MARSHALL, Minn. – Four members of the Southwest Minnesota State University women's basketball program earned spots on the 2025-26 CSC Academic All-District team announced on Tuesday.
Juniors
Brynn Busse and
Natalie Nielsen, as well as sophomores
Nicole Maenke and
Elizabeth Wagner all earned honors.
Busse, a guard from Winthrop, Minn., earns CSC Academic All-District honors for the second straight season. Busse played in all 29 games this past season, starting three times, and averaged 20.6 mpg. While averaging 4.8 ppg, Busse scored 10 or more points in five games, including a career-high 14 points against Minot State on Jan. 16.
Nielsen, a center from Akron, Iowa, started in 23 games this past season, missing six due to injury. She averaged 13.2 ppg, tied for third highest on the team, and led the team averaging 8.7 rpg. Nielsen was a 54.5 percent shooter from the floor, third highest in NSIC games, and a 90.6 percent free throw shooter, finishing in the top 10 in DII. Nielsen earns CSC Academic All-District honors for the first time in her career after being selected to the All-NSIC second team as well.
Maenke, a guard from Shakopee, Minn., earns CSC Academic All-District honors for the first time in her career. Maenke started all 29 games for the Mustangs averaging 32.2 minutes per game. She was a 44 percent shooter from the floor, a 35 percent shooter from behind the 3-point line, and a 91 percent free throw shooter, which ranked in the top five in DII. Maenke led the team in scoring in four games and had eight games of 20 or more points, including a career-high 28 points against Sioux Falls on Nov. 25.
Wagner, a forward from Luverne, Minn., also earns CSC Academic All-District honors for the first time in her career. Wagner played in 27 of 29 games for SMSU averaging 11.3 mpg. She averaged 3.1 ppg and 3.1 rpg, which included seven games of five or more rebounds, and five games with six or more points. Wagner had a season-high eight rebounds against Minnesota Duluth on Jan. 10, and a season-high 10 points against Minnesota Crookston in the NSIC Tournament First Round on Feb. 25.
The 2025-26 Academic All-District® Men's and Women's Basketball Teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the court and in the classroom. The CSC Academic All-America® program separately recognizes honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA.
The Division II and III CSC Academic All-America® programs are partially financially supported by the NCAA Division II and III national governance structures to assist CSC with handling the awards fulfillment aspects for the 2025-26 Divisions II and III Academic All-America® programs.
