Photo by Jake McNeill Sam Wall (14) works her way past a defender to attempt a layup in the first half of the Mustangs’ 97-31 win over Crown in their home opener on Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2022. Wall has averaged 12.4 points per game so far this season.

The look ahead

The Southwest Minnesota State University women’s basketball team hosts Augustana on Thursday, Dec. 1 at 5:30 p.m., before traveling for a match-up against Wayne State at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 3.

Last time out

The Southwest Minnesota State women’s basketball team used a balanced attack to lead wire-to-wire in a 72-59 victory over the University of Sioux Falls to open conference play last Tuesday night inside the R/A Facility.

Madison Gehloff reached career-highs with 13 rebounds and five assists, adding seven points to help fuel the Mustangs. Hannah Parsley scored a career-best 19 points, leading all scorers while tying a career-high with eight rebounds and adding two blocks. Bri Stoltzman scored 13 points, grabbing nine rebounds and blocking a pair of shots, and Sam Wall scored 11 points. Jenna Borchers also reached double figures, scoring 10 points and grabbing four rebounds, and Peyton Blandin filled it up, tallying eight points, three rebounds, two assists, and two steals.

The Mustangs shot 40.0 percent (26 of 65) from the field and 27.3 percent (6 of 22) from the three-point arc. Sioux Falls, 2-3 overall and 0-1 NSIC, shot 35.4 percent (23 of 65) from the field and 25.0 percent (3 of 12) from three.

SMSU held a 49-35 advantage on the glass, including 15-8 on the offensive boards, and collected five blocks and seven steals while holding Sioux Falls to just a pair of second-chance points to lead a defensive effort that helped the Mustangs to victory.

Fast break

The Mustangs are 4-0 at home after finishing 10-3 at home last season, their best home winning percentage since the 2002-03 season.

Jenna Borchers sank a three-pointer last week, moving her within one of the program record for career three-pointers made, with 198.

Borchers also became the 23rd member of the 1,000-point club on Saturday, Nov. 19 against Northern Michigan. 

The Mustangs have shot at least 50 percent in three of their six games this season, ranking 32nd in the nation with a 46.0 field goal percentage on the season.

SMSU returns eight letter winners from last season.

SMSU was tabbed 12th overall and sixth in the South Division in the NSIC Preseason Coaches’ Poll

Bri Stoltzman leads the Mustangs in scoring with 14.7 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 20 assists, and 12 steals.

Borchers is second on the team with 14.2 ppg and 11 assists. 

All five Mustang starters are averaging double figures in scoring, with Hannah Parsley (13.8), Sam Wall (12.3), and Madison Gehloff (11.2) all shooting at least 47 percent from the field.

Wall and Borchers are tied with a team-high 13 three-pointers made, with Wall shooting 47.3 percent. 

SMSU is averaging 79.8 ppg while opponents are averaging 65.8 ppg. SMSU has a plus-4.8 rebounding margin.

SMSU is shooting 46.6 percent from the field, 36.6 percent from the 3-point line, and 71.7 percent from the free-throw line.

Head coach Tom Webb

Tom Webb is in his seventh season as head coach with a 62-93 record, including 44-77 in NSIC play. 

Webb is 153-216 overall in his 15th season as head coach at the Division II level after compiling a record of 92-123 in eight seasons (2008-16) as head coach at Cameron University (Okla.). 

SMSU earned their first win over a ranked team since 2018-19 in 2021-22, defeating No. 15-ranked Nebraska-Kearney. 

Webb guided the Mustangs to a 10-3 home record, their best home record since the 2002-03 season, and led SMSU to its first home NSIC tournament game since 2005, and first NSIC tournament victory since 2003, ending the season with their first ever tournament game inside the Pentagon.

Webb recorded his 100th career Division II win against Wisconsin-Parkside (91-83) on Nov. 16, 2018. 

Augustana series history

SMSU and Augustana will meet for the 51st time with the Vikings holding a 33-17 edge in a series that started in 1969.

The teams split a pair of games last season, which each team winning at home.

SMSU won on Dec. 4, 2021, 72-58 before falling 74-64 on Feb. 19.

SMSU is 13-13 at home in the series all-time. 

SMSU has won four of the last six meetings

Augie won 22 of 25 meetings between the teams from 2004 to 2019.

SMSU head coach Tom Webb is 5-7 all-time versus Augustana and 5-3 in his last eight games against them.

Wayne State series history

SMSU and Wayne State will meet for the 63rd time with the Wildcats owning a 41-21 advantage in a series that started in 1991.

Each team won its home game last season, with WSC winning 69-65 in overtime on Dec. 2, 2021, before the Mustangs won 72-50 on Feb. 17.

SMSU is 6-24 all-time in Wayne, Neb.

SMSU has won 3 of the last 5 meetings.

The Wildcats won 21 straight in the series from 2010 to 2020.

SMSU head coach Tom Webb is 3-9 all-time versus Wayne State and 3-2 in his last five games against them.