WBB Preview: Blue Devils to play at UW-Platteville Saturday in 7 p.m. tip-off

THIS WEEK'S GAMES: The Blue Devils (6-8, 0-3 WIAC) will be looking for their first conference win when they are at UW-Platteville (4-10, 1-2 WIAC), Saturday, Jan. 16 at 7 p.m. The Blue Devils lost to UW-Eau Claire, 81-67,  Wednesday, while the Pioneers were topped by UW-Stevens Point, 67-48.

MARK THOMAS INTERVIEWS: Throughout the season, Pete Knutson 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. 

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, Jay Fahl 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.


A LOOK AT UW-STOUT: Jenna Goldsmith is leading the Blue Devils with 13.1 points and 8.0 rebounds. Goldsmith put together back-to-back double-doubles during Stout's trip to Nashville, Tenn., and has since added a third, scoring a career-high 25 points and pulled down 10 rebounds Jan. 9 against UW-River Falls. Kyleigh Hebert is averaging 10.5 points and Sarah Schoch 9.9 points. Hebert is pulling down 4.7 rebounds and leads the team in assists with 4.8 per game. Hebert has had five or more assists in nine of the Blue Devils' 14 games. Freshman Bailey Diersen is averaging 8.7 points. The Blue Devils' first year players (freshmen and transfers) are averaging 35.5 combined points.Stout is averaging a conference-best 75.1 points and are giving up 71.9 points. Stout has scored 75 or more points in nine games this year, the most in the conference

CONFERENCE STANDINGS: The Blue Devils are the top scoring team in the WIAC (75.1) and lead the WIAC in assists (15.14) and is second in steals (10.0). Jenna Goldsmith is sixth in scoring (13.1), Kyleigh Hebert is 12th (10.5) and Sarah Schoch is 18th (9.9). Goldsmith is fourth in rebounds (8.0). Goldsmith, who led the conference in shooting percentage last season, is fourth this year (.514). Hebert leads the league in assists (4.8) and is second in steals (2.50). Sophomore Nicole Schaub is seventh in 3-point field goals made (1.29) and seventh in 3-point field goal percentage (.333). Goldsmith is second in blocks (2.71) and has recorded at least one blocked shot in all but one game. Goldsmith recorded a career-best against St. Mary's, Jan. 2 and had six against Penn State Behrend.

A UW-STOUT PREVIEW: UW-Stout has six letterwinners back from a year ago and a roster that includes four seniors, four juniors, three sophomores and seven freshmen - these totals include three transfers (one sophomore, one junior, one senior). Three of the top-five scorers return, including junior forward Jenna Goldsmith, who led the WIAC with a .542 field goal percentage and topped the team with 12.0 points per contest. Senior guard Kyleigh Hebert contributed 9.0 points and 3.7 rebounds per game. The Blue Devils will play three of their first eight games at home - all three in November. Jenna Goldsmith earned All-WIAC honors last season and averaged 12 points per game and was second on the team in rebounds with 6.0 rebounds. Goldsmith scored a career-high 21 points against UW-Oshkosh. Kyleigh Hebert has been a regular since transferring to Stout midway through her freshman year and last season led the team in assists and averaged 9.0 points. Hebert will work some at the point, but will predominately be out on the wing. Sarah Schoch led the team in 3-point shots, dropping in 31 to finished ninth in the WIAC. 

STOUT LAST TIME OUT: UW-Stout cut into the UW-Eau Claire lead late, but fell in the fourth quarter on a final score of 81-67 with Eau Claire on top. The Blue Devils were led by Shannan Watkins who scored 12 points. Stout had three players in double figures: Watkins with 12 , Sarah Schoch added 10 and Bailey Diersen also added 10 off the bench.


SCOUTING UW-PLATTEVILLE: UW-Platteville has registered a fourth-place finish in the league standings back-to-back seasons and hosted its first-ever WIAC tournament game since the inception of the six-team format a year ago. The Pioneers have 12 newcomers on their roster and return 10 percent of their scoring and 11 percent of their rebounding. Junior guard Morgan Hartman leads the returnees after playing in all 26 games and chipping in 3.5 points per contest. Elisa Bilderback is leading the Pioneers with 13.4 points. Morgan Horstman is tossing down 10.2 points. Allison Prestergard is averaging 7.8 rebounds and leads the conference in blocks with 2.9. The Pioneers are scoring 63.8 points and giving up 69.2.

PIONEERS LAST TIME OUT: Platteville suffered a 67-48 conference loss to coach Megan Wilson's alma mater, UW-Stevens Point, Wednesday night at Williams Fieldhouse.  Freshman center Allison Prestegaard finished with nine points, seven rebounds and five blocks. Freshman Lexis Macomber added six points off the bench and junior guard Morgan Hartman added five points and four rebounds. 

LAST TIME STOUT AND PLATTEVILLE MET: The teams split their contests last year, with both teams winning on their own floor. Stout captured the first contest, 71-69, as Jenna Goldsmith and Katelynne Folkers checked off double-doubles. Platteville won the rematch, 65-55.


SCOUTING UW-EAU CLAIRE: The Blugolds started off the season going 3-6, but has since won three of their last four games.The Blugolds, which were picked to finish third in a WIAC preseason poll, have 10 letterwinners back from last year's team that recorded 11 of its 16 overall wins in conference play to tie for second. The last time a range (or ratio) of conference wins to overall wins was so close in the WIAC was 2000 when UW-Stout won 10 league games and recorded 15 overall victories. A season ago, senior guard Tennie Lichtfuss led the WIAC with a .896 free-throw percentage (60-of-67), while ranking third with 59 steals, fourth with 12.3 points per contest and fifth with a .370 three-point field goal percentage (37-of-100).Lichtfuss picked up where she left off last year and is leading the league in scoring at 15.4 points per contest. Lichtfuss, who averages a league-best 35 minutes per contest, is not afraid to launch the 3-ball, dropping in 22-of-55 for 40 percent. The Blugolds have benefited from the addition of post player Erin O'Toole, a 6-4 transfer from North Dakota State, who is the team's second leading scorer with 15.1 points, second behind Lichtfuss, and matches Stout's Jenna Goldsmith with 8.2 rebounds per contest.

BLUGOLDS LAST TIME OUT: The Blugolds entered the game with something to prove and started the game with a 13-4 run and finished the first quarter up 21-5. UW-Eau Claire continued to dominate the second quarter only giving up two field goals in the entire first half and went into the half leading 39-11, going on to a 75-45 win. The game's leading scorer was Eau Claire's Erin O'Toole with 21 points and 10 rebounds. Four of Eau Claire's starting five players all put up double-digit points, as Teenie Lichtfuss, Maddie Dunathan, and Arien Becker also contributed 15, 12, and 10 points, respectively.

LAST TIME STOUT AND EAU CLAIRE MET: The two teams split last year's series, with each team winning on their home floor. The Blugolds won the first matchup in early January, 66-49, as Teenie Lichtfuss scored 27 points and Courtney Lewis dropped in 17 points. The Blue Devils took the late January rematch, 61-59, as Brea Boomer broke a tie with a minute left and the Stout kept Eau Claire scoreless the rest of the way. Jenna Goldsmith scored 13 and Kyleigh Hebert 11 points to lead Stout. Lichtfuss again led all scorers, dropping in 20 points. 


JOINING THE MIAC?: When the Blue Devils play St. Mary's University, it will mark the final regular season game with a member of the MIAC. With the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) freeing up their schedule to allow for more non-conference games, and UW-Superior leaving the WIAC, freeing up two game spots, it became obvious the Stout would play more MIAC schools in the future. Stout will face off against six MIAC schools - St. Benedict, Gustavus Adolphus, Augsburg College, Hamline University, St. Catherine and St. Mary's University - that's half of the 12 MIAC women's basketball teams.

AWARDS AND HONORS: Jenna Goldsmith was selected as the UW-Stout/Northwestern Mutual Athlete of the Week, Dec. 1, and again Jan. 4....Jenna Goldsmith was a first team all-conference selection in 2014-15 (last season) 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.

TEAM CAPTAINS: Team captains for the 2015-16 season are Maygan Mitchell, Kyleigh Hebert, Jenna Goldsmith and Sarah Schoch.

THE COACHES: UW-Stout: Mark Thomas (454-302) 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 enters her 16th season as head women's basketball coach in 2015-2016 at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.Coming into the 2014-2015 season Englund's 254 wins ranks fifth most in WIAC history. Englund has four WIAC Championships under her belt, the latest being in 2012, as well as five NCAA tournament appearances. UW-Platteville: Megan Wilson, a member of two Wisconsin high school championship teams and an NCAA Division III national championship squad, is in her fifth season as the head women's basketball coach at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. Wilson led the Pioneers to one of their best seasons in school history in 2013-14 with a 13-13 record and finished tied for fourth in the WIAC. UW-Platteville's season was highlighted with a season sweep of UW-Stevens Point for the first time since 1995 and three all-WIAC selections. Stacy Clark and Alyssa Krajco each earned first team honors, while Rachel Cropp was named honorable mention. Krajco also received all-region recognition by D3hoops.com, as she ranked second in the WIAC in scoring with 17 points per contest and third in rebounding with 7.4 boards per game. Her 442 points was the seventh most in a season in school history.


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, and UW-Whitewater. Superior left the WIAC after last season.

UP NEXT: The Blue Devils will be at UW-La Crosse, Wednesday, Jan. 20 at 7 p.m., then will host UW-Oshkosh, Saturday, Jan. 23 at 3 p.m.

UW-Stout 2015-16 Season Highs (Updated January 14, 2016)

Points: 25 (2x), Jenna Goldsmith vs. UW-River Falls, Jan. 9, 2016; Sarah Schoch vs. Hamline University, Nov. 24, 2015
3-Pointers Made: 5, Sarah Schoch vs. Hamline University, Nov. 24, 2015
Rebounds: 12, Jenna Goldsmith vs. Simpson College, Nov. 21, 2015
Assists: 8, (2x) Kyleigh Hebert vs. Hamline University, Nov. 24, 2015 and vs. Simpson College, Nov. 21, 2015
Steals: 5, (2x) Kyleigh Hebert vs. Hamilton, Dec. 30, 2015; Sarah Schoch vs. St. Scholastica, Dec. 15, 2015
Blocks: 8, Jenna Goldsmith vs. St. Mary's, Jan. 2, 2016
Double-Doubles: Jenna Goldsmith 25 pts, 10 rbs vs. UW-River Falls, Jan. 9, 2016; Jenna Goldsmith 16 pts, 11 rbs vs. Hamilton, Dec. 30, 2015; Jenna Goldsmith 21 pts, 12 rbs vs. Penn State-Behrend, Dec. 29, 2015; Jenna Goldsmith 23 pts, 12 rbs vs. Simpson College, Nov. 21, 2015; (2014-15) 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 2015-16 Team Season Highs (Updated January 14, 2016)

Points: 87 vs. St. Scholastica, Dec. 15, 2015
Points in First Half: 48 vs. Penn State Behrend, Dec. 29, 2015
Points in Second Half: 43 vs. Augsburg College, Nov. 23, 2015
Points in First Quarter: 26 (2x) vs. Penn State Behrend, Dec. 29, 2015; vs. St. Scholastica, Dec. 15, 2015
Points in Second Quarter: 27 vs. Simpson College, Nov. 21, 2015
Points in Third Quarter: 26 vs. University of Duquque, Dec. 8, 2015
Points in Fourth Quarter: 25 vs. Simpson College, Nov. 21, 2015
Field Goals Made: 33 vs. St. Scholastica, Dec. 15, 2016
Field Goal Percentage: .500 vs. Augsburg College, Nov. 23, 2015
3-Pointers Made: 10 (2x) vs. St. Scholastica, Dec. 15, 2015; vs. Hamline University, Nov. 24, 2015
Free Throws Made: 24 (2x) vs. Hamilton, Dec. 30, 2015; vs. Simpson College, Nov. 21, 2015
Free Throw Percentage: .786 vs. St. Scholastica, Dec. 15, 2015
Rebounds: 53 vs. St. Mary's, Jan. 3, 2016
Assists: 24 vs. Hamline University, Nov. 24, 2015
Steals: 16 (3x) vs. Penn State-Behrend, Dec. 30, 2015; vs. St. Scholastica, Dec. 15, 2015; vs. Gustavus Adolphus, Nov. 20, 2015

UW-Stout Collegiate Career Highs (Updated January 14, 2016)

Dana Karlstad - #2
Points: 5 vs. Hamline University, Nov. 24, 2015
Rebounds: 2 vs. St. Scholastica, Dec. 15, 2015
Assists: x

Kyleigh Hebert - #4
Points: 22 vs. UW-Superior, Feb. 25, 2014
Rebounds: 9 vs. Hamline, Nov. 25, 2014
Assists: 8 (2x) vs. Hamline University, Nov. 24, 2015; vs. Simpson College, Nov. 21, 2015

Kyncaide Diedrich - #5
Points: 10 vs.Gustavus Adolphus, Nov. 20, 2015
Rebounds: 9 vs. UW-Eau Claire, Jan.13, 2016
Assists: 4 (2x) vs. St. Kate's, Nov. 29, 2015; vs. Hamline University, Nov. 24, 2015

Haley Seifert - #10
Points: 11 vs. Simpson College, Nov. 21, 2015
Rebounds: 4 vs. Hamilton, Dec. 30, 2015
Assists: 5 vs. Hamline University, Nov. 24, 2015

Shannan Watkins - #11
Points: 13 vs. Augsburg College, Nov. 23, 2015
Rebounds: 6 vs. Dubuque, Dec. 8, 2015
Assists: 4 vs. Penn State Behrend, Dec. 29, 2015

Hunter Hickey - #13
Points: 4 vs. Dubuque, Dec. 8, 2015
Rebounds: 2 vs. Hamline University, Nov. 24, 2015
Assists: 1 (2x) vs. Hamline University, Nov. 24, 2015' vs. Augsburg College, Nov. 23, 2015

Bailey Diersen - #20
Points: 19 vs. St. Kate's, Nov. 29, 2015
Rebounds: 7 (2x) vs. UW-Eau Claire, Jan. 13, 2016; vs. Gustavus Adolphus, Nov. 20, 2015
Assists: 3 vs. Hamline University, Nov. 24, 2015

Maygan Mitchell - #22
Points: x
Rebounds: x
Assists: x

Sarah Schoch - #23
Points: 25 vs. Hamline University, Nov. 24, 2015
Rebounds: 9 vs. St. Benedict, Nov. 14, 2015
Assists: 4 vs. Simpson College, Nov. 21, 2015

Danielle Adams - #25
Points: 9 vs. Simpson College, Nov. 21, 2015
Rebounds: 7 vs. St. Kate's, Nov. 29, 2015
Assists: 2 (2x) vs. St. Scholastica, Dec. 15, 2015; vs. St. Benedict, Nov. 14, 2015

Carolyn Feddema - #30
Points: 5 (2x) vs. Dubuque, Dec. 8, 2015; vs. Hamline University, Nov. 24, 2015
Rebounds: 6 vs. Dubuque, Dec. 8, 2015
Assists: 1 (2x) vs. St. Scholastica, Dec. 15, 2015; vs. Dubuque, Dec. 8, 2015

Anna Brown - #32
Points: 6 (2x) vs. Hamilton, Dec. 30, 2015; vs. St. Kate's, Nov. 29, 2015
Rebounds: 5 (2x) vs. St. Kate's, Nov. 29, 2015; vs. Augsburg College, Nov. 23, 2015
Assists: 1 (3x) vs. St. Kate's, Nov. 29, 2015; vs. Millsaps College, Dec. 28, 2014; vs. University of Dubuque, Nov. 30, 2014

Nicole Schaub - #33
Points: 15 vs. St. Scholastica, Dec. 15, 2015
Rebounds: 5 vs. Gustavus Adolphus, Nov. 20, 2015
Assists: 2 vs. St. Benedict, Nov. 14, 2015

Stephanie Kastens - #35
Points: 13 vs. Hamilton, Dec. 30, 2015
Rebounds: 4 (5x) vs. UW-Whitewater, Jan. 6, 2016; vs. St. Scholastica, Dec. 15, 2015; vs. Gustavus.Adolphus, Nov. 20, 2015; UW-Platteville, Jan. 3, 2015; vs. UW-Oshkosh, Jan. 18, 2014
Assists: 2 vs. Hamline, Nov. 25, 2014

Jenna Goldsmith - #41
Points: 25 vs. UW-River Falls, Jan. 9, 2015
Rebounds: 14 vs. UW-Platteville, Jan. 3, 2015
Assists: 2 (2x) vs. St. Kate's, Nov. 29, 2015; vs. Carroll University, Nov. 16. 2014

Breanna Vyskocil - #44
Points: 2 (3x) vs. Hamline Unviersity, Nov. 24, 2015; vs. Augsburg College, Nov. 23, 2015; vs. Simpson College, Nov. 21, 2015
Rebounds: 2 vs. Hamline University, Nov. 24, 2015
Assists: 1 vs. Augsburg College, Nov. 23, 2015