WBB Preview: Blue Devils host UW-Oshkosh Saturday

 vs. UW-Oshkosh:  Live Audio | Live Video | Live Stats

THIS WEEK'S GAMES:  Coming off a thrilling two point win over arch-rival UW-Eau Claire Wednesday night, the Blue Devils (6-13, 4-6 WIAC) play host to nationally ranked and conference favorite UW-Oshkosh (15-3, 7-2 WIAC), Saturday, Jan. 31 at 3 p.m. After a bye Wednesday, the Titans are currently a half game out of first in the WIAC. Oshkosh is ranked 23rd in the latest  D3hoops.com top 25 poll. The Titans won the first meeting between the two teams on Jan. 14 in Oshkosh.

WEBCASTS: All UW-Stout home games will be available in a live video stream by Blue Devil Video, with Sam Ripp on the call. WMEQ 880 Radio, with Pete Knutson, Jimmie Kaska, Jay Fall 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. Any WIAC Championship Tournament basketball games will be not be video streamed live.

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.

UW-STOUT THIS SEASON: The Blue Devils come into the 2014-15 season with six seniors, the largest group of returning seniors in recent memory. Sophomore  Jenna Goldsmith is leading the team in scoring with 11.2 points and and is second on the team in rebounds with 5.4. Goldsmith has scored in double figures in 11 of 15 games played.  Goldsmith leads the WIAC in field goal percentage, shooting 60.7 percent (86-143), and is fourth in blocked shots with 20 (1.18 per game). Brea Boomer is second on the team in scorining with 9.5 points per game. Boomer is third on the team in rebounds, averaging 5.0 per game. Katelynne Folkers is leading Stout off the boards and is fourth in the conference, averaging 7.5 caroms per contest, and is averaging 8.6 points. Folkers has led Stout in rebounding the last three games. Kyleigh Hebert is averaging 9.2 points and leads the team in assists with 62 (3.16 per game). Sarah Schoch leads the team in 3-pointers with 26 made (seventh in the WIAC). Stout is being outscored 69.6-63.1.   | Complete 2014-15 Preview | 2014-15 Statistics

STOUT LAST TIME OUT:  Brea Boomer hit a shot with 1-minute, 5-seconds remaining in the game to break a tie and UW-Stout kept UW-Eau Claire scoreless the rest of the way as the Blue Devils defeated the Blugolds, 61-59, Wednesday at Johnson Fieldhouse. Jenna Goldsmith finished the night with 13 points and Kyleigh Hebert had 11 points, along with a game-high five assists. Katelynne Folkers pulled down 10 rebounds and finished with four points. Boomer added six points. Becca Smith added eight points, hitting a pair of 3-pointers and two free throws. | Eau Claire Story and Box Score

SCOUTING UW-OSHKOSH:  The Titans possess the top defense in the WIAC (53.2 points allowed) and are currently second in the league points per game (68.7), giving them the greatest scoring margin (plus-15.5). The Titans have seven times held their opponents under 50 points and 13 times have allowed 60 points or less. Taylor Schmidt leads the Titans in scoring with 11.2 points. Four other Titans - Katleynn Kuehl (9.4), Ellisa Campbell (9.4), Alex Richard (8.5) and Ashley Neustifter (8.1) - are averaging more than eight points per outing. Rebounding is by committee as well. Richard is pulling down 5.9 boards, Marissa Selner 5.8 and Kuehl 5.0. Through games played of Jan. 26, UW-Oshkosh ranked eighth in the NCAA Division III in turnovers (13.1), 14th in assist-turnover ratio (1.12), 27th in field goal percentage (43.1), 28th in scoring margin (15.7), 33rd in won-lost percentage (82.4) and 41st in scoring defense (53.9).    |  Titan Statistics

THE TITANS LAST TIME OUT: A standout defensive performance propelled  UW-Oshkosh to a 53-41 victory over UW-Stevens Point in the 100th meeting of the two programs on Jan. 24.  UW-Oshkosh, which has won four of the last five games in the longest rivalry in the WIAC, never trailed in avenging a 54-47 loss at UW-Stevens Point on Jan. 10. The Titans improved their record to 52-48 in the all-time series with the Pointers. The Titans held UW-Stevens Point to its lowest scoring output in the 90 games since a 47-41 loss at UW-La Crosse on Jan. 14, 2012. UW-Oshkosh, which sports the top scoring defense in the conference at 53.2 points per game, limited its opponent to less than 50 points for the second straight contest and the sixth time this season. The Titans had a bye, Wednesday, Jan. 28.  | Story and Box Score

LAST TIME STOUT AND OSHKOSH MET:  UW-Oshkosh ran out to a 52-35 halftime lead and raced off to a 94-71 over UW-Stout Jan. 14 at Kolf Sports Center. The 17th ranked Titans' set a new season-high with their 52 point, first half effort, shooting 48.6 percent in the first half (18-37) from the floor and 44.4 percent (4-9) from 3-point range. Oshkosh aided their own cause by downing 12-of-16 shots from the charity stripe. The Blue Devils matched their second highest of the season first half point total with the 35 points. Stout's Jenna Goldsmith and Kyleigh Hebert  both finished with 17 points. Goldsmith matched a career scoring mark and also collected nine rebounds in the contest. The Titan's Taylor Schmidt led all scorers with 24 points. Schmidt drained all eight of her free throw attempt, while Alex Richard made 7-of-8 and finished the night with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Alicia Tollefson finsihed with 17 points,. | Game Story and Statistics



SCOUTING UW-EAU CLAIRE: The Blugolds have yet to lose a game during this month of January, and that includes a 63-57 overtime win over UW-Oshkosh two weeks ago in Oshkosh. Teenie Lichtfuss has been the team's leading scorer the last four times out and leds the team in scoring with 12.5 points per game. Courtney Lewis is averaging 11.8 points. Lewis is the leader off the boards, yanking down 6.1 caroms. Rachel Egdorf is averaging 5.1 rebounds. The Blugolds are tops in the league in 3-point percentage, hitting 37.6 percent (105-279). Lichtfuss has drained 29 of 71 for a 40.8 percent success rate, second in the league to teammate Kirstin sahr, who has a 46.2 percent rade (18-39). Ellen Blackloff and Egdorf are first and second, respectively, in the league in blocked shots, with Blackloff swatting away 28 (1.65) and Egdorf 23 (1.33). Eau Claire is outscoring their opponents, 64.0-57.4.  | Blugold Statistics

THE BLUGOLDS LAST TIME OUT:  UW-Eau Claire had the conference bye on Saturday, but are coming off a big 68-42 win over UW-Platteville last Wednesday. That lead was never in question, at one point swelling over 20 points as the hot shooting continued. Eau Claire finished shooting 50.9 percent from the field and 63.2 percent from three while holding the Pioneers to 20.7 percent from the field and 30.8 percent from behind the arc. Teenie Lichtfuss continued her prolific scoring, finishing with 15 points. She also contributed 7 assists and 6 rebounds. Courtney Lewis came close to a triple double, an outcome that is almost to be expected of her well-rounded play, finishing with 13 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists.  The Blugolds' size, Rachel Egdorf and Ellen Blacklock (So. Winona, Minn.), suffocated the Pioneer's shooting opportunities while chipping in five points and seven points, respectively.  | Story and Box Score

LAST TIME STOUT AND EAU CLAIRE MET:   UW-Stout's Brea Boomer collected her third career double-double, but UW-Eau Claire ran past the Blue Devils, 66-49, at Zorn Arena Jan. 7. Boomer finished the night with 18 points and 12 rebounds, and added three assists to pace the Blue Devils. Boomer had 10 points and seven rebounds at halftime, as Stout trailed 34-23 at the break.The Blugolds' Tennie Lichtfuss and Courtney Lewis spelled double trouble for the Blue Devils. Lichtfuss connected on 11-of-14 from the floor and finished with 27 poitns. Lewis had her own double-double, dropping in 17 points and pulling down 11 rebounds.  | Game Story and Statistics


CLIMBING THE LADDER:  Katelynne Folkers has climbed to eighth on the UW-Stout all-time rebounding list with 529 career rebounds, passing Tammy Fallon (1991-95, 501 rebounds) and Lindsey Erichsen (2001-05, 502). Folkers' matched her highest rebounding totals in a single game this season with 12 against UW-River Falls. Earlier in the season, Folkers had 12 boards against  Dubuque.. Her lowest of the season, three, when Stout faced St. Mary's. Folkers currently has 719 career points. Brea Boomer currently has 417 career rebounds, ranking 16th, and has 821 career points.

AWARDS AND HONORS: Brea Boomer was selected as the UW-Stout/Northwestern Mutual Athlete of the Week, Jan. 13...Kyleigh Hebert was named to the all-tournament team at the DePauw University Amy Hasbrook Classic in December...Jenna Goldsmith was selected as the UW-Stout/Northwestern Mutual Athlete of the Week, Dec. 8...Sarah Schoch was selected to the all-tournament team at the St. Norbert Tip-Off Classic... Kyleigh Hebert and Katelynne Folkers were All-WIAC honorable mention selections in 2013-14.

STOUT LAST SEASON: Virtually out of the playoff picture as the season wore down, UW-Stout (11-5, 7-9 WIAC) put together a four-game winning streak to conclude the regular season and earn the fourth seed in the WIAC tournament. Sami Schoeder, Katelynne Folkers and Kyleigh Hebert earned All-WIAC honorable mention honors. | 2013-14 Statistics

TRADITION: In 10 of the last 15 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 12 of the last 15 years.

TEAM CAPTAINS: Seniors Brea Boomer, Haley Froehlich and Katelynne Folkers, along with junior Kyleigh Hebert, are 2014-15 team captains.

THE COACHES: UW-Stout: Mark Thomas (449-287) is in his 28th 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 under Thomas' tutelage. 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-Eau Claire: Tonja Englund (265-143) is in her 15th season with the Blugolds. Englund's teams have won four WIAC championships and have advanced to the NCAA tournament five times.   UW-Oshkosh:   Brad Fisher (61-13) is in his third year as the head coach of the Titans. During the 2014 campaign, Fischer led UW-Oshkosh to a 26-4 record and the third round of the NCAA Division III tournament. The Titans won the WIAC tournament for the second time overall and first since 1999. Fischer also guided UW-Oshkosh to a second-place finish in the WIAC regular season with a 13-3 mark. It was the most WIAC wins for the Titans since 2004, when they also went 13-3.

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. Superior will be leaving the WIAC after this season.

UP NEXT: The Blue Devils will travel to UW-La Crosse, Wednesday, Feb. 4 for a 7 p.m. contest, then will have the league bye, Saturday, Feb. 7.



UW-Stout 2014-15 Season Highs (Updated January 25, 2015)

Points: 19, Katelynne Folkers vs. UW-Whitewater, Jan. 10, 2015
3-Pointers Made: 5, Sarah Schoch vs. Carroll University, Nov. 16, 2014
Rebounds: 14, Jenna Goldsmith vs. UW-Platteville, Jan. 3, 2015
Assists: 6, (2x)  Kyleigh Hebert vs. UW-Oshkosh, Jan. 15, 2015; vs. UW-Stevens Point, Dec. 10, 2014
Steals: 4 (3x) Katelynne Folkers vs. UW-Platteville, Jan. 24, 2015; Brea Boomer & Katelynne Folkers vs. St. Catherine, Nov. 20, 2014

UW-Stout 2014-15 Team Season Highs (Updated January 25, 2015)

Points: 89 vs. Hamline, Nov. 25, 2014
Field Goals Made: 33 vs. Hamline, Nov. 25, 2014
Field Goal Percentage: .443 (27-61) vs. St. Catherine, Nov. 20, 2014
3-Pointers Made: 8 vs. St. Catherine, Nov. 20, 2014
Free Throws Made: 21 vs. St. Mary's, Nov. 21, 2014
Free Throw Percentage:   .917 (11-12) vs. St. Norbert College, Nov. 15, 2014
Rebounds: 52 vs. Hamline, Nov. 25, 2014
Assists: 18 vs. St. Catherine, Nov. 20, 2014
Steals: 15 vs. St. Catherine, Nov. 20, 2014

UW-Stout Collegiate Career Highs (Updated January 25, 2015)

Becca Smith - #2
Points: 11 vs. St. Mary's, Nov. 21, 2014
Rebounds: 4 vs. St. Catherine, Nov. 20, 2014
Assists: 4 vs. UW-Superior, Jan. 17, 2015

Kyleigh Hebert - #4
Points: 22 vs. UW-Superior, Feb. 25, 2014
Rebounds: 9 vs. Hamline, Nov. 25, 2014
Assists: 7 vs. Colorado College, Dec. 31, 2013

Caitlin Coombs - #5
Points: 7 vs. UW-Superior, Feb. 25, 2014
Rebounds: 6 (2x) vs. UW-Superior, Feb. 25, 2014; vs. Dubuque, Nov. 27, 2011
Assists: 1 (4x)

Haley Seifert - #10
Points: 6 vs. University of Dubuque, Nov. 30, 2014
Rebounds: 2 (2x) vs. DePauw University, Dec. 30, 2014;  vs. University of Dubuque, Nov. 30, 2014
Assists: 2 vs. UW-La Crosse, Dec. 6, 2014

Haley Froehlich - #13
Points: 23 vs. Colorado College, Dec. 31, 2013
Rebounds: 8 vs. Hamline, Nov. 25, 2014
Assists: 3 (2x) vs. UW-River Falls, Jan. 23, 2013; vs. UW-Platteville, Feb. 2, 2013

McKayla Brunner - #14
Points: 1 vs. UW-River Falls, Jan. 21, 2015
Rebounds: 1 (4x) vs.UW-Superior, Jan. 17, 2015; vs. UW-Whitewater, Jan. 10, 2015; vs. St. Mary's, Nov. 21, 2014; vs. North Central, Nov. 15, 2013
Assists: 1 vs. North Central, Nov. 14, 2013

Brea Boomer - #15
Points: 24 vs. UW-Superior, Jan. 17, 2015
Rebounds: 13 vs. UW-Platteville, Feb. 4, 2012
Assists: 3 (5x)  vs. UW-Eau Claire, Jan. 7, 2015; vs. St. Catherine, Nov. 20, 2014; vs. UW-Platteville, Jan. 11, 2014; vs. St. Scholastica, Dec. 1, 2013; vs. UW-Platteville, Dec. 8, 2012

Sarah Schoch - #23
Points: 17 vs. Carroll University, Nov. 16, 2014
Rebounds: 7 vs. Millsaps College, Dec. 28, 2014
Assists: 2 vs. St. Catherine, Nov. 20, 2014

Jessica Kreitz - #24
Points: 6 vs. North Central, Nov. 15, 2013
Rebounds: 7 vs. North Central, Nov. 15, 2013
Assists: 1 (3x) vs. Carroll University, Nov. 16, 2014; vs. North Central, Nov. 15, 2013; vs. Northwestern, Nov. 16, 2013

Nicki 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

Ann Rysavy - #31
Points: 3 vs. DePauw University, Dec. 29, 2014
Rebounds: 4 vs. St. Scholastica, Nov. 29, 2014
Assists: 2 (2x) vs. UW-Platteville, Jan. 24, 2015; vs. University of Dubuque, Nov. 30, 2014

Anna Brown - #32
Points: 4 vs. St. Scholastica, Nov. 29, 2014
Rebounds: 4 vs. University of Dubuque, Nov. 30, 2014
Assists: 1 (2x) vs. Millsaps College, Dec. 28, 2014; vs. University of Dubuque, Nov. 30, 2014

Katelynne Folkers - #34
Points: 19 vs. UW-Whitewater, Jan. 10, 2015
Rebounds: 20 vs. UW-La Crosse, Jan. 15, 2014
Assists: 6 (2x) vs. UW-Whitewater, Jan. 10, 2015; vs. UW-Stevens Point, Feb. 22, 2014

Stephanie Kastens - #35
Points: 6 vs. Whitewater, Jan. 19, 2013
Rebounds: 4 (2x) vs. UW-Platteville, Jan. 3, 2015; vs. UW-Oshkosh, Jan. 18, 2014
Assists: 2 vs. Hamline, Nov. 25, 2014

Jenna Goldsmith - #41
Points:17, (2x) vs. UW-Oshkosh, Jan. 14, 2015; vs. St. Catherine, Nov. 20, 2014
Rebounds: 14, vs. UW-Platteville, Jan. 3, 2015
Assists: 2 vs. Carroll University, Nov. 16. 2014

Laura Sikora - #43
Points: 1 vs. Carroll University, Nov. 16, 2014
Rebounds: 2 vs. University of Dubuque, Nov. 30, 2014
Assists: x

Katie Nickles - #44
Points: 12 vs. St. Mary's, Nov. 21, 2014
Rebounds: 9 vs. St. Scholastica, Nov. 24, 2012
Assists: 2 (5x) vs. Hamline, Nov. 25, 2014; vs. UW-La Crosse, Feb. 19, 2014; vs. St. Joseph's, Jan. 1, 2014; vs. East Texas Baptist University, Dec. 30, 2012; vs. UW-La Crosse, Feb. 6, 2013

Anna Bunyan - #50
Points: x
Rebounds: 1 (2x) vs. DePauw University, Dec. 29, 2014; vs. St. Scholastica, Nov. 29, 2014
Assists: x