THE LOOK AHEAD
The Southwest Minnesota State University women's basketball team (4-4, 2-1 NSIC) is on the road this weekend with two NSIC games on Saturday and Sunday.
The Mustangs play against Concordia-St. Paul (5-3, 1-2 NSIC) on Saturday, Dec. 13, at 7 p.m. in the Gangelhoff Center.
SMSU then travels east, facing off against Winona State (5-4, 2-1 NSIC) the next day at 4 p.m. in the McCown Gymnasium.
GAME COVERAGEÂ
Saturday's game will be broadcast on 105.1 FM KARL, and Sunday's game will be on 94.7 FM KKCK, 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 Concordia-St. Paul for the 69th time with the Golden Bears holding a 46-22Â advantage.
The Mustangs have won for of the last five meetings with CSP, and six of the last 10.
Tom Webb holds a 6-12 record against the Golden Bears.
Sunday will mark the 94th meeting between Winona State and SMSU with the Mustangs holding a 50-43 record against the Warriors.
The Mustangs have claimed victory in five of the last six matchups with Winona State, with the last loss being in 2023.
Webb is 6-10 against the Warriors.
SMSU HEAD COACH TOM WEBB
Tom Webb is in his 10th season as head coach at SMSU with a 128-123 record, including 93-96 in NSIC play.Â
Webb is 219-246 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.).Â
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 17 ppg.Â
Nicole Maenke had back-to-back 20 point games against Sioux Falls and Northern State and is second on the team averaging 16 ppg. Kylan Gerads is averaging 13.1 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 nine averaging 1.1 steals per game.
The Mustangs are shooting 41 percent from the field, 32 percent from 3-point shots, 74 percent from the free throw line and are plus-5.4 in the rebound margin. SMSU is averaging 71 ppg while opponents are averaging 65 ppg.
MUSTANG TIP-OFF TIDBITS
SMSU opened the season ranked No. 18 in the preseason WBCA Top 25.Â
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 first in 3-point field goals (35), second in assist/turnover ratio (1.31), third in scoring offense (79.7 ppg), scoring margin (14), and team rebounds (41.3 rpg). The Mustangs are fourth in the conference in scoring defense (65.7), and fifth in field goal percentage (43.9)Â
Audrey Swanson is one of three Mustangs in the top 25 in scoring averaging 18.7 ppg, with Nicole Maenke averaging 17.7, and Kylan Gerads averaging 13.7
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 STATSÂ
SMSU has started the 2025-26 season in the top 50 in team and individual categories.
The Mustangs are eighth in DII in 3-point attempts per game (28.4) and No. 10 in 3-pointers made per game (9.1). SMSU is No. 27 in least turnovers per game (13.9) and are No. 37 in assist/turnover ratio (1.0).
Nicole Maenke is No. 14 in 3-point attempts (63), and No. 46 in 3-pointers made (19), while Audrey Swanson is No. 44 in field goals (44).
Natalie Nielsen is No. 24 in double doubles (3) and No. 35 in rebounds per game (10.0).
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.
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SMSU ALL-TIME IN THE NSICÂ
• The 2025-26 campaign marks the 47th season SMSU has competed in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.
• SMSU has an all-time record of 315-429 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 1,429 games compiling an all-time record of 702-727.
• SMSU has recorded 31 winning seasons, including the last five seasons.Â
CONCORDIA-ST. PAUL NOTES Â
2025-26 Record: 5-3 overall, 1-2 NSIC (AS OF DEC. 9)
Head Coach: Amanda Johnson, 11th season (175-101)
Junior forward Lauren Wilson currently leads the Golden Bears in both points and rebound per game, averging 22.5 ppg and grabbing 11.5 rpg. Wilson has had 13 or more rebounds in five of eight games.
Junior guard Lydia Haack, a Preseason 'Player to Watch' is second on the team averaging 16.3 ppg and leads the team in assists, averaging 7.2 apg.
Concordia-St. Paul was picked to finish second in both the South Division and Overall NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll.
The Golden Bears finished the 2024-25 season with a 29-3 record, holding a 20-2 record in NSIC play. CSP defeated Minnesota State in the NSIC Tournament Final 92-73, but were defeated by SMSU in the Central Region Tournament 77-64.
WINONA STATE NOTES Â
2025-26 Record: 5-4 overall, 2-1 NSIC (AS OF DEC. 9)
Head Coach: Ana Wurtz, 4th season (40-56)
Senior guard and Preseason 'Player to Watch' Hailey Markworth currently leads the Warriors in points per game and rebounds per game, averaging 12.4 ppg and 6.2 rpg. Markworth has scored 20+ points twice, inclduing 24 against Concordia-St. Paul on Nov. 25.
Junior guard Sadie Jarmolowicz is the other Warrior averaging double digit points, scoring 11 ppg. Jarmolowicz scored 20 points and grabbed 10 rebounds against Minnesota State on Dec. 4.
Winona State was picked to finish 12th in the Preseason Coaches' Poll and sixth in the South Division.
The Warriors finished last season with an 11-17 record, with a 7-15 record in the NSIC.
