THE LOOK AHEAD
The Southwest Minnesota State University women's basketball team (6-6, 4-3 NSIC) starts the 2026 calendar year hosting the University of Sioux Falls Cougars (8-4, 5-2 NSIC) on Saturday afternoon in a rematch from Nov. 25.
The game will be played at 4 p.m. inside the R/A Facility in Marshall

    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
SMSU will meet USF for the 46th time in school history with the Mustangs holding a 24-21 advantage.
Prior to the meeting on Nov. 25, the Mustangs had won the last five meetings against the Cougars dating back to the 2022-23 season.
USF leads 12-9 in games played in Marshall, but SMSU has won the last three played in Marshall. 
Tom Webb holds an 8-10 record against Sioux Falls.
An all-time results list of Sioux Falls can be found on page 18.

    LAST TIME AGAINST THE COUGARS
The Mustangs dropped the Nov. 25 contest against the Cougars 92-80.
Nicole Maenke scored a career-high 28 points, tying the school record with seven 3-pointers in the game.
Audrey Swanson scored 29 points, a career-high, and grabbed 12 rebounds, leading the team.
Allie Haabala added a pair of 3-pointers, nine points total, and dished out four assists.
SMSU shot 37 percent from the floor (31-83), making 12 3-pointers on 40 attempts, while the Cougars shot 54 percent (35-65) with five 3-pointers. The Mustangs held the advantage in rebounds 44-41.
USF was led in scoring by Krista Langager with a career-high 25 points and Anna Vaaler adding 24 points.
The Mustangs opened the game with 32 points in the first 10 minutes, connecting on six 3-pointers, and eventually extended the lead to 11 points with two minutes to play in the first half. For the remainder of the game, the Cougars outscored the Mustangs 53-30, which included a 16-0 run and a 13-4 run favoring USF.

    SMSU HEAD COACH TOM WEBB
Tom Webb is in his 10th season as head coach at SMSU with a 130-125 record, including 95-98 in NSIC play. 
Webb is 221-248 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 17.

    MUSTANG TIP-OFF TIDBITS
In the current NSIC stats (league games only), SMSU is third in 3-pointers made (103), fifth in free throw percentage (78.0), and sixth in rebounding margin (3.8).
Nicole Maenke is second in free throw percentage (89.7), sixth in 3-pointers (30), No. 10 in scoring average (15.8), and No. 14 in field goal percentage (45.3).
Audrey Swanson is sixth in rebound average (7.3), No. 12 in scoring average (15.3), and No. 19 in field goal percentage (40.6).
Kylan Gerads is No. 10 in rebounding average (6.8) and No. 19 in scoring average (13.1).
SMSU has shot 50 percent from the field twice this season (Wayne State, Dec. 6, Concordia-St. Paul, Dec. 13).
SMSU dished out a season-high 19 assists against Wayne State and has had 18 or more assists in three games.

    MUSTANGS BY THE NUMBERS
SMSU has four players averaging double figures in points, with Nicole Maenke leading the team averaging 15.8 ppg. 
Audrey Swanson with four 20+ point games is second on the team with 15.3 ppg, while sophomore Kylan Gerads has three games of 20+ points and averages 13.1 ppg.
Natalie Nielsen averages both 11.1 ppg and 8.7 rpg.
Brynn Busse is tied with Nielsen for the most steals on the team with 13.
The Mustangs are shooting 42 percent from the field, 33 percent from 3-point shots, 78 percent from the free throw line and are +3.8 in the rebound margin. SMSU is averaging 70 ppg while opponents are averaging 69 ppg.

    SMSU IN THE NCAA STATS 
In the Division II national statistics (AS OF DEC. 30), SMSU ranks at No. 16 in 3-pointers per game (8.6), No. 22 in free throw percentage (78), and No. 49 in 3-point percentage (33.4).
Nicole Maenke is No. 19 in 3-point attempts (84), No. 23 in free throw percentage (89.7), and No. 24 in 3-pointers made (30).
Natalie Nielsen is No. 28 in free throw percentage (89.3) and No. 32 in double doubles (4)
Audrey Swanson is No. 21 in field goals attempted (175), and No. 45 in field goals made (71).
• SMSU in the latest NCAA stats can be found on page 16. 

    KENNADI BUCHHOLZ NOTES
Appeared in nine games this season.
Recorded two points in four separate games.
Four rebounds against Augustana (12/4), two blocks vs. Northern State (11/30).

    BRYNN BUSSE NOTES
Appeared in all 12 games, starting in two.
Averaging 5.3 ppg and 2.3 rpg.
Career-high 12 points against Augustana (12/4) shooting 4/5 from 3-point range.
Four steals vs. Minnesota State (12/19).

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

    KYLAN GERADS NOTES
Started in all 12 games.
Shooting 43 percent from the floor (58/135) and 35 percent from 3-point range (17/48).
23 points against Winona State (12/14), tying her career-high.
Career-high 14 rebounds vs. Washburn (11/15).

    ALLIE HAABALA NOTES
Appeared in all games this season averaging 14.4 minutes.
Nine points in back-to-back games.
Four assists against Sioux Falls (11/25).

    BRYLEE IVERSON NOTES
Appeared in eight games this season, tallying 55 minutes.
Four points against Minnesota State (12/19).
Three rebounds, one block and one steal against Washburn (11/15).

    NICOLE MAENKE NOTES
Started in all 12 games, averaging 32.2 minutes per game.
45.3 percent (62/137) shooting from the field, 36 percent from 3-point range (30/84).
Career-high 28 points, with seven 3-pointers, and a season-high six rebounds against Sioux Falls (11/25).
Six assists against Wayne State (12/6).
Three steals against Augustana (12/4).

    ALLISON MILBRANDT NOTES
Appeared in seven games, totaling 21 minutes
Two rebounds vs. Sioux Falls (11/25).

    NATALIE NIELSEN NOTES 
Started in 10 games.
54.5 percent (42-77 from the field), averaging 11.1 ppg.
89.3 percent free throw shooter (25-28)
Averaging 8.7 rpg, with three games of 13 rebounds.
Season high 19 points against St. Cloud State (12/20).
Made game winning free throws with 0.1 seconds remaining against Tampa (11/8/25).


    LOGAN SMIDT NOTES
Appeared in five games.
Five points against Minnesota State (12/19) with one steal.

    AUDREY SWANSON NOTES
Started in all 12 games this season, averaging 30.9 minutes.
40.6 percent shooter from the floor (71-175) averaging 15.3 ppg.
Career-high 29 points and season-high 12 rebounds against Sioux Falls (11/25).
Four games of 20+ points, two games of seven assists.
Four steals against St. Cloud State (12/20).

    MADDIE THORFINNSON NOTES
Started in every game this season, averaging 33.5 minutes.
Has scored nine points twice.
Grabbed five rebounds in two games.
Four assists in two games.
Nine points (3/3 on 3-point shots), four rebounds, three assists, and two blocks against Concordia-St. Paul (12/13).

    CHRISTINA WAGNER NOTES 
Played in seven games this season.
Four rebounds vs. Minnesota State (12/19/25)

    ELIZABETH WAGNER NOTES 
Appeared in 10 games this season, averaging 8.4 minutes per game.
Six points against Northern State (11/30).
Five rebounds against Wayne State (12/6) and Concordia-St. Paul (12/13).



    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 2-2 at home this season after finishing 12-1 at home last season.
• The Mustangs are 3-2 in road games this season after recording an 11-3 mark in road games in 2024-25.
SMSU is currently 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    2-2    46.5    32.2    82.1    35.5    71.8    23.8 
Away    3-2    42.1    37.0    83.3    38.0    73.8    15.6
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 317-431 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 1,433 games compiling an all-time record of 704-729.
• 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.

    SIOUX FALLS NOTES  
2025-26 Record: 8-4 overall, 5-2 NSIC
Head Coach: Travis Traphagen, 18th season (301-187)
Sophomore guard Anna Vaaler currently leads the Cougars in ppg, averaging 22.2 and rpg with 8.4 boards. Against No. 2 ranked Minnesota State on Dec. 20, Vaaler scored 24 points (10/16, 4/7 from 3-point shots) and grabbed 12 rebounds for her fourth double-double of the season.
Freshman center Krista Langager has become a go-to option for the Cougars, averaging 15.1 ppg and 6.9 rpg, both second on the team. Langager scored a career-high 25 points against the Mustangs on Nov. 25, and has scored 20+ in four of the last five games.
Sioux Falls is currently third in the NSIC South, with a 5-2 conference record, and fifth overall in the NSIC.
The Cougars finished the 2024-25 season with a 17-14 record, holding a 12-10 record in NSIC play. Sioux Falls was picked to finish third in both the NSIC and in the NSIC South division in the annual NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll.

    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 206-173 (.542) in 379 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    2-2    2-1    0-1
    Totals:     206-173    140-139    67-35