THE LOOK AHEAD

The Southwest Minnesota State University women's basketball team (2-4, 0-1 NSIC) is back on the road to start the week, facing Augustana (2-3, 0-1 NSIC) on Thursday, Dec. 4, at Elmen Center in Sioux Falls, S.D., at 7:30 p.m.

The Mustangs then make their NSIC home debut on Saturday, Dec. 6, against Wayne State College (5-1, 1-0 NSIC) at 4 p.m. inside the R/A Facility.

GAME COVERAGE 

NSIC 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 Augustana for the 57th time with the Vikings holding a 22-34 advantage.

The Mustangs have won five of the last six meetings with Augustana, and nine of the last 12.

Tom Webb holds a 10-8 record against Augustana.

Saturday will mark the 68th meeting between Wayne State and SMSU with the Wildcats holding a 42-25 record against the Mustangs.

The Mustangs have claimed victory in five of the last six matchups with Wayne State, with the last loss being in 2022.

Webb is 7-10 against the Wildcats.

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.

SMSU HEAD COACH TOM WEBB

Tom Webb is in his 10th season as head coach at SMSU with a 126-123 record, including 91-96 in NSIC play. 

Webb is 217-246 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 leading the team averaging 18 ppg. 

Nicole Maenke has back-to-back 20 point games and is second on the team averaging 17 ppg. Kylan Gerads is averaging 11.7 ppg after starting the season with four straight games of double-digit points.

Natalie Nielsen leads the team in rebounds per game with 10, and also averages 10 ppg.

Brynn Busse has the most steals on the team with eight, averaging 1.3 steals per game.

The Mustangs are shooting 39 percent from the field, 29 percent from 3-point shots, 71 percent from the free throw line and are plus-2.5 in the rebound margin. SMSU is averaging 68 ppg while opponents are averaging 69 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 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.
 

AUGUSTANA NOTES  

2025-26 Record: 2-3 overall, 0-1 NSIC (AS OF DEC. 1)

Augustana hosts North Central (Minn.) on Dec. 2 before facing the Mustangs on Dec. 4.

Head Coach: Nate Vogel, 2nd season (8-25)

Sophomore forward and Preseason Player to Watch Isabella Sanneh currently leads the Vikings in both ppg, averaging 15.6, and rpg with 10.6 boards. Sanneh is currently second in the NSIC in rpg and No. 13 in ppg.

Junior guard Payton Hardy is second for Augustana averaging 13.6 ppg. Hardy is shooting 47 percent from the field, and has scored 15 or more points in two games this season.

Augustana was picked to finish last in both the NSIC and in the NSIC South division in the annual NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll.

The Vikings finished the 2024-25 season with a 6-22 record, holding a 4-18 record in NSIC play.

WAYNE STATE NOTES  

• 2025-26 Record: 5-1 overall, 1-0 NSIC (AS OF DEC. 1)

• Head Coach: Brian Ortmeier, 1st season (5-1)

• WSC hosts Hesston College on Dec. 1, and Sioux Falls on Dec. 3, before traveling to Marshall.

• Senior forward Rachel Dahlen leads the Wildcats averaging 15.7 ppg and 8.2 rpg. Dahlen is shooting 44 percent from the floor and has a team-high 18 steals

• Senior forward and Preseason Player to Watch Kylah vanDonkersgoed is second on the team averaging 11.0 ppg and 6 rpg. vanDonkersgoed scored 26 points in a double overtime win over Augustana on Nov. 25.

• Wayne State was picked to finish 13th overall in the NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll and seventh in the South Division.

• The Wolves finished the 2024-25 season with a 11-16 record, and an 8-14 record in the NSIC.