BURNSVILLE, Minn. - Bri Stoltzman of Southwest Minnesota State University has been voted by the league head coaches as the recipient of the 'Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Outstanding Senior of the Year Award' for women's basketball. A native of Mankato, Minn., Stoltzman is a senior majoring in exercise science with a 3.79 grade point average.
The 'NSIC Outstanding Senior of the Year Award' is presented to an NSIC women's basketball student-athlete who participates at their institution for four years and is academically superior while making a positive contribution to her team and the University. The 'NSIC Outstanding Senior of the Year' award was initiated in 2020-21 to honor an outstanding senior who exemplifies the attributes of the model NSIC student-athlete.
Stoltzman is a three-time All-NSIC performer, earning first team honors the past two seasons, which includes being named the 2024-25 NSIC Player of the Year on Thursday. She earned NSIC Player of the Week honors seven times this season and was named WBCA National Player of the Week on Jan. 21, 2025. She also ranks in the top 10 in nine career statistical categories at SMSU.
"Every day is game day for Bri. Her competitive mindset transcends to the court, where she leads by example, constantly pushing herself to be better and inspiring everyone around her to do the same," said
Tom Webb, SMSU head women's basketball coach. "Not only is she a special player, but she also understands the importance of lifting her teammates up—challenging them with compassion and always making sure they feel valued. Through her unwavering dedication, she has propelled our program to new heights, achieving success not seen in over 20 years."
As a representative for the Green Bandana Project, Stoltzman has actively worked to raise awareness about mental health and create a more supportive environment for her peers. Her commitment to giving back is evident in her participation in the Adopt-a-Highway cleanup, where she led efforts to maintain a cleaner, healthier environment. As an influential member of SAAC, she has shown leadership and dedication to enhancing student-athlete experiences. Beyond athletics, she's made a meaningful impact as a volunteer coach for the Mustang basketball summer camps, mentoring young area athletes.
Additionally, her work with the Exercise Science community in the "Feed a Mustang" drive—advocating for canned food donations for the campus food shelf—demonstrates her passion for helping those in need. Bri's efforts exemplify the heart of a true leader and understanding the importance of giving back and helping others.
"Her name will forever be etched in our record books, but beyond her athletic accomplishments, she excels in the classroom and remains deeply committed to making a difference in the community," Webb said. "Bri embodies the qualities of an exceptional student-athlete, and her legacy will continue to inspire long after she graduates from SMSU."
SMSU, 25-3 overall, returns to action on Saturday as the No. 2 seed in the NSIC tournament and will face No. 7 seed MSU Moorhead at 1:30 p.m. inside the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D. The Mustangs are ranked No. 19/21 nationally and are No. 7 in this week's NCAA Central Region poll.
