WBB Preview: Blue Devils return home to host UW-Whitewater Saturday

at UW-Eau Claire:  Live Audio | Live Video | Live Stats      vs. UW-Whitewater:  Live Audio | Live Video | Live Stats

THIS WEEK'S GAMES:  Both UW-Stout (4-9, 2-2 WIAC) and visiting UW-Whitewater, (6-7, 1-3 WIAC) will be looking get back on track after dropping conference games on the road this past Wednesday,  The Blue Devils lost at UW-Eau Claire, while the Warhawks lost at UW-Superior.

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 quite a few years. Sophomore Jenna Goldsmith is leading the team in scoring with 10.6 points and 5.3 rebounds. Senior Brea Boomer is averaging 9.0 points, and has broken into double digits the last three games. Kyleigh Hebert is averaging 8.2 points. Goldsmith leads the WIAC in field goal percentage, shooting 58.4. percent (43-71), and is fourth in blocked shots with 12 (1.22 per game). Katelynne Folkers is leading Stout off the boards and is sixth in the conference, averaging 7.3 caroms per contest, and 7.7 points. Sarah Schoch is averaging 7.2 points and leads the team in 3-pointers with 22 made (third in the WIAC). Stout is being outscored 69.2-62.5.  | Complete 2014-15 Preview | 2014-15 Statistics

STOUT LAST TIME OUT: Brea Boomer collected her third career double-double, but UW-Eau Claire ran past the Blue Devils, 66-49, at Zorn Arena Wednesday. 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, but Stout trailed 34-23 at the break. The Blugolds' Tennie Lichtfuss and Courtney Lewis spelled double trouble for the Blue Devils. Lichtfuss scored 27 points. and Lewis had 17 points and 11 rebounds. The Blue Devils shot 34.0 percent (18-53) from the floor and 16.7 percent (2-12) from beyond the arc. The Blugolds (8-6, 3-2 WIAC) shot 44.6 percent (25-56) from the floor and shot 52 percent (13-25) in the first half. They connected on 5-of-16 3-pointers. | Eau Claire Story and Box Score


SCOUTING UW-WHITEWATER: The Warhawks will have an uphill battle the rest of the way this season. After being selected to finish second in the league following a third place national finish and an undefeated conference season, the Warhawks picked up their first conference win of the season last weekend, only to tumble the next time out, 71-59, after the long bus trip to UW-Superior Wednesday.  Whitewater opened up the conference season with losses to conference favorite UW-Oshkosh and UW-Platteville. The Warhawks' scoring leaders are freshman Brooke Trewyn with 11.4 points and junior Abbie Reeves with 10.7 points. Reeves leads the league in 3-point shots made with 2.23 per game. Lisa Palmer is pulling down 8.1 rebounds, second in the WIAC.  Whitewater is averaging 69.0 points and giving up 64.4.  |  Warhawk Statstics

THE WARHAWKS LAST TIME OUT:  Whitewater  fell to UW-Superior 71-59 on the road Wednesday night. Turnovers proved costly for the Warhawks as UW-Superior extended the advantage throughout the first half.  Faced with an uphill battle trailing 39-22 at the half, the Warhawks used a 7-0 spurt to pull to with 48-35 with just under 14 minutes left in the game.  Less than a minute later, Abbie Reeves knocked down back-to-back three's to spark a 12-0 run to pull UW-Whitewater within five, 52-47, with 9:47 on the scoreboard.  Malia Smith notched her season high to lead UW-Whitewater with 15 points and added four rebounds, three assists and two steals. Trewyn totaled 15 points in the game. Reeves recorded 12 points and Lisa Palmer led the Warhawks on the boards with six rebounds. For the Yellowjackets, Sally Linzmeier led all players with 28 points.  | Story and Box Score

LAST YEAR WHEN STOUT AND WHITEWATER MET: The Warhawks took both games last season, winning the opener, 85-50, in Whitewater, Dec. 13, 2013, then winning the rematch, 81-60, at Johnson Fieldhouse, Feb. 1. In the first game, Sami Schoeder scored 18 points and pulled down nine rebounds, but the Blue Devils were unable to overcome 27 turnovers. Abbie Reeves scored 17 points to lead Whitewater. In the rematch, despite the lopsided final score, the Blue Devils were in the game right up until the last seven minutes as three Blue Devils scored in double figures, only to see five Warhawks in double figures. | Game One | Game Two



SCOUTING UW-EAU CLAIRE: The Blugolds are led by Courtney Lewis with 11.6 points per contest and Teenie Lichtfuss with 10.7 points. Lewis and Rachel Egdorf both are averaging 5.5 rebounds per contest. Lewis is second in the league in assists with 4.77. The Blugolds are outscoring their opponents, 63.6-59.2.  |  Blugold Statstics

THE BLUGOLDS LAST TIME OUT:  Eau Claire defeated UW-La Crosse, 66-46, Jan. 3. Despite a quick start by the Eagles, the Blugolds used a pair of three-pointers by Teenie Lichtfuss to tie the game at 9-9 with 16:44 remaining.  Eau Claire led by as many as seven in the half at 22-15 after a Madison Johnson  jumper with 8:27 to go, but UW-L was able to keep it close and trailed 32-27 at the half.  In the second half, the Eagles were able to cut the lead to 34-31 with 16:28 remaining, but the Blugolds would extend it to double-digits at 46-35 with 12:09 left in the contest after a pair of free throws by Jamie Swanson The home squad would go on to outscore La Crosse 20-9 the rest of the way. | Story and Box Score

LAST YEAR WHEN STOUT AND EAU CLAIRE MET: The Blugolds took both games last year, winning the opener in Menomonie, Jan. 4, 73-57, then winning the rematch, 76-50, at Zorn Arena, Jan. 25. Stout has not won at Zorn Arena since the 2009-10 season, a 67-66 win Dec. 12, 2009.  | Game One | Game Two


CLIMBING THE LADDER:  Katelynne Folkers has climbed to 11th on the UW-Stout all-time rebounding list with 482 career rebounds, and needs two rebounds to pass Erin Churchill. Her highest rebounding totals in a single game this year came against Dubuque when she pulled down 12. Her lowest of the season, three, when Stout faced St. Mary's. Folkers currently has 657 career points. Brea Boomer currently has 758 career points.

AWARDS AND HONORS: Kyleigh Hebert was named to 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 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 (447-283) 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 (261-141) is in her 15th year with the Blugolds. Englund has guided the Blugolds to five NCAA appearances and four conference titles.  UW-Whitewater: Keri Carollo (240-114) is in her 13th year with the Warhawks. Carollo has guided the Warhawks to back-to-back appearances in the NCAA Division III Tournament semifinals. UW-Whitewater finished as national runner-up in 2013 and in third place in 2014 to earn two of the four highest national finishes in program history. Carollo also led the team to a third-place finish in 2008, when the program made its first of seven consecutive appearances in the NCAA Tournament.Carollo was an assistant coach with the Blue Devils before taking the Whitewater position.

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 take to the road for two games next week, traveling to UW-Oshkosh, Wednesday, Jan. 14 and to UW-Superior, Saturday, Jan. 17.

UW-Stout 2014-15 Season Highs (Updated January 8, 2015)

Points: 17, Katelynne Folkers vs. Hamline, Nov. 25, 2014; Sarah Schoch vs. Carroll University, Nov. 16, 2014; Jenna Goldsmith vs. St. Catherine, Nov. 20, 2014
3-Pointers Made: 5, Sarah Schoch vs. Carroll University, Nov. 16, 2014
Rebounds: 14, Jenna Goldsmith vs. UW-Platteville, Jan. 3, 2015
Assists: 6, Kyleigh Hebert vs. UW-Stevens Point, Dec. 10, 2014
Steals: 4 (2x) Brea Boomer & Katelynne Folkers vs. St. Catherine, Nov. 20, 2014

UW-Stout 2014-15 Team Season Highs (Updated January 8, 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 8, 2015)

Becca Smith - #2
Points: 11 vs. St. Mary's, Nov. 21, 2014
Rebounds: 4 vs. St. Catherine, Nov. 20, 2014
Assists: 3 (2x) vs. St. Catherine, Nov. 20, 2014; vs. Carroll University, Nov. 16, 2014

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: x
Rebounds: 1 (2x) 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: 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 (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 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: 16 vs. Hamline, Nov. 17, 2012
Rebounds: 20 vs. UW-La Crosse, Jan. 15, 2014
Assists: 6 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, 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