IV 
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 wom-
en’s and men’s basketball teams for winning the 2024 
NCAA Division II Basketball National Championships. 
Whereas, on March 29, 2024, the Minnesota State Univer-
sity, 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; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:39 Aug 03, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HR1402.IH
HR1402
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
•HRES 1402 IH 
Whereas sophomore Natalie Bremer, from Lake City, Min-
nesota— 
(1) led the offense of the women’s basketball team 
with 27 points, hitting 9 of 17 shots from the field, 3 of 
4 shots from beyond the arc, and 6 of 6 shots at the free 
throw line; 
(2) was named the NCAA Elite Eight Most Out-
standing Player with an average of 23.3 points, 5.6 re-
bounds, and 3.6 steals per game, shooting 50.9 percent 
from the field; and 
(3) became the 26th member of the Minnesota State 
1,000 Point Club by scoring 29 points in the national 
semifinal game against California State University San 
Marcos; 
Whereas senior Joey Batt, from New Ulm, Minnesota— 
(1) was honored as an NCAA Central Region Tour-
nament Most Valuable Player, with an average of 18.3 
points, 4 assists, and 3 steals per game; 
(2) was named to the NCAA Elite Eight team after 
averaging 14.6 points, 4.6 assists, and 3 steals per game 
at the NCAA Elite Eight; 
(3) led the women’s basketball team in scoring, aver-
aging 16 points per game and shooting 44.5 percent from 
the field and 36 percent from 3-point range; 
(4) led the women’s basketball team in steals with 
117 steals; 
(5) finished second on the women’s basketball team 
in assists with 104 assists; 
(6) was named a Women’s Basketball Coaches Asso-
ciation All-American; 
(7) was named to the Division II Conference Com-
missioners Association All-American Third Team; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:39 Aug 03, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HR1402.IH
HR1402
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
•HRES 1402 IH 
(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 Univer-
sity, 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 champion-
ship game against Nova Southeastern University by a 
score of 88 to 85; 
Whereas junior guard Kyreese Willingham hit a game-win-
ning 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 Out-
standing Player; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:39 Aug 03, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HR1402.IH
HR1402
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
•HRES 1402 IH 
(2) averaged 17.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 5 as-
sists per game in the tournament; and 
(3) finished his career as the third leading scorer in 
Minnesota State University history; 
Whereas Kyreese Willingham, from Waseca, Minnesota— 
(1) was named the Most Valuable Player of the 
NCAA Central Region Tournament, posting 17 points 
and 6.7 rebounds per game while shooting 61.3 percent 
from the field; and 
(2) was named to the NCAA Elite Eight All-Tour-
nament Team, recording 14 points and 4 rebounds per 
game; 
Whereas, in his 23rd season as head coach, Coach Matt 
Margenthaler— 
(1) guided the men’s basketball team to a season of 
35 wins and 2 losses; 
(2) guided the men’s basketball team to their first 
NCAA Division II Championship in program history; 
(3) was named the Northern Sun Intercollegiate 
Conference Coach of the Year; and 
(4) was named the National Association of Basket-
ball Coaches Division II Coach of the Year; 
Whereas the men’s basketball team finished the 2023–2024 
season ranked second in attendance in Division II of the 
NCAA; and 
Whereas the NCAA Division II men’s basketball national 
runner-up, Nova Southeastern University, finished with a 
record of 32 wins and 3 losses 1 year after winning the 
Division II Men’s Basketball National Championship: 
Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:39 Aug 03, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\HR1402.IH
HR1402
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
•HRES 1402 IH 
(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 champion-
ship game; 
(2) recognizes the dedication, perseverance, to-
getherness, 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 champion-
ship 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 Divi-
sion II men’s basketball national championship 
game; 
(5) recognizes the dedication, perseverance, to-
getherness, and hard work of the players, coaches, 
students, alumni, fans, administration, and support 
staff that directly contributed to the victory of the 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:39 Aug 03, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\HR1402.IH
HR1402
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
•HRES 1402 IH 
Minnesota State University men’s basketball team in 
the 2024 National Collegiate Athletic Association 
Division II men’s basketball national championship 
game; and 
(6) commends Nova Southeastern University on 
a great season as the Division II men’s basketball 
national runner-up. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:39 Aug 03, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\HR1402.IH
HR1402
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB