WBB Preview: Blue Devils close season with trip to Whitewater

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

THIS WEEK'S GAMES:The Blue Devils (6-18, 4-11 WIAC) will close out the regular season this week when they host UW-Superior (17-6, 11-3 WIAC), Wednesday, Feb. 18 at 7 p.m., then travel to UW-Whitewater (12-12, 7-8 WIAC), Saturday, Feb. 21 for a 3 p.m. start.  Wednesday's game was also senior night and the Blue Devils will honor seniors Brea Boomer, Katelynne Folkers, Nicki Alexander, Katie Nickles, Caitlin Coombs and Haley Froehlich, who will play their final game at Johnson Fieldhouse.

MARK THOMAS INTERVIEWS: Throughout the season, Jimmie Kaska of Sports Radio 1400 AM will speak with head women's basketball coach Mark Thomas about the season. Listed are each of the interviews throughout the season. This week's interview | Listen to Interviews

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: Sophomore Jenna Goldsmith is leading the team in scoring with 11.7 points and and is second on the team in rebounds with 5.8. Goldsmith leads the WIAC in field goal percentage, shooting 55.8 percent (106-190), is sixth in scoring, 11th in rebounds and third in blocked shots with 30 (1.43 per game). Kyleigh Hebert is second on the team in scoring at 9.1 points and leads the team in assists with 65 (2.83/game), ranking seventh in the league. Brea Boomer and Katelynne Folkers are both averaging 8.4 points. Folkers is leading Stout off the boards and is fourth in the conference, averaging 7.1 caroms per contest. Sarah Schoch leads the team in 3-pointers with 29 made (10th in the WIAC). Stout is being outscored 67.8-60.9. | 2014-15 Statistics

STOUT LAST TIME OUT: Brea Boomer hit a 3-pointer with 20 seconds remaining to pull Stout to within two points, 65-63, but Stevens Point hit 3-of-4 free throws to keep the Blue Devils at bay. Trips to the free throw line were  plentiful in this game that saw the teams combine for 55 total fouls. The Pointers connected on 23-of-36 charity shots, while the Blue Devils hit 21-of-27 free throws.  Kyleigh Hebert scored a team-high 14 points to lead Stout.. | Story and Box Score


SCOUTING UW-WHITEWATER: Abbie Reeves is leading the Warhawks with 10.7 points. Lisa Palmer is pulling down 7.7 rebounds. The Warhawks are outscoring their opponents, 65.7-63.4. Whitewater will be at UW-Oshkosh Wednesday. | Warhawk Statistics

THE WARHAWKS LAST TIME OUT:  Whitewater women's basketball team erased an eight-point deficit at halftime to defeat No. 24 UW-Oshkosh 68-66 on the road Wednesday night. The win secures UW-Whitewater's spot in the six-team WIAC Championship to begin next week. Trailing 55-45, the Warhawks strung together 11 straight points to take their first lead since the opening bucket of the game 56-55 with 4:40 remaining.. | Story and Box Score

LAST TIME STOUT AND WHITEWATER MET: UW-Whitewater surged late in the second half to down the UW-Stout 74-69 Saturday afternoon at Johnson Fieldhouse. Stout held the lead from three minutes into the first half all the way through the game until the five minute mark in the second half. The Blue Devils were led by Katelynne Folkers with a career-best 19 points. | Game Story and Statistics


SCOUTING UW-SUPERIOR: The Yellowjackets are in the thick of the WIAC race. After knocking off UW-Oshkosh, 58-46, at home Saturday, the Yellowjackets, led by reigning WIAC player of the year, Sally Linzmeier, are in a dead-heat with the Titans for the top spot with two games to go.  The teams split during the season, with Oshkosh winning in January in Oshkosh. Linzmeier is currently second in the WIAC in scoring with 16.8 points, third in the league in rebounds (7.6), second behind Goldsmith in field goal percentage (137-269, .509), tops in assists (4.78), first in free throw percentage (108-129, .900), first in steals (2.87) and 11th in blocked shots (0.65). Brynn Lilijander and Allyssa Lindberg are very good complements Linzmeier. Liljander is averaging 10.6 points and Lindberg 7.5. The duo have accounted for the vast majory of the team's 3-point game, with Liljander putting in 32 treys, while LIndberg has slotted 31. Lindberg leads the WIAC in 3-point percenage, hitting 44.3 percent of her shots from beyond the arc. The Yellowjackets are outscoring their opponents, 68.0-58.. | Yellowjacket Statistics

THE YELLOWJACKETS LAST TIME OUT: Triple-doubles don't occur all that often in college basketball. But Saturday afternoon proved to be the perfect time for Sally Linzmeier to notch her first such performance of the 2014-15 campaign. Behind Linzmeier's 18 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists, the UW-Superior women's basketball team utilized a suffocating defense to pull away for a 58-46 victory over UW-Oshkosh at Mertz Mortorelli Gymnasium | Story and Box Score

LAST TIME STOUT AND SUPERIOR MET: After trailing most of the first half, UW-Stout took a halftime lead, then built up to as much as a 21-point lead, only to see UW-Superior come back and win the contest, 76-74 at Mertz Mortorelli Gym in January. The Yellowjackets outscored Stout 24-1 in the final six minutes. The loss overshadowed a career-day for the Blue Devils' Brea Boomer who scored a career-best 24 points, 12 in each half. Sally Linzmeier led the 'Jackets with 15 points and 11 rebounds and Grace Kenney added 13 points. | Game Story and Statistics


CLIMBING THE LADDER: Katelynne Folkers has climbed to eighth on the UW-Stout all-time rebounding list with 551 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, one, when Stout faced UW-Superior. Folkers currently has 762 career points. Brea Boomer currently has 441 career rebounds, ranking 16th, and has 839 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 (11-15, 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 (448-293) 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-Superior: Don Mulhern (224-236 (overall) / 98-131 at Superior) is in his ninth year with the Yellowjackets, 27th overall, coaching both men's and women's teams, and 18th with women's programs. Mulhern has turned the program from a perennial loser to a top tier team. UW-Whitewater: Keri Carollo (246-119) is in her 13th year as the head coach of the Warhawks, after serving as an assistant coach at UW-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. Superior will be leaving the WIAC after this season.

UP NEXT: if the Blue Devils can secure the remaining sixth seed in the WIAC tournament, they will be on the road to the third seeded team, Wednesday, Feb. 25.

UW-Stout 2014-15 Season Highs (Updated February 20, 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: 5, Katelynne Folkers vs. UW-La Crosse, Feb. 4, 2015
Double-Doubles: Jenna Goldsmith (3x) 14 pts, 10 rbs vs. UW-La Crosse, Dec. 6, 2014; 13 pts, 14 rbs, vs. UW-Platteville, Jan. 3, 2015; 21 pts, 10 rbs vs. UW-Oshkosh, Jan. 31, 2015; Katelynne Folkers (2x) 14 pts, 10 rbs, vs. UW-Platteville, Jan. 3, 2015; 10 pts, 12 rbs vs. UW-River Falls, Jan. 21, 2015; Brea Boomer 18 pts, 12 rbs vs. UW-Eau Claire, Jan. 7, 2015.

UW-Stout 2014-15 Team Season Highs (Updated February 20, 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 (2x) vs. UW-Superior, Feb. 20, 2015; 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: 17 vs. UW-La Crosse, Feb. 4, 2015

UW-Stout Collegiate Career Highs (Updated February 20, 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: 4 vs. UW-Superior, Feb. 20, 2015
Rebounds: 1 (6x) vs. UW-La Crosse, Feb 4, 2015; vs. UW-Eau Claire, Jan. 28, 2015; 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 (6x) vs. UW-La Crosse, Feb. 4, 2015; 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 (2x) vs. UW-Eau Claire, Jan. 28, 2015; 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: 21 vs. UW-Oshkosh, Jan. 31, 2015
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