WBB Preview: Blue Devils host Whitewater in regionally televised game

UW-Whitewater:  Live Stats | Live Audio | Live TV Broadcast, Fox Sports - Wisconsin and Fox Sports - North

THIS WEEK'S GAMES:  The Blue Devils (7-12, 3-7 WIAC) will be home for a regionally televised contest on FOX Sports Wisconsin and FOX Sports North with UW-Whitewater (16-3, 10-0 WIAC), Saturday, Feb. 1 at 3 p.m. The game will not be available in a live video stream. The Warhawks have a two-plus game lead in the conference race. The Warhawks' coaching staff has a decided Blue Devil flavor. Head coach Keri Carollo was an assistant coach at UW-Stout for three years before coming to Whitewater. Assistant coach Amy Zelinger played at UW-Stout and was inducted into the UW-Stout Hall of Fame last fall. Zelinger was also an assistant coach at Stout for a season. Assistant Joe Carollo played for the Blue Devil men's program and was an assistant coach in the Blue Devils' men's program.

WEBCASTS:  All UW-Stout home games will be available in a live video stream by Blue Devil Video, with Adam "Big Country" Lehnertz  on the call. WMEQ 880 Radio, with Jason Kenyon, Rob Silvers, Dan Schultz, Jimmie Kaska or Jake Bostrom, will broadcast and provide a live audio stream of away conference games. Stout will provide Live Stats for all home games. Check the Blue Devil Webcast page or under details of the schedule page to see broadcasts and Live Stats available when Stout is on the road.

CAREER STATS: Be sure to scroll to the bottom of this page to check out the UW-Stout career highs for points, rebounds and assists of each Blue Devil player.

THIS WEEK BY THE NUMBERS
23	Number of players on Stout's roster that have seen action this season.
10	Number of games Stout has forced more than 20 turnovers
2-7-3-11	Number of seniors - juniors - sophomores - freshmen on Stout roster
439 - 27	Number of wins for coach Mark Thomas in numbers of seasons he has been head coach at UW-Stout.

STOUT THIS SEASON:  After losing their three previous conference games, Stout got back to the win column with a 66-57 win UW-River Falls Jan. 29.  The Blue Devils have four players averaging nine points or more, Sami Schoeder leads a balanced scoring attack with 10.4 points per contest. Kyleigh Hebert is averaging 9.7 points, Bream Boomer 9.1 points and Shelby Sterba, 9.0. But Sterba is, in all likelihood, out for the season due to injury.  Eight different Blue Devils have led Stout in scoring at least once, Schoeder in eight  games. Sterba leads the team in rebounds with 6.5 boards, followed by Katelynne Folkers with 6.3 and Boomer with 5.8 rebounds.  Folkers is also averaging 6.5 points and leads the team in steals with 2.6 per contest.  Stout currently leads all WIAC opponents in rebounding, averaging 43.5 per game.  Stout is second amongst WIAC teams, behind UW-Whitewater, in steals, averaging 11.05 per game.  The Blue Devils are being outscored, 68.5-63.4. Stout has a roster of 23 players, 11 newcomers, 12 returners.  | 2013-14 Statistics

STOUT LAST TIME OUT: Led by Sami Schoeder's 20 points, UW-Stout held the lead for most of the evening on their way to a 66-57 win over UW-River Falls Jan. 29. Schoeder and Brea Boomer each scored 10 points in the first half to give Stout a 28-27 halftime lead.  The first 10 minutes of the second half proved to be a close affair, with four tied scores and five lead changes. The free throw line proved to be friendly to the Blue Devils. Stout knocked down eight consecutive free throws to take a 47-40 lead midway though the second half and Stout would never trail again. Stout connected on 27-of-35 free throws. River Falls also had opportunities at the line, but did not cash in as well as Stout, hitting 20-of-35 charity throws. Boomer finished with 16 points for Stout. Tess Lueders led River Falls with 10 points.  |  UW- River Falls Story and Box Score

STOUT LAST SEASON:  The Blue Devils finished the 2012-13 season with a 10-15 overall record, 4-12 in the WIAC, an eighth place finish. Eleven different players posted starts at one point throughout the season as injury swept through the team. Stout does return three of their four leading scorers from last year in Brea Boomer, Sami Schoeder and Katelynne Folkers. Boomer started 21 games, Schoeder 15 and Folkers 24. Stout was the fourth-ranked team in the conference in scoring (64.0), but was lost in points allowed (68.8) and eighth in scoring margin (minus 4.8). Stout led the league in steals (11.36), was fourth in blocked shots (2.84), first in offensive rebounds (15.28), fifth in defensive rebounds (25.16) and third in 3-point shots made (4.80).

STANDING TALL: The Blue Devils have been hampered with injuries throughout the season, but Kyleigh Hebert, Brea Boomer and Katelynne Folkers have started all 19 games. Sami Schoeder missed two game due to illness, but has started all 17 games she played in. Getting starts throughout the year have been Shelby Sterba (13), Nicki Alexander (5),  Haley Froehlich (2), and Tara Matter (1).

UW-WHITEWATER:  Whitewater, currently ranked 12th in the D3 Hoops top 25, and 14th in the USA Today Sports Division III Top 25 coaches' poll, is on a current eight game winning streak.  The Warhawks are yet to lose in the 2014 calendar and are perfect in league play so far this season. Whitewater has not lost a conference game since Jan. 16, 2013, holding an 18-game WIAC winning streak. That streak began with an 86-47 win over Stout Jan. 19, 2013. The Warhawks lost back-to-back games to nationally ranked teams at the D3hoops.com Classic in Las Vegas at the end of December, falling to Carthage College, 91-77, and Ohio Northern, 68-67. Whitewater leads all WIAC teams in multiple categories including; scoring (80.5 per game), free throw percentage (.765), three point field goal percentage (.357), steals (11.53 per game) and three point field goals made (7.05 per game).  Mary Merg and Kaitlyn Thill share the scoring lead for the Warhawks in scoring, averaging 13.4 points per game.  Amy Mandrell is chipping in 11.8 points and leads the team in rebounding, averaging 7.1 per game. Mondrell tops the conference in free throw percentage, draining 63-of-70 (.900 - ninth nationally).  Thill leads the team in assists with 3.63 per contest and leads the league in steals with 4.37 (second nationally).  The Warhawks are outscoring their opponents, 80.5-66.2.   | 2013-14 Statistics

LAST TIME THEY MET:  Sami Schoeder scored  a game-high 18 points and pulled down nine rebounds but it wasn't enough, as the Blue Devils fell 85-50 at UW-Whitewater in the Warhawks' conference opener, Dec. 7 in Whitewater. Abbie Reeves scored 17 points to lead Whitewater, going 4-of-7 from 3-point range. Mary Merg scored 16 points and Amy Mandrell 10. Kaitlynn Thill yanked down 10 rebounds and had six steals.  | Game One

THE SERIES:  Whitewater holds a 37-28 lead in the series and have won the past eight meetings. Stout's last win over Whitewater came Dec. 5, 2009, with a 65-54 Blue Devil victory in Menomonie.

ODDS AND ENDS: The Warhawks handed Stout their most lopsided loss of the season, 35 points (85-50)...Stout has forced 20 or more turnovers in 12 games...the Blue Devils have outrebounded their opponents in 11 games...UW-Whitewater is currently on an 18-game WIAC win streak (not including WIAC tournament games)...The Warhawks have won 12 in a row at home...Two Warhawks have surpassed the 1,000 point milestone this season, Mary Merg and Kaitlyn Thill...Keri Carollo is 14-10 in her career against UW-Stout including 5-7 in games played in Menomonie...UW-Whitewater averages 67.5 points on the road against the Blue Devils during Carollo's time as the head coach. UW-Stout averages 70 points per game at home against the Warhawks during the same timeframe...The Warhawks have added 6-2 senior center Kristen Ruchti to the roster since the last time these two teams faced each other. Her height, strength, knowledge and instinct will bring a new dimension to Whitewater's offense.

AWARDS AND HONORS: Kyleigh Hebert was selected as the UW-Stout/Northwestern Mutual athlete of the week Jan. 6.

TRADITION: In 10 of the last 14 seasons, Stout has been either the first or second leading scoring team in the WIAC. In the final team standings, Stout has finished no lower in the conference than fourth in 11 of the last 15 years

TV TIME: The Blue Devils will play twice on live television this season, both times at home. Stout will host UW-Whitewater, Saturday, Feb. 1 at 3 p.m. on Fox Sports Wisconsin and Fox Sports North, as well as Saturday, Feb. 15 against UW-Platteville, at 3 pm. The matchup between the Blue Devils and Warhawks is part of an agreement between the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) and FOX Sports to broadcast three WIAC women's basketball games during the 2014 season.  The three contests feature two appearances each by UW-Platteville, UW-Stout and UW-Whitewater.  UW-Whitewater faced UW-Platteville on Jan. 15, while the Pioneers will travel to UW-Stout on Feb. 15. These games will not be available in a live video stream.

JOHNSON FIELDHOUSE: The "cozy confines of Johnson Fieldhouse" has proven to be quite an advantage for the Blue Devils. Since the 2000-01 season, Stout has posted a 123-34 (.784) record at home. In conference games at Johnson Fieldhouse since 2000-01, Stout has a 76-26 (.747) record. Throw in the conference tournament games, and Stout has an 90-26 (.779) overall record against WIAC opponents at home.

TEAM CAPTAINS:  Senior Sami Schoeder, junior Brea Boomer and sophomore Kyleigh Hebert are team captains for the 2013-14 season.

THE COACHES: UW-Stout: Mark Thomas (439-272) is in his 27th year as the coach of the Blue Devils. Thomas has led his teams to 10 national playoff berths, nine times in the NCAA. A six-time WIAC coach of the year, the Blue Devils have won five conference titles and four conference tournament championships. His teams have twice been to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament. Thomas is the first WIAC coach to have reached 400 career wins. Thomas also has the most wins of any Stout basketball coach, either men's or women's. Dwain Mintz coached the men's basketball program for 27 years and compiled a 385-280 record.  UW-Whitewater: Kari Carollo is in her 12th season as the coach of the Warhawks.  She has an overall record of 208-102.  In that time she has led the Warhawks to three WIAC titles and six national tournament appearances.  Carollo spent three seasons as part of Coach Thomas's coaching staff at Stout.

THE ROAD TO 400 WINS: Mark Thomas' first collegiate win came the second game of his first season when his Blue Devils, which had won only two games over the previous two years, defeated Mt. Senario, 73-44, in November, 1987. The wins came more often after that. Thomas got his 50th win, Feb. 28, 1991, 71-60, over Cardinal Stritch. The 100th win came Jan. 10, 1994, an 80-59 win over UM-Morris. No. 200 came at UW-River Falls, a 78-74 victory on Jan. 5, 2000. Thomas' 300th win came in overtime, a 76-68 decision over UW-Stevens Point, Jan. 29, 2005. Thomas' 400th win came at UW-Stevens Point, a 90-76 decision, Feb. 3, 2010.

CONFERENCES: UW-Stout is a  member of the nine-team Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) along with UW-Eau Claire. UW-Oshkosh, UW-La Crosse, UW-Stevens Point, UW- Platteville, UW-River Falls, UW-Superior, and UW-Whitewater.

UP NEXT:  Stout will be at UW-Oshkosh, Saturday, Feb. 8 for a 3 p.m. contest.

UW-Stout 2013-14 Season Highs (Updated Jan. 30, 2014)

Points: 23, Hayley Froehlich vs. Colorado College, Dec. 31, 2013
3-Pointers Made: 5, Hayley Froehlich vs. Colorado College, Dec. 31, 2013
Rebounds: 20, Katelynne Folkers vs. UW-La Crosse, Jan. 15, 2014
Assists: 7, Kyleigh Hebert vs. Colorado College, Dec. 31, 2013
Steals: 6, Katelynne Folkers vs. UW-River Falls, Jan. 29, 2014; Katelynne Folkers vs Colorado College, Dec. 31, 2013; Katelynne Folkers vs. Marian University, Nov. 19, 2013

UW-Stout 2013-14 Team Season Highs (Updated Jan. 30, 2014)

Points: 89, vs. Marian University, Nov. 19, 2013
Field Goals Made: 34 vs. North Central University, Nov. 15, 2013
Field Goal Percentage: .471 (33-70) vs. Marian University, Nov. 19, 2013
3-Pointers Made: 7 (2x) vs. UW-Platteville, Jan. 11, 2014;  vs. Colorado College, Dec. 31, 2013
Free Throws Made: 27 vs. UW-River Falls, Jan. 29, 2014
Free Throw Percentage: .833 (15-18) vs. St. Scholastica, Dec. 1, 2013
Rebounds: 68 vs. North Central University, Nov. 15, 2013
Assists: 18 vs. Colorado College, Dec. 31, 2013
Steals: 21 vs. Marian University, Nov. 19, 2013

UW-Stout Collegiate Career Highs (Updated Jan. 30, 2014)

Autumn Paulson - #1
Points: x
Rebounds: 1 vs. UW-Eau Claire, Jan. 25, 2014
Assists: x

Becca Smith - #2
Points: 10 vs. St. Joseph's, Jan. 1, 2014
Rebounds: 2 vs. St. Joseph's, Jan. 1, 2014
Assists: 2 (2x) vs. UW-Eau Claire, Jan. 4, 2014; vs. Colorado College, Dec. 31, 2013

Kyleigh Hebert - #4
Points: 18 vs. St. Cloud State, Nov. 23, 2013
Rebounds: 6 (6x) vs. St. Joseph's, Jan. 1, 2014; vs. St. Scholastica, Dec. 1, 2013; vs. St. Cloud State, Nov. 23, 2013; vs. UW-Oshkosh, Feb. 16, 2013; vs. UW-Eau Claire, Jan. 3, 2013; vs. UW-La Crosse, Jan. 16, 2013
Assists: 7 vs. Colorado College, Dec. 31, 2013

Caitlin Coombs - #5
Points: 6 vs. UW-River Falls, Jan. 29, 2014
Rebounds: 6 vs. Dubuque, Nov. 27, 2011
Assists: 1 (4x)

Rachel Hanley - #10
Points: 12 vs. Martin Luther, Nov. 25, 2012
Rebounds: 4 vs. UW-Whitewater, Dec. 3, 2011
Assists: 5 (2x) vs. Marian University, Dec. 15, 2012; vs. Whitewater, Jan. 19, 2013

Tara Matter - #11
Points: 10 (2x) vs. UW-Eau Claire, Jan. 4, 2014; vs. Marian, Nov. 19, 2013
Rebounds: 7 vs. Northwestern, Nov. 16, 2013
Assists: 1 (3x) vs. Dakota State, Nov. 29, 2013; vs. Winona State, Nov. 21, 2013; vs. North Central, Nov. 15, 2013

Haley Froehlich - #13
Points: 23 vs. Colorado College, Dec. 31, 2013
Rebounds: 7 vs. UW-La Crosse, Jan. 18, 2012
Assists: 3 (2x) vs. UW-River Falls, Jan. 23, 2013; vs. UW-Platteville, Feb. 2, 2013

McKayla Brunner - #14
Points: x
Rebounds: 1 vs. North Central, Nov. 15, 2013
Assists: 1 vs. North Central, Nov. 14, 2013

Brea Boomer - #15
Points: 22 (2x) vs. East Texas Baptist University, Dec. 20, 2012; vs. UW-Stevens Point, Jan. 9, 2013
Rebounds: 13 vs. UW-Platteville, Feb. 4, 2012
Assists: 3 (3x) vs. UW-Platteville, Jan. 11, 2014; vs. St. Scholastica, Dec. 1, 2013; vs. UW-Platteville, Dec. 8, 2012

Sara Bedford - #20
Points: 10 vs. North Central, Nov. 15, 2013
Rebounds: 3 vs. Northwestern, Nov. 16, 2013
Assists: 2 vs. UW-Oshkosh, Jan. 18, 2014

Maygan Mitchell - #22
Points: 12 vs. Crown College, Nov. 28, 2012
Rebounds: 8 vs. Crown College, Nov. 28, 2012
Assists: 3 vs. River Falls, Dec. 12, 2012

Jessica Kreitz - #24
Points: 6 vs. North Central, Nov. 15, 2013
Rebounds: 7 vs. North Central, Nov. 15, 2013
Assists: 1 (2x) vs. North Central, Nov. 15, 2013; vs. Northwestern, Nov. 16, 2013

Nikki Alexander - #25
Points: 9 vs. Winona State, Nov. 21, 2013
Rebounds: 7 (2x) vs. Winona State, Nov. 21, 2013; vs. North Central, Nov. 15, 2013
Assists: 2 (3x) vs. St. Scholastica, Dec. 1, 2013; vs. St. Cloud State, Nov. 20, 2012; vs. Martin Luther College, Nov. 25, 2012

Jasmyne Hazelton - #30
Points: 3 vs. UW-Eau Claire, Jan. 25, 2014
Rebounds: 1 (2x) vs. UW-River Falls, Dec. 11, 2013; vs. St. Cloud State, Nov. 23, 2013
Assists: 2 vs.St. Cloud State, Nov. 23, 2013

Sami Schoeder - #32
Points: 31 vs. UW-Platteville, Jan. 8, 2011
Rebounds: 10 vs. Hamline, Nov. 17, 2012
Assists: 4 vs. Hamline, Nov. 17, 2012

Shelby Sterba - #33
Points: 18 vs. St. Scholastica, Dec. 1, 2013
Rebounds: 10 (2x) vs. St. Joseph's, Jan. 1, 2014; vs. Dakota State, Nov. 29, 2013
Assists: 2 (4x) vs. UW-Eau Claire, Jan. 4, 2014; vs. Superior, Dec. 4, 2013; vs. UW-River Falls, Dec. 12, 2012; vs. Marian, Nov. 19, 2013

Katelynne Folkers - #34
Points: 16 vs. Hamline, Nov. 17, 2012
Rebounds: 20 vs. UW-La Crosse, Jan. 15, 2014
Assists: 5 (4x) vs. St. Cloud State, Nov. 20, 2012; vs. St. Scholastica, Nov. 24, 2012; vs. Eau Claire, Jan. 3, 2013; vs. UW-La Crosse, Feb. 6, 2013

Stephanie Kastens - #35
Points: 6 vs. Whitewater, Jan. 19, 2013
Rebounds: 4 vs. UW-Oshkosh, Jan. 18, 2014
Assists: 1 (4x) vs. UW-Eau Claire, Jan. 25, 2014; vs. North Central, Nov. 15, 2013; vs. St. Cloud State, Nov. 20, 2012; vs. North Central, Nov. 15 2013

Jenna Goldsmith - #41
Points:12 vs UW-La Crosse, Jan. 15, 2014
Rebounds: 6 (2x) vs. UW-Platteville, Jan. 11, 2014; vs. Northwestern, Nov. 16, 2013
Assists: 1 (2x) vs. North Central, Nov. 15, 2013; vs. Northwestern, Nov. 16, 2013

Hannah Schmitt - #42
Points: x
Rebounds: 1 (2x) vs. St. Cloud State, Nov. 23, 2013; vs. Whitewater, Dec. 7, 2013
Assists: 1 vs. Whitewater, Dec. 7, 2013

Katie Nickles - #44
Points: 9 (2x) vs. St. Scholastica, Nov. 24, 2012; vs. UW-La Crosse, Feb. 6, 2013
Rebounds: 9 vs. St. Scholastica, Nov. 24, 2012
Assists: 2 (3x) vs. St. Joseph's, Jan. 1, 2014; vs. East Texas Baptist University, Dec. 30, 2012; vs. UW-La Crosse, Feb. 6, 2013

Hannah Schwahn - #50
Points: x
Rebounds: x
Assists: x