[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1402 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1402

 Commending the Minnesota State University, Mankato women's and men's 
   basketball teams for winning the 2024 NCAA Division II Basketball 
                        National Championships.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             August 2, 2024

 Mr. Finstad submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
              the Committee on Education and the Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Commending the Minnesota State University, Mankato women's and men's 
   basketball teams for winning the 2024 NCAA Division II Basketball 
                        National Championships.

Whereas, on March 29, 2024, the Minnesota State University, Mankato women's 
        basketball team (referred to in this preamble as the ``women's 
        basketball team'') won the 2024 National Collegiate Athletic Association 
        (referred to in this preamble as the ``NCAA'') Division II women's 
        basketball national championship game against the Texas Woman's 
        University Pioneers by a score of 89 to 73;
Whereas the women's basketball team, the number 5 seed in the tournament, 
        claimed its first national championship since 2009, when the program won 
        its only other national title;
Whereas sophomore Natalie Bremer, from Lake City, Minnesota--

    (1) led the offense of the women's basketball team with 27 points, 
hitting 9 of 17 shots from the field, 3 of 4 shots from beyond the arc, and 
6 of 6 shots at the free throw line;

    (2) was named the NCAA Elite Eight Most Outstanding Player with an 
average of 23.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 3.6 steals per game, shooting 
50.9 percent from the field; and

    (3) became the 26th member of the Minnesota State 1,000 Point Club by 
scoring 29 points in the national semifinal game against California State 
University San Marcos;

Whereas senior Joey Batt, from New Ulm, Minnesota--

    (1) was honored as an NCAA Central Region Tournament Most Valuable 
Player, with an average of 18.3 points, 4 assists, and 3 steals per game;

    (2) was named to the NCAA Elite Eight team after averaging 14.6 points, 
4.6 assists, and 3 steals per game at the NCAA Elite Eight;

    (3) led the women's basketball team in scoring, averaging 16 points per 
game and shooting 44.5 percent from the field and 36 percent from 3-point 
range;

    (4) led the women's basketball team in steals with 117 steals;

    (5) finished second on the women's basketball team in assists with 104 
assists;

    (6) was named a Women's Basketball Coaches Association All-American;

    (7) was named to the Division II Conference Commissioners Association 
All-American Third Team; and

    (8) was named the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Defensive 
Player of the Year;

Whereas Head Coach Emilee Thiesse--

    (1) led the women's basketball team to an overall record of 32 wins and 
only 5 losses in the 2023-2024 season;

    (2) finished the 2023-2024 season on an 11-game winning streak; and

    (3) was named the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Coach of the 
Year;

Whereas the NCAA Division II women's basketball national runner-up, Texas 
        Women's University, finished the 2023-2024 season with 34 wins and only 
        5 losses;
Whereas, on March 30, 2024, the Minnesota State University, Mankato men's 
        basketball team (referred to in this preamble as the ``men's basketball 
        team'') won the 2024 NCAA Division II men's basketball national 
        championship game against Nova Southeastern University by a score of 88 
        to 85;
Whereas junior guard Kyreese Willingham hit a game-winning 3-point shot from the 
        corner with 0.8 seconds on the clock off of a pass from his brother, 
        senior guard Malik Willingham;
Whereas senior forward Dylan Peeters--

    (1) led the men's basketball team with 19 points; and

    (2) made 9 of 10 shots from the field;

Whereas Malik Willingham, from Waseca, Minnesota--

    (1) was named the NCAA Elite Eight Most Outstanding Player;

    (2) averaged 17.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 5 assists per game in the 
tournament; and

    (3) finished his career as the third leading scorer in Minnesota State 
University history;

Whereas Kyreese Willingham, from Waseca, Minnesota--

    (1) was named the Most Valuable Player of the NCAA Central Region 
Tournament, posting 17 points and 6.7 rebounds per game while shooting 61.3 
percent from the field; and

    (2) was named to the NCAA Elite Eight All-Tournament Team, recording 14 
points and 4 rebounds per game;

Whereas, in his 23rd season as head coach, Coach Matt Margenthaler--

    (1) guided the men's basketball team to a season of 35 wins and 2 
losses;

    (2) guided the men's basketball team to their first NCAA Division II 
Championship in program history;

    (3) was named the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Coach of the 
Year; and

    (4) was named the National Association of Basketball Coaches Division 
II Coach of the Year;

Whereas the men's basketball team finished the 2023-2024 season ranked second in 
        attendance in Division II of the NCAA; and
Whereas the NCAA Division II men's basketball national runner-up, Nova 
        Southeastern University, finished with a record of 32 wins and 3 losses 
        1 year after winning the Division II Men's Basketball National 
        Championship: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) commends the Minnesota State University, Mankato 
        women's basketball team for its victory in the 2024 National 
        Collegiate Athletic Association Division II women's basketball 
        national championship game;
            (2) recognizes the dedication, perseverance, togetherness, 
        and hard work of the players, coaches, students, alumni, fans, 
        administration, and support staff that directly contributed to 
        the victory of the Minnesota State University women's 
        basketball team in the 2024 National Collegiate Athletic 
        Association Division II women's basketball national 
        championship game;
            (3) commends Texas Women's University on a great season as 
        the Division II women's basketball national runner-up;
            (4) commends the Minnesota State University, Mankato men's 
        basketball team for its victory in the 2024 National Collegiate 
        Athletic Association Division II men's basketball national 
        championship game;
            (5) recognizes the dedication, perseverance, togetherness, 
        and hard work of the players, coaches, students, alumni, fans, 
        administration, and support staff that directly contributed to 
        the victory of the Minnesota State University men's basketball 
        team in the 2024 National Collegiate Athletic Association 
        Division II men's basketball national championship game; and
            (6) commends Nova Southeastern University on a great season 
        as the Division II men's basketball national runner-up.
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