[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 125 (Wednesday, July 31, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S5689]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





   SENATE RESOLUTION 789--COMMENDING THE MINNESOTA STATE UNIVERSITY, 
 MANKATO WOMEN'S AND MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAMS FOR WINNING THE 2024 NCAA 
             DIVISION II BASKETBALL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

  Ms. KLOBUCHAR (for herself and Ms. Smith) submitted the following 
resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 789

       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 Senate--
       (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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