III 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 789 

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 SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JULY 31, 2024 

Ms. KLOBUCHAR (for herself and Ms. SMITH) submitted the following 

resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

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; 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
2 

•SRES 789 ATS 

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 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
3 

•SRES 789 ATS 

(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; 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
4 

•SRES 789 ATS 

(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 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
5 

•SRES 789 ATS 

1 (1) commends the Minnesota State University, 

2 Mankato women’s basketball team for its victory in 

3 the 2024 National Collegiate Athletic Association 

4 Division II women’s basketball national champion5 ship game; 

6 (2) recognizes the dedication, perseverance, to7 getherness, and hard work of the players, coaches, 

8 students, alumni, fans, administration, and support 

9 staff that directly contributed to the victory of the 

10 Minnesota State University women’s basketball team 

11 in the 2024 National Collegiate Athletic Association 

12 Division II women’s basketball national champion13 ship game; 

14 (3) commends Texas Women’s University on a 

15 great season as the Division II women’s basketball 

16 national runner-up; 

17 (4) commends the Minnesota State University, 

18 Mankato men’s basketball team for its victory in the 

19 2024 National Collegiate Athletic Association Divi20 sion II men’s basketball national championship 

21 game; 

22 (5) recognizes the dedication, perseverance, to23 getherness, and hard work of the players, coaches, 

24 students, alumni, fans, administration, and support 

25 staff that directly contributed to the victory of the 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
6 

•SRES 789 ATS 

1 Minnesota State University men’s basketball team in 

2 the 2024 National Collegiate Athletic Association 

3 Division II men’s basketball national championship 

4 game; and 

5 (6) commends Nova Southeastern University on 

6 a great season as the Division II men’s basketball 

7 national runner-up. 

Æ 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS