WBB Preview: Six seniors to lead experienced Blue Devils

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MENOMONIE (November 13, 2014) – The UW-Stout women's basketball team spent some time in the wilderness last season. But late in the season, something clicked and the Blue Devils put on some nice touches, running off a four game winning streak to end the regular season and draw a first round conference home playoff game.
 
With a team that includes six seniors, two juniors and six sophomores, long-time coach Mark Thomas is anticipating his charges are able to make the required adjustments earlier in the season.
 
"With six seniors back, we shouldn't be surprised with how things happen," Thomas, who begins his 28th year, said. "With the number of seniors and upperclassmen with experience, I expect this team to be more consistently competitive."
 
Stout returns senior guards Haley Froehlich (Mondovi), Katelynne Folkers (Fall Creek), swing player Katie Nickles (Braham, Minn) and forwards Caitlin Coombs (Alma), Nicki Alexander (Wabasha, Minn) and Brea Boomer (Grand Portage, Minn).
 
Junior point guard Kyleigh Hebert (Spencer) started all but one game last season, and forward Stephanie Kastens (Wausau) saw action throughout the season.
 
Guard Sarah Schoch (So, Chippewa Falls) is a sophomore newcomer to the squad, but fellow sophomores Jenna Goldsmith (St. Anthony, Minn), Jasmyne Hazelton (Eau Claire), Jessica Kreitz (Breezy Point, Minn), McKayla Brunner (Arkansaw), and Becca Smith (Victoria, Minn) all saw varying degrees of participation last season.
 
"Our sophomores last year played a significant role," Thomas said. "I could tell (this year) they are more comfortable with the college environment and have a better understanding of what it is to be a student-athlete."
 
"We are excited to have so many juniors and seniors back," Thomas said. "We should be able to adjust faster. You can watch all the film you want, but it comes down to making the adjustments in the game. We made those adjustments late last year. This year, we hope to make those adjustments in the early part of the season."
 
Hebert and Smith are expected to run with the point guard spot.
 
Hebert was the team's second leading scorer last year, and averaged more than 24 minutes per game, second on the team.
 
"Kyleigh has tons of experience and is a very skilled player," Thomas said. "She can take you off the dribble, is a good passer and is a better shooter."
 
Explosive to the basket, Hebert averaged 10.8 points per contest last year and 3.1 rebounds, while averaging just over two assists per contest. She was the team's leading free throw shooter, canning 79-of-109 attempts.
 
Smith missed several games early last season due to illness, but has impressed Thomas and his staff ever since.
 
"We have been impressed with Becca's growth as a player," Thomas said. "She is physically stronger. We really like her on the offensive side."
 
Freshmen Haley Seifert (Ladysmith) and Ann Rysavy (Austin, Minn) will see some time in the point.
 
Folkers and Froehlich have been regulars at the off guard in the Blue Devil scheme since their freshmen seasons. Folkers has been getting the starts and Froehlich is solid coming off the bench.
 
Folkers averaged 7.5 points per contest in a team-high 26 minutes per game and was the team's leading rebounder with 6.6 caroms per contest. Folkers, an honorable mention pick last season, led the team in steals with 75, almost three per game. Froehlich averaged 4.5 points in 14 minutes and had a huge game when she scored a career-high against Colorado College.
 
Both players have gathered valuable experience throughout their careers, Thomas said, and, with a good offseason, have taken more ownership of the team.
 
Schoch, a transfer who has been out of the competitive game for 18 months, will give the Blue Devils a good mid-range shooter.
 
"We are excited to get Sarah out there," Thomas said. "We had to get her timing for the game back."
 
Hazelton, along with Schoch, brings a physical presence to the game.
 
"When Jasmyne puts her nose down, she gets where she wants to," Thomas said. "Her confidence is up and she will have to help us out right away."
 
Thomas praised Brunner for her improvement over last year, and, with her hard-nose play, should play a role off the bench.
 
"We are hoping McKayla can go out there and wreak havoc," Thomas said.
 
Nickles, a senior, and Sikora, a freshman, should be able to swing back and forth between guard and forward.
 
"Katie has a good knowledge of the game, and we need someone in that role," Thomas said. "We will be able to slip her in during a finesse game,
"Laura gives us that long body with quick hands. If someone gets sloppy on her, she is going to get the ball."
 
Thomas deems his forwards as a unique group.
 
"I am excited and nervous," Thomas said. "Each of our forwards has a different twist to the game."
 
Boomer, Coombs, Kreitz, Alexander, Goldsmith and Kastens return to play in the post.
 
Boomer, an all-WIAC honorable mention pick as a sophomore, averaged 8.4 points last year and 5.2 rebounds, while play about 23 minutes.
 
"Brea is that hybrid center," Thomas said. "She doesn't back down from anything. We use her all over."
 
Coombs has improved her game defensively, "and we really needed that around the basket," Thomas said.  Kreitz should see more floor time, and last year averaged nearly two rebounds a game in just over five minutes of play. Kasten will play a role down low, Thomas said.
 
Alexander has shown her strength away from the basket. Goldsmith has taken a step up from her freshman year where she averaged 2.9 rebounds and was second on the team in blocked shots. Thomas said Goldsmith's offensive game has improved, as well.
 
As the season goes along, Thomas expects to see more from freshmen forwards Anna Brown and Anna Bunyan.
 
"It is nice to have a team with experience," Thomas said. "I expect them to go out and play hard and play with authority. We will battle for 40 minutes. Our opponents will have to play well to beat us."
 
The Blue Devils open the 2014-15 season at the St. Norbert Tournament, Saturday, Nov. 15 and Sunday, Nov. 16. Stout opens with host St. Norbert at 7 p.m. Saturday and will play Carroll University, Sunday at 1 p.m.