dec. 2022.

Tom Webb holds a 6-13 record against the Mavericks

Saturday will mark the 63rd meeting between St. Cloud State and SMSU with the Huskies holding a 43-19 record against the Mustangs.

The Mustangs have claimed victory in three of the last four meetings after a 15-game winning streak for SCSU in the series.

Webb is 3-7 against the Huskies

SMSU HEAD COACH TOM WEBB

Tom Webb is in his 10th season as head coach at SMSU with a 129-124 record, including 94-97 in NSIC play. 

Webb is 220-247 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.

2025-26 MUSTANGS BY THE NUMBERS

SMSU has four players averaging double figures in scoring this season, with Audrey Swanson and Nicole Maenke leading the team, both averaging 16 ppg. 

Kylan Gerads is averaging 14 ppg after her career-high 23 point game against Winona State.

Natalie Nielsen leads the team in rebounds per game with 9, and also averages 11.3 ppg.

Brynn Busse is tied with Nielsen for the most steals on the team with nine, shooting 41 percent from beyond the arc.

The Mustangs are shooting 42 percent from the field, 34 percent from 3-point shots, 77 percent from the free throw line and are plus-3.5 in the rebound margin. SMSU is averaging 72 ppg while opponents are averaging 67 ppg.

MUSTANG TIP-OFF TIDBITS

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.

In the 2025-26 NSIC stats (league games only), SMSU is currently second in 3-pointers per game (10.8), third in rebound margin (4.6), fourth in scoring margin (7.8), and fifth in assist/turnover ratio (1.14), field goal percentage (44.6) and scoring defense (69.6).

Audrey Swanson is one of three Mustangs in the top 15 in scoring averaging 16 ppg, with Nicole Maenke also averaging 16, and Kylan Gerads averaging 14.

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 19 assists against Wayne State and have had 18 or more assists in three games.

SMSU IN THE NCAA STATS 

The Mustangs have started the 2025-26 season in the top 50 in team and individual NCAA DII categories as of Dec. 15

The Mustangs are No. 10 in 3-pointers made per game (9.2) and No. 14 in 3-point attempts per game (27.3). SMSU is No. 32 in least turnovers per game (14.1), No. 34 in free throw percentage (77.2) and are No. 42 in assist/turnover ratio (0.99).

Nicole Maenke is ninth in 3-point attempts (75), No. 21 in free throw percentage (90.6), and No. 30 in 3-pointers made (25).

Audrey Swanson is No. 19 in field goal attempts (154) No. 35 in field goals made (62).

Natalie Nielsen is No. 36 in double doubles (3), No. 43 in free throw percentage (88.0), and No. 50 in rebounds per game (9.0)

 

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 316-430 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 1,431 games compiling an all-time record of 703-728.

• SMSU has recorded 31 winning seasons, including the last five seasons. 

No. 2 MINNESOTA STATE NOTES  

2025-26 Record: 11-0 overall, 5-0 NSIC (AS OF DEC. 16)

Head Coach: Emilee Thiesse, 14th season (264-124)

Senior guard Natalie Bremer, the NSIC South Division Preseason Player of the Year, leads the Mavericks averaging 21 ppg and grabbing 4.5 rpg while shooting 52 percent from the floor. 

Senior guard Mackenzie Schweim is averaging 20 mpg and 9.8 ppg, shooting 45 percent from the floor and averaging 1.6 steals per game.

Minnesota State was picked to finish first in both the South Division and Overall NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll.

The Mavericks finished the 2024-25 season with a 25-8 record, losing to Concordia-St. Paul in the NSIC Tournament Championship, and Pittsburg State (Kan.) in the second round of the NCAA Central Region Tournament .

ST. CLOUD STATE NOTES  

2025-26 Record: 4-6 overall, 1-4 NSIC (AS OF DEC. 16)

Head Coach: Lori Fish, 18th season (281-193)

Senior guard Jada Eggebrecht, a Preseason 'Player to Watch', currently leads the Huskies averaging 14.7 ppg while grabbing 2.3 rpg. Eggebrecht is shooting 42.7 percent from the floor and 40 percent from downtown.

Junior guard Alana Zarneke is the other Huskie averaging double digit points, scoring 13.3 ppg. Zarneke has scored 20 points twice this season, with that occuring in back to back games against Northern Michigan and Michigan Tech.

St. Cloud State was picked to finish fifth in the Preseason Coaches' Poll and fourth in the South Division.

The Huskies finished last season with a 15-14 record, ending the season tied for seventh in the NSIC with an 11-11 conference record.