Independent file photo SMSU’s Caleigh Rodning dribbles the ball during their Nov. 2016 game against the University of Sioux Falls.

MARSHALL – Southwest Minnesota State will look to build on their early season success at home as the SMSU women’s basketball program gets set to host its second game of the season against Sioux Falls on Saturday afternoon beginning at 5 p.m., in the R/A Facility.

Game Coverage

– SMSU vs USF will be broadcast on 105.1 FM KARL with Ryan Rohlik and Anthony Rohlik handling the play-by-play for SMSU basketball.

– The game can also be viewed online at SMSUmustangs.com.

SMSU Quick Hits

– Senior forward Lauren Hedlund, became the 19th member of the SMSU women’s basketball 1,000 career points club earlier this season against Upper Iowa.

– Head Coach Tom Webb, enters his second season at the helm to the SMSU women’s basketball program after spending eight seasons at Cameron University in Lawton, Okla.

– SMSU gets set to face Sioux Falls for the second time this season after suffering a 76-58 loss in Sioux Falls back on Nov. 25.

– SMSU currently ranks second in the NSIC in free throw percentage and fourth in the conference in offensive rebounding percentage.

– SMSU has outscored opponents 151-118 in the fourth quarter of games so far this season.

– Taylor Holicky’s six blocked shots at USF made her the first SMSU player since 2007 to have at least five blocked shots in a single game.

Sioux Falls Game Preview

USF Team Notes

– 2016-17 Record: 22-8, 15-7 NSIC

– 2017-18 Record: 6-2, 4-1 NSIC

– Sioux Falls currently ranks fifth in the NSIC in scoring with 67.0 ppg and is fourth points allowed per game allowing opponents just 57.4 ppg.

– The Cougars are fifth in the NSIC with a .418 field goal percentage on the season as a team and rank second in the conference with a .368 three point field goal percentage.

– USF is third in the NSIC in turnover margin at +3.2.

– Kaely Hummel and Jasmine Harris rank fourth and fifth respectively in the NSIC in scoring at just under 17 ppg each.

– Jacey Hulnker is second in the NSIC with 10.4 rpg.

– The Cougars lost to UMD, 69-51 last Saturday which snapped a five-game winning streak.

– USF will host Chadron State on Tuesday, Dec. 19, before returning to conference play after the holiday break.

Series History

– SMSU leads the all-time series 16-14.

– After splitting the first two all-time conference games in 2011 and 2012, USF has gone on to win the last nine games dating back to 2013.

– SMSU is 6-8 all-time at home against the Cougars.

– USF swept last season’s matchups with a 75-40 win in Marshall and a 63-47 win at home in the Stewart Center.

– USF won the first game of the year between the two schools, 76-58 back on Nov. 25.

– Meleah Reinhart led the Mustangs in scoring in the first contest with 16 points on 5 of 11 shooting.

– Caleigh Rodning posted a double-double in the first game with 11 points and 12 boards.

4th Quarter Queens

– The Mustangs have outscored opponents 151-118.

– SMSU went 8 of 9 (89 percent) shooting as a team in the fourth quarter at SCSU.

– The Mustangs went on a 10-0 fourth-quarter run against Winona State and a 19-2 run in the fourth against St. Cloud State.

– SMSU has shot 56.2 percent as a team in the fourth quarter over the past two weekends and have drained 13 three pointers in the fourth quarters of those games.

Finding their Stride

– Following a pair of non-conference losses, the Mustangs have improved their season averages in almost every statstical category.

– Over the past six games, SMSU…

– Has a scoring differential that is 8.7 ppg better than their season average.

– Has a +1.2 rebounding average compared with a -4.9 average on the season.

– Averages 65.8 points per game compared to just 44.0 points per game during the opening weekend of the season.

Shooting Stroke

– SMSU had a season high 44 percent (20 of 45) shooting night as a team against St. Cloud State.

– The Mustangs have nine or more made three pointers in three of their last four games.

– Meleah Reinhart and Sarah Buysse combined to go 7 of 9 (78 percent) from behind the arc against St. Cloud State.

Content courtesy

of SMSU Athletic

Communications