THE LOOK AHEAD 
• The No. 17 Southwest Minnesota State University women's basketball team (24-2, 18-2 NSIC), currently tied for first place in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference standings and earned a first-round bye in the NSIC Tournament, close out the regular season with a pair of road games against UMary (14-10, 11-9 NSIC) and Northern State (16-10, 13-7 NSIC). 
• The Mustangs start the weekend against the Marauders on Friday, with tip-off set for 7:30 p.m. 
• SMSU rounds out the weekend battling the Wolves on Saturday, with game time scheduled for 6 p.m. 
•SMSU, currently on a 16-game winning streak, is ranked at No. 17 in the D2CSC Top 25 poll and No. 17 in the NABC Top 25 poll that was released on Wednesday (Feb. 19).  

GAME COVERAGE  
• All 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  
• Friday will be the 23rd meeting between UMary and SMSU, with the Marauders holding a 14-8 advantage in a series that began in 2006.  
• SMSU took the first game of the series this season, earning a 77-68 victory at home.  
• SMSU is 3-7 all-time on the road versus UMary. 
• Saturday will be the 74th meeting between NSU and SMSU, with the Wolves holding a 53-20 advantage in a series that began in 1969.  
• SMSU took the first game of the series this season, earning an 82-72 victory at home.  
• SMSU is 4-30 all-time on the road versus NSU.  

WIN STREAK RANKS 2ND HIGHEST IN TEAM HISTORY  
• SMSU has a current win streak of 16 games, which is the second longest winning streak in team history, following 20 straight wins in the 2001-02 season. 

WIN TOTAL RANKS 3RD HIGHEST IN TEAM HISTORY 
• SMSU has reached 24 victories this season with the last time that happened was during the 2001-02 season.  

SMSU HEAD COACH TOM WEBB 
• Tom Webb is in his ninth season as head coach at SMSU with a 120-116 record, including 90-94 in NSIC play.  
• Webb is 211-239 overall in his 17th 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 2023-24, SMSU advanced to the NSIC semifinals for the fifth time in program history and the second consecutive season since 2003.  
• The team finished with 19 victories a season ago, tying for fifth most in program history and the highest total since 2004-05, tying the 2022-23 team.  
• SMSU also recorded a top-five finish in the NSIC last season posting a 15-7 league mark, the most conference wins since going 17-1 in NSIC play in the 2000-01 season. 

MUSTANG TIP-OFF TIDBITS 
• In the current NSIC stats, SMSU ranks first in scoring margin (18.5), rebound margin (8.0), and in field goal pct. (47.4), while ranking second in the league in scoring offense (83.0), in rebounds (42.5), and in 3-point field goal pct. (36.3). SMSU ranks sixth in assists per game (14.31). 
• Bri Stoltzman ranks first in the league in field goal pct. (54.9), second in scoring (20.9) and third in assists per game (4.2), while Peyton Blandin ranks fifth in 3-pt field goal pct. (36.3), eighth in scoring (14.9), and ninth in field goal pct. (43.4). Audrey Swanson ranks first in rebounding (9.4), third in field goal pct. (51.2), and ninth in scoring (14.8). Natalie Nielsen ranks fourth in the conference in blocks per game (1.4). 
• SMSU shot a season-high 57 percent versus Bethany Lutheran and has shot 50 percent or higher eight times this season. 
• SMSU dished out a season-high 23 assists twice this year and has recorded 20 or more assists five times this season. 

MUSTANGS BY THE NUMBERS 
• On the season, SMSU has four players averaging double figures in scoring, and five averaging over seven points per game. Bri Stoltzman leads the way at 20.9 ppg while leading the team in field goals made, assists, and steals. 
• Peyton Blandin ranks second averaging 14.9 ppg, leads the Mustangs with 61 3-pointers and scored a career-high 27 points versus Wayne State on Nov. 26. 
• Audrey Swanson ranks third on the team averaging 14.8 ppg and leads the team in rebounding with 9.4 rpg. She has also recorded 12 double-doubles. 
• Natalie Nielsen averages 10.9 ppg and 6.9 rpg and leads the SMSU defense with 1.4 bpg. Nielsen scored a career-high 28 points with eight rebounds versus then-No. 12 Minnesota State on Dec. 13. Nielsen pulled down a career-high 17 rebounds versus Wayne State on Feb. 11. 
• True freshman Nicole Maenke is fifth on SMSU with 7.1 ppg and ranks second on the team with 39 3-pointers. Maenke set the single-game program record for 3-point field goal pct. making all six 3-point attempts against Winona State on Dec. 14. 
• SMSU is shooting 47 percent from the field, 36 percent from 3-point range, 79 percent from the free throw line, and is plus-8.0 in rebound margin. The Mustangs average 83 points per game with a plus-18.5 scoring margin. 

SMSU IN THE NCAA STATS  
• In the latest Division II national statistics (Feb. 19), SMSU ranks second in field goal pct. (47.4), fifth in scoring offense (83.0), eighth in scoring margin (18.5), and 12th in 3-point field goal pct. (36.3). 
• Audrey Swanson ranks No. 14 nationally with 12 double-doubles and No. 14 in defensive rebounds per game (7.5), while Natalie Nielsen ranks No. 43 in blocks (36) and Peyton Blandin sits at No. 26 in 3-pointers made (61). 
• Bri Stoltzman sits at sixth in field goals made (200), and seventh in points (522), while ranking ninth in points per game (20.9), and No. 22 in field goal pct. (54.9). 

SMSU IN THE NATIONAL RANKINGS 
• The Mustangs remained at No. 17 in the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Top 25 poll released on Wednesday. SMSU is ranked in this week's College Sports Communicators (D2CSC) Top 25 poll for the fifth consecutive week, entering at No. 17.   
• SMSU is one of three NSIC teams ranked in the WBCA poll. Concordia-St. Paul is ranked No. 11 and Minnesota State is ranked No. 25. CSP is also listed at No. 9 in the CSC Top 25.   
• SMSU is ranked in the first NCAA Division II Central Region rankings (Feb. 19). The rankings include records through Feb. 16 and are placed in alphabetical order for the first release. 

LAST TIME OUT  
• The Mustangs earned an 88-74 victory over Minnesota Crookston last Saturday. 
• Bri Stoltzman led the SMSU offense with 23 points with eight assists, six rebounds and two steals. Audrey Swanson recorded another double-double with 19 points and 15 rebounds, while Natalie Nielsen poured in 16 points and nine rebounds. 
• The Mustangs finished the game shooting 49 percent (37 of 76) from the field, including 10 of 33 from 3-point range. 

STONE COLD STOLTZMAN 
• Bri Stoltzman was named the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA)/Division II Conference Information Directors Association (D2CIDA) Division II Player of the Week, was announced on Jan. 21. Stoltzman becomes the first Mustang in program history to earn national weekly recognition. 
• She has earned NSIC Player of the Week seven times (Nov. 25, Dec. 23, Jan 13, Jan. 20, Feb. 3, Feb. 10, Feb. 17) this season as well as appearing on the 'NSIC Shining Five' 11 times. 
• Stoltzman recorded career-high 41 points versus Northern State on Jan. 17. It is the first time an SMSU women's basketball player has scored at least 40 points in a game since Dec. 7, 2004, when Michele Bruns scored 40 points against St. Cloud State. 
• It also marks the most points in an NSIC WBB contest since Jan. 18, 2020.  
• Ranks second in the nation in single-game high in points (41), while ranking fourth in field goals made, fifth in points, and No. 23 field goal pct. 

PEYTON BLANDIN NOTES 
• Has started every game and is averaging 14.9 ppg and 4.2 rpg. 
• Leads the team with 61 3-pointers and ranks third on the team with 137 field goals made. 
• Scored a career-high 27 points on 12 of 20 shooting with five rebounds vs. Wayne State on Nov. 26. 

KENNADI BUCHHOLZ NOTES 
• Has played in 14 games and is averaging 2.6 ppg and 2.4 rpg. 
• Recorded 10 points on 5-of-7 shooting with six rebounds and an assist vs. Bethany Lutheran on Nov. 30. 
• Recorded her first double-double, scoring 11 points and grabbing 13 rebounds last season vs. Crown College (11/15/22). 

BRYNN BUSSE NOTES 
• Has played in 25 games and is averaging 2.4 ppg and 1.9 rpg. 
• Scored a season-high nine points on three field goals vs. Augsburg on Nov. 16. 

ZOIE CENTERS NOTES 
• Has played in 17 games adding 25 points, 11 rebounds, and nine assists. 
• Tallied 19 points, eight rebounds, and six assists last season. 

BRYLEE IVERSON NOTES 
• Has played in 17 games and is averaging 1.5 ppg and 1.6 rpg. 
• Scored a season-high seven points with a pair of 3-pointers and grabbed four rebounds vs. Augsburg on Nov. 16. 

KENZIE JONES NOTES  
• Has played in 25 games with two starts and is averaging 6.3 ppg and 2.2 rpg. 
• Scored a career-high 15 points with four 3-pointers vs. Augsburg on Nov. 16. 

NICOLE MAENKE NOTES 
• Has played in every game and is averaging 7.1 ppg and 2.0 rpg as a true freshman. 
• Ranks second on the team with 39 3-pointers. 
• Set a single-game school record for 3-point field goal pct. making all six 3-point attempts in the 93-64 win over Winona State on Dec. 14. 
• Scored a career-high 22 points on 6-of-7 shooting versus Central Oklahoma on Nov. 9. 

ALLISON MILBRANDT NOTES 
• Has played in 16 games adding 10 points, five assists, and five rebounds. 
• Scored a season-high six points vs. Bethany Lutheran on Nov. 30. 

NATALIE NIELSEN NOTES  
• Has started every game and is averaging 10.9 ppg, 6.9 rpg, and 1.4 bpg. 
• Ranks fourth in the NSIC in blocks per game. 
• Scored a career-high 28 points on 11 of 15 shooting with eight rebounds and two blocks at No. 12 Minnesota State on Dec. 13. Recorded a career-high 17 rebounds at Wayne State on Feb. 11. 
  
BRI STOLTZMAN NOTES  
• Has played in 25 games with 25 starts, missing one game due to injury. 
• Leads SMSU averaging 20.9 ppg and 4.2 assists per game.  
• Also averages 6.4 rpg and 2.1 spg. 
• Named NSIC Player of the Week seven times this season (Nov. 25, Dec. 23, Jan. 13, Jan. 20, Feb. 3, Feb. 10, Feb. 17) 
• Honored as the WBCA/ D2CIDA Division II Player of the Week on Jan. 21. 
• Recorded a career-high 41 points on 15-of-19 shooting, with eight rebounds, five assists, and two steals versus Northern State on Jan. 17. 

AUDREY SWANSON NOTES 
• Has started every game and is averaging 14.8 ppg , 9.4 rpg, and 1.5 apg. 
• Has secured 12 double-doubles this season. 
• Scored a career-high 24 points with four rebounds vs. Bemidji State on Jan. 24. 
• Recorded her first double-double, scoring 12 points and grabbing a career-high 16 rebounds on Nov. 9 versus Central Oklahoma. 

MADDIE THORFINNSON NOTES 
• Has played in 26 games with 25 starts and is averaging 3.2 ppg and 3.1 rpg. 
• Scored a career-high 12 points with three 3-pointers and a pair of rebounds versus Concordia-St. Paul on Dec. 7. 

CHRISTINA WAGNER NOTES  
• Has played in three games. 
• Added 10 points, 15 rebounds, and four blocks in limited playing time last season. 

ELIZABETH WAGNER NOTES  
• Has not played this season. 
• Averaged 3.6 ppg and 4.0 rpg with a team-high 15 blocks last season. 
• Scored a career-high 13 points vs. Martin Luther (1/2/24). 

WORKING OVERTIME
• SMSU is 13-30 all-time in overtime games and did not play one last season. 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 12-1 at home this season after finishing 11-5 at home in 2023-24 and 11-4 in 2022-23. 
• The Mustangs are 10-1 in road games this season after recording a 7-6 mark in road games in 2023-24. 
• SMSU is 2-0 in neutral site games this season after finishing 1-1 in neutral site contests in 2023-24. 
• 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     10-1    47.3    37.2    82.2    41.4    81.5   14.8 
Neutral   2-0     48.7    31.0    73.5    41.5    77.5    21.0 
  
SMSU ALL-TIME IN THE NSIC  
• The 2024-25 campaign marks the 46th season SMSU has competed in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. 
• SMSU has an all-time record of 312-428 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 56th season of women's basketball in 2024-25. 
• SMSU has played 1,414 games compiling an all-time record of 694-720. 
• 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. 

UMARY NOTES   
• 2024-25 Record: 14-10 overall, 11-9 NSIC 
• Head Coach: Rick Neumann, 13th season, 197-167 
• Mary is 14-10 on the season and last played on Feb. 15 suffering a 91-75 road loss to Minnesota State. 
• Bergan Kinnebrew leads UMary in scoring averaging 14.7 points, while also recording 3.7 rebounds. Kinnebrew is shooting 38 percent from the field, and 36 percent from beyond the arc. 
• Ryleigh Wacha ranks second on the team averaging 8.8 points per game while averaging 5.7 rpg, and 2.2 assists per game. 
• Chole Pfau ranks third on the team averaging 8.6 ppg while averaging 3.5 rpg and leads the team with 44 steals. 
• UMary is shooting 39 percent from the field, 32 percent from 3-point range, and 70 percent from the free throw line and is plus-1.9 in rebound margin. The Marauders average 68 points per game with a plus-3.3 scoring margin. 

NORTHERN STATE NOTES   
• 2024-25 Record: 16-10 overall, 13-7 NSIC 
• Head Coach: Paula Krueger, 7th season, 96-90 
• NSU is 16-10 on the season and last played on Feb. 15 earning a 77-59 road victory over Minnesota Duluth. 
• Madelyn Bragg leads NSU in scoring averaging 16.8 points, while also recording 6.9 rebounds and 1.2 bpg. Bragg is shooting 47 percent from the field, and 82 percent from the free throw line. 
• Michaela Jewett ranks second on the team averaging 13.2 points per game while leading the team at 9.0 rpg, while dishing 2.0 assists per game. 
• Rianna Fillipi ranks third on the team averaging 12.6 ppg while averaging 5.5 rpg and leading the team with 5.3 apg.  
• NSU is shooting 44 percent from the field, 30 percent from 3-point range, and 75 percent from the free throw line and is plus-6.7 in rebound margin. The Wolves average 73 points per game with a plus-6.5 scoring margin.