WBB Preview: Blue Devils at Stevens Point in WIAC first round Tuesday

 WIAC Women's Basketball Championship Website | at UW-Stevens Point: Live Stats | Live Video | Live Audio

THIS WEEK'S GAMES: The Blue Devils (10-15, 4-10 WIAC) earned the sixth seed for the WIAC Championship tournament and are coming off a 99-71 win over UW-Platteville. Stout will travel to third seeded UW-Stevens Point (19-6, 10-4) Tuesday, Feb. 23 at 7 p.m. A Stout win will send the Blue Devils to top-seeded UW-River Falls, Thursday, Feb. 25. A Stevens Point win will send the Pointers to UW-Oshkosh Thursday.

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 12.3 points and 7.2 rebounds. Goldsmith has four double-doubles on the season, her latest Jan. 9 against UW-River Falls. Kyleigh Hebert, who is out for the season, is averaging 11.2 points and Sarah Schoch 10.7 points. Freshman Bailey Diersen is averaging 7.5 points. Stout is averaging 70.4 points per game and giving up 69.2 points. Stout has scored 75 or more points in 12 games this year, the most in the conference. In games where Stout has scored 75 or more points, the Blue Devils are 9-3. Stout is 3-1 in conference games scoring 75 or more points. | 2015-16 Statistics

CONFERENCE STANDINGS: The Blue Devils are the leading scoring team in the WIAC (70.4) and lead the WIAC in steals (9.96) and assists (13.72). Jenna Goldsmith is eighth in scoring (12.3).). Goldsmith is fourth in rebounds (7.2). Goldsmith, who led the conference in shooting percentage last season, is fourth this year (.471). Goldsmith has stepped outside the arc, and has knocked down 10 long range bombs this season. Nicole Schaub is seventh in 3-point field goals made (1.12) and ninth in 3-point field goal percentage (.322). Sarah Schoch is fourth in 3-point field percentage (.353) and seventh in 3-point field goals made (1.36).  Goldsmith is second in blocks (2.60) and has recorded at least one blocked shot in all but one game. Goldsmith recorded a career-best eight against St. Mary's, Jan. 2 and had six against Penn State Behrend. Goldsmith has recorded at least one blocked shot in 24-of-25 games this season and has recorded two or more blocked shots in 17 games.

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. | 2014-15 Statistics

STOUT LAST TIME OUT: UW-Stout turned up the heat in the third period of their duel against UW-Platteville. The Blue Devils' stifling defense paired with their fast break offense put Stout on a 40-15 run in the third quarter. The Blue Devils forced 12 turnovers in the third and scored 21 points off of those turnovers and went on to a 99-71 win, the highest point total for the Blue Devils this season. The 99 points is the most since the Blue Devils defeated Crown College, 106-51 in the 2012-13 season.  | Story and Box Score

STOUT IN THE WIAC TOURNAMENT: Overall, UW-Stout is 19-9 in the WIAC Championship tournament. Stout is 11-2 in the first round, 4-7 in the semi-finals and 4-0 in the finals. The Pointers hold a 3-2 lead when the teams have met in the tournament. The Pointers have won the last two tournament meetings, an 82-74 win in 2009-10 and a 76-64 win during the 2008-09 season. | WIAC Tournament History
 

UW-Stout	Statistic	UW-River Falls	UW-Stevens Point
70.4	Pts	69.3	63.3
69.2	Pts Allowed	60.3	55.8
.389	FG %	.432	.409
.398	FG % Defense	.379	.398
4.8	3 pt made	5.5	4.2
4.6	3 pt allowed	4.9	3.8
41.2	Rebounds	36.4	38.4
43.0	Rebounds Allowed	36.5	30.5
18.6	Turnovers	16.0	15.7
Jenna Goldsmith 12.3	Leading Scorer	Taylor Karges 14.8	Lauren Anklam 11.4
Jenna Goldsmith 7.2	Leading Rebounder	Taylor Karges 5.6	Allie Micelli 8.7

SCOUTING UW-STEVENS POINT: The Pointers have spent the majority of the season ranked in the top 25 of the D3hoops.com poll. Allie Micelli leads the WIAC in rebounding with 8.7 caroms. Stevens Point is outscoring their opponents, 63.3-55.8.  |  2015-16 Statistics

POINTERS LAST TIME OUT: The Pointers closed out the regular season with a 70-47 win  over UW-La Crosse on Senior Day Feb. 20. UW-Stevens Point had three players score in double figures on the afternoon. Lexi Roland  led all scorers with 15 points, Joann Wolfenberg had 14 points and Lauren Anklam contributed 10 points in the Pointer victory. Mickey Roland put up eight points and had six rebounds for UW-Stevens Point. The team also shot 20-for-28 from the free throw line.
| Game Story and Statistics

LAST TIME STOUT AND STEVENS POINT MET: The Pointers won both match-ups this season, a 69-61 overtime decision Jan. 27 in Menomonie and a 63-51 rematch Feb. 10 in Stevens Point.The Pointers have a five game winning streak over the Blue Devils. Stout's last win over Stevens Point came Feb. 22, 2014, at Johnson Fieldhouse, a 76-88 win.   | Jan. 27 Story and Statistics | Feb. 10 Story and Statistics


SCOUTING UW-RIVER FALLS: The Falcons have been perhaps the surprise team of the year in the WIAC. Picked to finish fifth in a preseason poll, the Falcons are currently in a tie for first place in the WIAC and are ranked 15th in the Feb. 7 D3hoops.com Top 25 poll. The Falcons only two losses so far have been to UW-Whitewater and UW-Stevens Point. The Falcons opened the conference season by knocking off conference favorite UW-Oshkosh and will host the Titans Saturday in the season finale.  The Falcons have three players scoring in double digits, led by Taylor Karge with 14.8,Brynn Liljander, a transfer from UW-Superior, at 13.4, and Richell Mihus at 10.9. Karge leads the team in rebounds at 5.6. The Falcons are scoring 69.3 points and giving up 60.3.   | 2015-16 Statistics

FALCONS LAST TIME OUT: During the 2015-2016 season, calling the UW-River Falls women's basketball team road warriors would be an understatement. The Falcons (19-4, 10-2 WIAC), who have won seven out of their nine road games, continued their road-dominance on Saturday when they defeated the UW-Platteville Pioneers 75-59. The Falcons had three players score in double figures. Senior Richell Mehus led the Falcons with 22 points. She was perfect from beyond the arc; hitting all five of her three-point field goal attempts. Mehus also dished out seven assists. Sophomore Taylor Karge was second on the team with 15 points and junior Brynn Liljander was third on the team with 14 points. | Game Story and Statistics

LAST TIME STOUT AND RIVER FALLS MET: UW-Stout held a three point halftime lead, but UW-River Falls used a 9-0 run midway through the third period to turn the advantage and the Falcons went on to an 86-76 conference win over the Blue Devils Jan. 9 at Johnson Fieldhouse. River Falls finished the game with four players in double figures, led by Karge's 23 points. Kate Theisen scored a double-double, putting in 13 points and adding 13 rebounds. Brynn Liljander added 16 points and Mikaela Wilson came off the bench to score 10. Jenna Goldsmith led all scorers with 25 points, hitting 10-of-16, including 2-of-3 treys and all three free throws. Goldsmith scored 14 points in the second half. Bailey Diersen came off the bench to score 10 points. | Story and Statistics



JOINING THE MIAC?: When the Blue Devils played St. Mary's University, it marked 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,  Jan. 4 and again Feb. 8....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 (458-309) 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-River Falls:  Cindy Holbrook (222-190) returns to the 2015-16 Falcons as head coach and brings several seasons of experience in coaching and playing in the WIAC. Under Holbrook the Falcons reached the WIAC playoffs every season but one since the tournament was changed to a six-team playoff format in 2009. Holbrook took a very young team in 2013-14 (two sophomores, 12 freshmen) and molded it into a solid unit that played well in the highly competitive WIAC. The Falcons improved week by week last year and the 2014-15 team looks to use last year's experiences to be better in every part of the game this year. UW-Stevens Point: Shirley Egner (507-218) is the all-time winningest coach in WIAC history and is in her 27th season with the Pointers. Egner has compiled a  (.697) overall record through 26 seasons with the Pointers. Over the last 15 seasons, Coach Egner has guided the Pointers to an average of nearly 23 wins per season and the team's 338-93 record over that span is the best mark of any WIAC team.


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 eight-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 WIAC semi-final game is Thursday, Feb. 25 and the championship game is Saturday, Feb. 27. 

UW-Stout 2015-16 Season Highs (Updated February 21, 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;

UW-Stout 2015-16 Team Season Highs (Updated February 21, 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: 62 vs. UW-Platteville, Feb. 20, 2016
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: 40 vs. UW-Platteville, Feb. 20, 2016
Points in Fourth Quarter: 35 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: 12 vs.UW-River Falls, Feb. 17, 2016
Free Throws Made: 32 vs. UW-Platteville, Feb. 20, 2016
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: 18 vs. UW-Platteville, Jan. 16, 2016

UW-Stout Collegiate Career Highs (Updated February 20, 2016)

Dana Karlstad - #2
Points: 5 vs. Hamline University, Nov. 24, 2015
Rebounds: 2 vs. St. Scholastica, Dec. 15, 2015
Assists:  1 (2x) vs. UW-Platteville, Feb. 20, 2016; vs. UW-Eau Claire, Jan. 30, 2016

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: 13 vs. UW-Platteville, Feb. 20, 2016
Rebounds: 9 vs. UW-Eau Claire, Jan.13, 2016
Assists: 4 (4x) vs. UW-Platteville, Feb. 20, 2016; vs. UW-River Falls, Feb. 17, 2016; 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: 5 vs. UW-La Crosse, Jan. 20, 2016

Hunter Hickey - #13
Points: 6 vs. UW-Platteville, Jan. 16, 2016
Rebounds: 2 (2x) vs. UW-Platteville, Jan. 16, 2016; 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 (2x) vs. UW-Platteville, Jan. 16, 2016; 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 (3x) vs. UW-Stevens Point, Jan. 27, 2016; 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: 10 vs. UW-Platteville, Feb. 20, 2016
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: 3 vs. UW-La Crosse, Jan. 20, 2016

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 (2x) vs. UW-Stevens Point, Jan. 27, 2016;  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: 3 vs. UW-Platteville, Feb. 20, 2016

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