Women's Basketball Preview: Open home season by hosting St. Kate's

at Ripon College: Live Stats | Live Video     Home Games: Live Stats | Live Video |      WIAC Weekly Preview

THIS WEEK'S GAMES: The Blue Devils (1-2, 0-0 WIAC) will open the home portion of their season Sunday, Nov. 26 at 2 p.m. when they host 
St. Catherine (2-1, 0-0 MIAC) at 2 p.m.
 
WEBCASTS: All UW-Stout home games will be available in a live video stream by Blue Devil Video with Amuchy Logan and Tom Schmelzle 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.

PARKING: Parking on the UW-Stout campus is restricted during the business week. For games in Johnson Fieldhouse during the week, please plan to park in Lot 29. Do not park in Lot 4, which is a reserved lot for students that live in the residence halls.

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:

• The Blue Devils have nine returners, with four starters back for the 2017-18 season. Stout has one senior, five juniors, five sophomores and 12 freshman.
• With a 27 point effort in the season-opening game, Bailey Diersen leads the Blue Devils in points per game with 17.7, followed by fellow guard Kyncaide Diedrich with 16.3. Diersen has hit 50 percent of her 3-point attempts (5-10).
• Diedrich has scored in double-digits in the first three games of the season, opening with 17 points against Dubuque, 20 against Superior and 12 against Ripon.
• Diedrich leads the team in rebounds with 7.3. Sophomore transfer Amber Fabeck is averaging 6.7 rebounds. Fabeck is averaging 6.0 points per game.
• As a team, Stout is averaging 65.7 points and is surrendering 69.7. The Blue Devils have been outrebounded, 50.7-42.3. The Blue Devils recorded 54 rebounds against Dubuque, but allowed 63 against Ripon College
• Kyncaide Diedrich and Bailey Diersen averaged more than 10 points per contest. Diedrich led the Blue Devils with 13.4 points, finishing fifth in the conference. Diersen averaged 10.9 points, finishing 13th in the league in scoring.
• Diedrich finished first in the league in assists, averaging 3.8. Diedrich was an All-WIAC honorable mention pick.
• The Blue Devils' lone senior, Anna Brown, started 24 games last season, averaging 8.5 points and 3.8 rebounds.
• The Blue Devils were picked to finish seventh in a preseason poll conducted by WIAC coaches and sports information directors.
• An injury kept Shannan Watkins off the court after nine games. Watkins averaged 10.9 points and is expected to return to the Blue Devil lineup second semester as she completes an internship.
• Speaking of internships, Haley Seifert returns to the Blue Devils after completing an internship last season. The point guard saw action in 26 games in the 2015-16 season.
• Bailey Diersen has started off the season well, scoring a career-best 27 points in the season opener, Nov. 17 against the University of Dubuque. Diersen was 10 of 13 from the floor and hit all four 3-pointers. She followed that up with a 17 point effort in a loss to UW-Superior the next night.
• Kyncaide Diedrich picked up where she left off last year. The All-WIAC honorable mention pick scored 17 points on opening night and 20 points the next night.
• 2017-18 Statistics

CONFERENCE STANDINGS:

• The Blue Devils are projected to finish seventh in the WIAC according to a WIAC preseason poll by conference coaches and sports information directors.

STOUT LAST TIME OUT:

• Ripon College used a 17-6 third quarter to go past UW-Stout Tuesday at Weiske Gymnasium and handed UW-Stout a 59-45 decision.
• The Red Hawks (2-1) never trailed in the game and built the lead throughout the first half, holding a 13-8 first quarter decision and a 29-20 halftime lead. The third quarter outburst by the Red Hawks was combined with a cold shooting quarter by the Blue Devils. Stout (1-2)  hit only 1 of 14 from the floor in the period and scored four points at the free throw line.
• Ripon only shot 29 percent in the period, dropping in 5 of 19 shots, but hit seven free throws. Ripon ruled the board throughout the night, but especially in the third. For the game, Ripon pulled down 63 rebounds to Stout's 37. In the period, Ripon held a 24-8 advantage.
• The lead in rebounding showed up in second chance points for the two teams. For the game, Ripon scored 24 second chance points, compared to Stout's seven.
• Neither team shot particularly well from the floor, Ripon shooting 27.9 percent (17-61) and Stout 25.0 percent (15-60).
• Stout's Kyncaide Diedrich was the only Blue Devil to reach double digit scoring, scoring 12 points. Amber Fabeck pulled down 10 rebounds for the Blue Devils.
• Ripon's Maggie Oimoen came off the bench to score 11 points and added a 12 rebounds for a double-double. Eleanore Mueller had 11 rebounds and Jonalee Elliott had 10 rebounds and three blocked shots.
• Ripon Story and Box Score
• Bailey Diersen scored a career-high 27 points in leading UW-Stout to an 84-68 season-opening win over the University of Dubuque, Friday at Zorn Arena in the opening game of the UW-Eau Claire Tip-Off Classic.
• Diersen connected on 10-of-13 from floor, including all four 3-point attempts. She added three free throws. Diersen scored 15 points in the second half.
• Kyncaide Diedrich added 17 points and collected a double-double by pulling down 10 rebounds. Anna Brown scored nine points in the second half to finish with 13 points.
• Dubuque Story and Box Score
• UW-Superior used a fast start in the first period and UW-Stout could never quite catch up as the Yellowjackets downed the Blue Devils 82-62 on the second day of the UW-Eau Claire Tip-Off Classic at Zorn Arena.
• Kyncaide Diedrich led Stout with 20 points and Bailey Diersen added 17 points. Emily Jacques had a career-high nine rebounds to lead Stout.
• UW-Superior Story and Box Score

 
SCOUTING RIPON COLLEGE

• After qualifying for the four-team Midwest Conference Tournament in each of the last two seasons, the Ripon College women's basketball team is hoping that a third time will be the charm as they search for their first MWC Championship in nine years.
• Entering her fifth year as Head Coach of the Red Hawks, Johnson has laid the groundwork for a successful program, as she has led the team to a 31-17 record during the last two years, including a 25-11 mark against MWC opponents.
• Ripon's roster consists of 10 freshmen this season, but the team also returns five seniors who will play their final season in a Red Hawks uniform.
• Ripon's top returning scorer and rebounder from a year ago is Junior post player Maggie Oimoen, who averaged 14.4 points and 7.2 rebounds per game, en route to First Team All-Conference honors. Oimoen also recorded a team-high 1.5 blocked shots per game, while shooting 57 percent from the floor. She enters this season ranking sixth in school history for career blocks (56).
• The Red Hawks also return their second-leading scorer in Senior Emma McDonald, who averaged 7.8 points per game last season, to go along with averages of 3.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists.
• Red Hawk Statistics

RED HAWKS LAST TIME OUT

• The Red Hawks defeated Marian University, 89-35, to open the season, but then lost, 75-66, to Webster University the following day.
• Ripon out-shot Webster Saturday afternoon, while also out-rebounding them by a 42-25 margin, but the Red Hawks couldn't overcome their 31 turnovers, which Webster turned into 29 points en route to a 75-66 win by the Gorlocks.
• The Red Hawks shot 44 percent (31-71) from the field in the 89-35 win, converting 47 percent (7-15) of their 3-pointers, and holding Marian to just 24 percent (8-34) shooting, including 16 percent (2-13) in the second half.
• Maggie Oimoen led the way with a team-high 16 points for the Red Hawks, to go along with six rebounds (three offensive). Freshmen Natalie Geiger, Megan Dille, and Jesi Nay added 10 points, while Alyassa Burgess recorded a team-high five assists.
• Marian Game Story and Statistics
• Ripon out-shot Webster Saturday afternoon, while also out-rebounding them by a 42-25 margin, but the Red Hawks couldn't overcome their 31 turnovers, which Webster turned into 29 points en route to a 75-66 win by the Gorlocks.
• Maggie Oimoen led all scorers with 16 points for the Red Hawks. Emma McDonald added 15 points, nine rebounds, and two steals, while Eleanore Mueller chipped in with 12 points, seven rebounds, two blocks and two steals. Jonalee Elliott also recorded a pair of blocked shots, giving her 91 for her career, which is just two shy of the school record.
• Webster Story and Statistics

LAST TIME STOUT AND RIPON MET

• This will be only the third meeting between the two teams. Stout won the first meeting in the second game of the NCAA Division III playoffs during the 2004-05 season. The Blue Devils captured a 65-57 win as the Blue Devils hosted the first round of the tournament. The teams last met in Ripon during the early part of the 2010-11 season, with the Red Hawks capturing a 59-47 win.
• UW-Stout put on a run towards the end of the game, but could not catch Ripon College as the Blue Devils dropped a 59-47 contest in the first game of the Ripon College Classic, Nov. 19, 2010.
• Ripon took a 28-22 halftime lead and exploded that out to as much as a 20-point, 51-31 lead with five minute left in the contest before the young Blue Devils (0-2) began chipping away at the lead. Stout went on a 16-4 run to cut the lead to eight points, 55-47, with about 30 seconds remaining in the contest.
• Stout's Tricia VanVreede finished the night with a double-double, matching Sami Schoeder with a game-high 14 points and added 12 rebounds. The Red Hawks were led by Skye Gonyo with 11 points.
• Game Story and Statistics

SCOUTING ST. CATHERINE UNIVERSITY

• There's plenty for St. Kate's to be excited about coming in to the 2017-18 season. The Wildcats are coming off their best season in over 10 years, as they qualified for the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) Playoff Tournament for the first time since 2009-10. St. Kate's was projected to just miss the playoffs in the MIAC Preseason Coaches Poll, as the team was selected to finish eighth in the conference standings at the end of the season.
• St. Kate's basketball team will also look a little different this season, as first-year head coach Don Mulhern takes over the program after an impressive tenure at the University of Wisconsin-Superior. Several Wildcats are also ready to stand in and fill the shoes of LaShay Holt (Humboldt, Minn. / Humbolt), Mari Lee (Dawson, Minn. / Dawson-Boyd) and Kennedy Jennings (Grimes, Iowa / Dallas Center-Grimes), who graduated from St. Kate's last season as the most successful class in program history. Holt graduated as a five-time school record holder, while both Lee and Jennings etched their names into the Wildcat record books over the years.

WILDCATS LAST TIME OUT

• The Wildcats opened the season with a 69-51 win over Northwestern, lost 79-69 at Lewis and Clark College, then bounced back for a 67-58 win over Linfield College Sunday, Nov. 19.
• Danica Cambrice led St. Kate's offensive and defensive attack, as she led the team both in scoring and rebounds Sunday afternoon, in a 67-58 win over Linfield. The sophomore scored 21 points from the floor and added a team-leading eight rebounds and five steals during the game. She was also one of three Wildcats to score in double-digits on Sunday, as both Meg Clark (11) and Jackie Radford (10) achieved the feat for the first time this season.
• Linfield Game Story and Statistics
• Audra Clark continued her hot start to the season, as she scored a team-leading 25 points in the game, making her second 20+performance of the weekend. Danica Cambrice added 18 points, while Alexis Garcia scored in double digits with 10 points for St. Kate's
• Lewis & Clark Story and Statistics
• Northwestern Story and Statistics

LAST TIME STOUT AND ST. KATE'S MET

• The Wildcats have won the last two meetings, taking an 82-74 win last season in St. Paul, Minn., and an 81-79 two years ago in Menomonie. Stout's only win against the Wildcats was during the 2014-15 season, a 77-70 decision in St. Paul.
• UW-Stout built a big first period lead, but St. Catherine University cut away at the lead and went on to defeat the Blue Devils, 82-74, Nov. 27, 2016.
• Bailey Diersen led all scorers with a career-best 20 points, bypassing her previous best of 19 points she set last season against St. Kate's. Diersen also led Stout off the glass, pulling down a career-best eight boards. Kyncaide Diedrich scored 15 points, the fourth time this season season she scored in double digits. Stout held a 37-29 advantage in rebounds, including a 17-7 advantage in offensive rebounds.
• The Wildcats had four players in double figures, led by Alexis Garcia's 18 points. LeShay Holt finished with 17 points, Mair Lee with 15 and Kennedy Jennings 12. St. Catherine never shot less than 50 percent in a single period, shooting 60 percent in the second half from the floor (15-25) and 54.5 percent (30-55) for the game.
• St. Catherine holds a 7-1 lead in the series that goes back to 1972.
• Game Story and Statistics

AWARDS AND HONORS: 2017-18: Bailey Diersen was selected as the UW-Stout/Toppers Athlete of the Week, Nov. 20, after scoring 27 points against the University of Dubuque and 17 points against UW-Superior to open the weekend... 2016-17: Kyncaide Diedrich and Jenna Goldsmith both earned All-WIAC honorable mention honors...Kyncaide Diedrich was the UW-Stout/DigiCopy Athlete of the Week, Jan. 3...Shannan Watkins was the UW-Stout/DigiCopy Athlete of the Week, Dec. 12...Jenna Goldsmith was the WIAC athlete of the week, Dec. 6, after scoring a career-high 28 points in a 94-90 shootout loss to Northland College, Nov. 29...Kyncaide Diedrich selected to St. Benedict all-tournament team, Nov. 20...Jenna Goldsmith was an all-WIAC honorable mention selection and now assistant coach Kyleigh Hebert was a first team all-WIAC pick...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.

TEAM CAPTAINS: Team captains for the 2017-18 season are Anna Brown, Kyncaide Diedrich and Bailey Diersen.

THE COACHES:
UW-STOUT:

• Mark Thomas (466-330) is in his 31st year as the coach of the Blue Devils and is the longest tenured head coach in Blue Devil history. Terry Petrie coached the Blue Devil baseball team for 30 seasons
• 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. .
• Thomas will surpass former baseball coach Terry Petrie as the longest tenured coach at UW-Stout. Petrie was the baseball head coach for 30 seasons.

RIPON COLLEGE:

• Lauren Johnson is in her fifth year with the Red Hawks.

ST.  CATHERINE UNIVERSITY:

• Don Mulhern is in his first year with the Wildcats. Mulhern joins St. Kate's after an extremely successful 11-year stint as the head women's basketball coach at the University of Wisconsin-Superior and will leave as the winningest coach in program history. Under Mulhern's guidance, the Yellow Jackets posted an overall record of 149-142, with a perfect 32-0 team against Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) teams. In the past two seasons, Mulhern guided UW-Superior to two consecutive UMAC regular season and playoff titles, which included two trips to the NCAA Tournament. The Yellow Jackets also recorded back-to-back 20-plus win seasons in 2015-16 and 2016-17, and Mulhern was named UMAC Coach of the Year in 2015-16.

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.

UP NEXT:  Stout will be at St. Olaf College, Tuesday, Nov. 28, at 7 p.m., travel to UW-Superior, Friday, Dec. 1, then will host Northland College, Saturday, Dec. 2 at 3 p.m.

UW-Stout 2017-18 Season Highs (Updated November 24, 2017)

Points: 27, Bailey Diersen vs. the University of Duqubue, Nov. 17, 2017
3-Pointers Made: 4, Bailey Diersen vs. the University of Duqubue, Nov. 17, 2017
Rebounds: 10, Amber Faback vs. Ripon College, Nov. 21, 2017; Kyncaide Diedrich vs. the University of Duqubue, Nov. 17, 2017
Assists: 4, Kyncaide Diedrich vs. the University of Duqubue, Nov. 17, 2017
Blocks: 1, Emily Jacques vs. Ripon College, Nov. 21, 2017; Amber Fabeck vs. UW-Superior, Nov. 18, 2017
Double-Doubles: Kyncaide Diedrich (17 pts, 10 rbs) vs. the University of Duqubue, Nov. 17, 2017;

UW-Stout 2017-18 Team Season Highs (Updated November 24, 2017)

Points: 84 vs. the University of Duqubue, Nov. 17, 2017
Points in First Half: 37 vs. the University of Duqubue, Nov. 17, 2017
Points in Second Half: 47 vs. the University of Duqubue, Nov. 17, 2017
Points in First Quarter: 16 vs. the University of Duqubue, Nov. 17, 2017
Points in Second Quarter: 29 vs. the University of Duqubue, Nov. 17, 2017
Points in Third Quarter: 26 vs. the University of Duqubue, Nov. 17, 2017
Points in Fourth Quarter: 21 vs. the University of Duqubue, Nov. 17, 2017
Field Goals Made: 30 vs. the University of Duqubue, Nov. 17, 2017
Field Goal Percentage: .492 vs. the University of Duqubue, Nov. 17, 2017
3-Pointers Made: 17 vs. UW-Superior, Nov. 18, 2017
Free Throws Made: 13 vs. Ripon College, Nov. 21, 2017
Free Throw Percentage: .773 vs. the University of Duqubue, Nov. 17, 2017
Rebounds: 54 vs. the University of Duqubue, Nov. 17, 2017
Assists: 19 vs. the University of Duqubue, Nov. 17, 2017
Turnovers: 32 vs. the University of Duqubue, Nov. 17, 2017
Blocked Shots: 2 vs. Ripon College, Nov. 21, 2017
Steals: 12 vs. Ripon College, Nov. 21, 2017; vs. the University of Duqubue, Nov. 17, 2017

UW-Stout Collegiate Career Highs (Updated November 24, 2017)

Liz Oswald - #1
Points: 5 vs. Ripon College, Nov. 21, 2017
Rebounds: 1 vs. Ripon College, Nov. 21, 2017
Assists: 3 vs. the University of Duqubue, Nov. 17, 2017

Lizzy Olsem - #2
Points: 2 vs. UW-Superior, Nov. 18, 2017
Rebounds: 3 vs. Ripon College, Nov. 21, 2017
Assists: x

Becky Fesenmaier- #4
Points: 7 vs. UW-Platteville, Jan. 4, 2017;
Rebounds: 4 (2x) vs. UW-Stevens Point, Feb. 11, 2017; vs. UW-Platteville, Jan. 28, 2017;
Assists: 3 vs. UW-River Falls, Jan. 25, 2017

Kyncaide Diedrich - #5
Points: 22 (2x) vs. Carleton College, Dec. 30, 2016; vs. Hamline, Nov. 22, 2016
Rebounds: 10 (3x) vs. the University of Duqubue, Nov. 17, 2017; vs. UW-Whitewater, Feb. 4, 2017: vs. UW-Platteville, Jan. 4, 2017;
Assists: 9 (2x) vs. UW-Platteville, Jan. 28, 2017; vs. UW-Eau Claire, Jan. 18, 2017;

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: 21 vs. UW-Superior, Dec. 6, 2016
Rebounds: 7 (2x) vs. UW-Superior, Dec. 6, 2016; vs. St. Mary's, Nov. 19, 2016
Assists: 7 vs. Hamline, Nov. 22, 2016

Katie Sukanen - #13
Points: 2 (2x) vs. Ripon College, Nov. 21, 2017; vs. the University of Duqubue, Nov. 17, 2017
Rebounds: 2 vs. the University of Duqubue, Nov. 17, 2017
Assists: 1 vs. UW-Superior, Nov. 18, 2017

Carsyn Osterman - #14
Points: 1 vs. Ripon College, Nov. 21, 2017
Rebounds: x
Assists: 1 vs. Ripon College, Nov. 21, 2017

Bailey Diersen - #20
Points: 20 vs. St. Catherine, Nov. 27, 2016
Rebounds: 7 (2x) vs. UW-Eau Claire, Jan. 13, 2016; vs. Gustavus Adolphus, Nov. 20, 2015
Assists: 5 (2x) vs. UW-Whitewater, Feb. 4, 2017: vs. UW-Eau Claire, Feb. 1, 2017

Brianna Banks - #22
Points: 4 vs. Ripon College, Nov. 21, 2017
Rebounds: 2 vs. the University of Duqubue, Nov. 17, 2017
Assists: 4 vs. the University of Duqubue, Nov. 17, 2017

Wynia Mintz - #24
Points: x
Rebounds: x
Assists: x

Kara Griswold - #25
Points: 8 vs. the University of Duqubue, Nov. 17, 2017
Rebounds: 1 (2x) vs. Ripon College, Nov. 21, 2017; vs. the University of Duqubue, Nov. 17, 2017
Assists: 2 vs. UW-Superior, Nov. 18, 2017

Carolyn Feddema - #30
Points: 14 vs. University of Dubuque, Dec. 10, 2016
Rebounds: 9 (3x) vs. UW-La Crosse, Feb. 15, 2017); vs. UW-Platteville, Jan. 4, 2017; vs. University of Dubuque, Dec. 10, 2016
Assists: 2 vs. UW-Platteville, Jan. 4, 2017;

Shayna Hohlfelder - #31
Points: x
Rebounds: 1 vs. UW-Whitewater, Feb. 4, 2017:
Assists: x

Anna Brown - #32
Points: 18 vs. Gustavus Adolphus, Dec. 13, 2016:
Rebounds: 9 vs. University of Dubuque, Dec. 10, 2016
Assists: 2 vs. UW-Superior, Dec. 6, 2016

Claire Thorn - #33
Points: x
Rebounds: x
Assists: x

Keysha Hazelton - #34
Points: 1 vs. the University of Duqubue, Nov. 17, 2017
Rebounds: x
Assists: x

Courtney Oleson - #35
Points: 2 vs. UW-Whitewater, Feb. 4, 2017:
Rebounds: x
Assists: x

Amber Fabeck - #41
Points: 9 vs. UW-Superior, Nov. 18, 2017
Rebounds: 10 vs. Ripon College, Nov. 21, 2017
Assists: x

Alexa Gravunder - #42
Points: x
Rebounds: 2 vs. Ripon College, Nov. 21, 2017
Assists: x

Ayesha Paskert - #43
Points: 1 vs. the University of Duqubue, Nov. 17, 2017
Rebounds: 1 vs. the University of Duqubue, Nov. 17, 2017
Assists: x

Emily Jacques - #44
Points: 9 vs. UW-Whitewater, Feb. 4, 2017:
Rebounds: 9 vs. UW-Superior, Nov. 18, 2017
Assists: 2 vs. Carleton College, Dec. 30, 2016

Emme Osmonson - #45
Points: x
Rebounds: x
Assists: x