Women's Basketball Preview: Stout in Vegas for the end of the year

D3Hoops.com:  Live Video vs. Trine | Live Video vs. Occidental College |  WIAC Weekly Release

THIS WEEK'S GAMES: The Blue Devils (6-3, 0-0 WIAC) take a trip to Las Vegas, Nev., to participate in the D3Hoops.com Classic at South Point Arena where they will face sixth-ranked Trine University (10-0, 3-0 MIAA) Thursday, Dec. 28 at 10 a.m. (PT) and Occidental College, (5-3, 1-1 SCIAC) Saturday, Dec. 30 at 12 p.m. (PT). Stout last played in Las Vegas during the 2004-05 season when they defeated DePauw University and Union College.

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.
• Bailey Diersen is having a banner season and leads the team and is leading the WIAC in scoring, averaging 16.7 points per contest. Diersen has scored in double digits in eight of nine games this season, with a career-high 27 points in the season opener against the University of Dubuque. Diersen leads the team and the WIAC in steals with 23.
• Kyncaide Diedrich has simply picked up where she left off last year. The All-WIAC honorable mention pick is averaging 15.6 points per game, third in the league. Diedrich is in the WIAC's top five in five categories - third in points (15.6), fourth in rebounds (7.1), third in assists (31/3.44), fourth in free throw percentage (.806) and second in steals (19). She leads the team in assists and rebounds.
• Sophomore transfer Amber Fabeck is averaging 9.9 points and 5.7 rebounds. The 6-foot-2 post player also has 14 blocked shots on the season, recording five against Martin Luther and three against Hamline, ranking second in the WIAC. Fabeck has lately shown range from 3-point range, dropping in 11, tied with Diedrich and one behind Diersen. She connected on two 3-pointers against Martin Luther and three against Hamline.
• Stout is outshooting their opponents from the 3-point line, collecting 61 3-pointers made, compared to 34 made for their opponents. Diersen has hit 12 3-pointers and Diedrich and Fabeck 11 each. Stout is second in the WIAC in 3-pointers made at 6.78.
• Stout leads the WIAC in steals, averaging 11.22 per game. Diersen leads the conference in steals (2.56/game).
• Stout is averaging 69.6 points per game and is giving up 61.4 points for a plus-8.2 point advantage.
• Kyncaide Diedrich and Bailey Diersen averaged more than 10 points per contest last season. 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
• 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:

• UW-Stout had three players score in double figures and the Blue Devils held off a late charge to take a 68-60 win over Hamline University Dec. 16.
• Amber Fabeck led Stout with a career-high 17 points and had a team-best nine rebounds. Kyncaide Diedrich threw in 13 points and Bailey Diersen finished with 11. Fabeck was 6-of-13 from the floor, but stepped outside the 3-point arc to drop in three long range shots. She also recorded three blocked shots.
• The Blue Devils held a 14 point lead in the third quarter, but Hamline (2-7) pulled to within a couple of points in the fourth quarter before Stout finished with the eight point advantage.
• The Pipers also had three players in double figures, led by Morgan Coleman's 15. Alaina Quaranta and Reilly Geistfeld each contributed 10 points. Geistfeld pulled down 11 rebounds.
• Stout shot 36.4 percent (24-66) from the floor, 28.0 percent (7-25) from 3-point range and 65.0 percent (13-20) from the line. The Blue Devils held a 49-37 advantage in rebounds. The Pipers shot 40.0 percent (24-60) from the floor, 41.7 percent (5-12) from 3-point range and 46.7 percent (7-15) from the line.
• Hamline University Story and Box Score

SCOUTING TRINE UNIVERSITY

• Stout will meet Trine University (10-0) at the D3Hoops.com Classic, Thursday, Dec. 28, in Las Vegas, Nev. The Blue Devils were originally scheduled to meet defending national champion Amherst College, but the schedule changed and Stout was awarded Trine. The undefeated Thunder are currently ranked sixth in the latest D3Hoops.com Top 25, only one spot behind Amherst. Trine is ranked sixth in the WBCA Top 25 and Amherst shot up to the top spot.
• Trine was picked to win the MIAA in a preseason poll, and are returning four of five starters from last year's squad that posted 25 wins. The Thunder last season captured their first conference crown and made their first NCAA appearance, advancing to the second round. 
• Brandi Dawson leads the team with 16.1 points and leads a balanced rebounding game, averaging 5.7 caroms. Hayley Martin is averaging 9.3 points and 5.6 rebounds. The Thunder are averaging 68.0 points and giving up a lowly 44.0 points.
• Junior Brandi Dawson scored a game-high 28 points to lead the Trine  to a 71-46 victory at Heidelberg University, Dec. 18. Dawson connected on 11-of-14 field goal attempts (78.6 percent) and went six-of-seven (85.7 percent) at the free-throw line to finish with her 28 points.  Freshman Shay Herbert was the next highest scorer for the Thunder with nine points to go along with a team-high six rebounds. In addition, junior Cassidy Williams  led all players in assists, and matched her career high, with seven helpers. As a team, Trine shot 50.0 percent (30-of-60) from the field and the Thunder defense held Heidelberg to just 25.4 percent shooting (16-of-63) while forcing 20 turnovers. Game Story and Statistics
• 2017-18 Trine University Statistics

SCOUTING OCCIDENTAL COLLEGE

• Stout will meet Occidental College (5-3) at the D3Hoops.com Classic, Saturday, Dec. 30 in Las Vegas, Nev. The Tigers play Hamline University, Dec. 29 in their first game of the D3Hoops.com Classic.
• The Tigers are led by Tala Ismail with 13.5 points and 6.5 rebounds. Shariah Green is averaging 12.4 points and a team-best 7.9 rebounds. Triana Anderson is averaging 11.8 points and 5.4 rebounds. Emily Leonard is averaging 6.0 rebounds and 8.6 points. The Tigers are averaging 69.0 points and giving up 60.0 points.
• Occidental couldn't overcome some major shooting woes in a 60-55 loss to Pacific (Ore.) at Rush Gym Dec. 19. The Tigers shot just 22 percent from the field and 3 for 24 from the 3-point line, including 0-17 through three quarters. It looked like they were cursed or their was a lid on the basket. Tala Ismail finished with a team-high 17 points, nine rebounds, six steals, three blocks and an assist. Triana Anderson added 14 points and nine rebounds, including six at the offensive end of the floor. Game Story and Statistics
• 2017-18 Occidental College Statistics

A DEFENSIVE EFFORT NOT SEEN IN MORE THAN 35 YEARS

• If the Blue Devils were smarting after seeing a 10-game winning streak stopped last season against Northland College, Stout made the Lumberjills pay for the transgression Dec. 2 with a 68-26 win in Johnson Fieldhouse.
• The 26 points by the Lumberjills was the fewest points Stout has allowed during the Mark Thomas era. The school mark stretches back to the 1970s when women's basketball games were not nearly as high scoring on either side, with both teams at times scoring in the 20s and 30s. During the 1976-77 season, Stout defeated UW-Barron County by scores of 40-19 and 62-26. The next year, the Blue Devils defeated Barron County, a two-year school, 53-26.During the 1972-73 season, Stout's wins of the season came in back-to-back wins over a pair of two-year UW schools, a 38-16 win at UW-Waukesha, followed by a 36-18 win over UW-Fond du Lac. The 16 points is the fewest allowed in school history.
• During Thomas' 31 seasons, the fewest points allowed by Stout was 33 in a 95-33 win over Crown College, Nov. 15, 2011.

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Amber Fabeck, So, Cottage Grove, Minn (Park)

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 (471-331) 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. .

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.

STOUT IN THE WIAC TOURNAMENT: Overall, UW-Stout is 19-10 in the WIAC Championship tournament. Stout is 11-3 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

CONFERENCE: 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 opens the WIAC schedule Wednesday, Jan. 3 when they travel to UW-Platteville and to UW-Stevens Point, Saturday, Jan 6.


UW-Stout 2017-18 Season Highs (Updated December 17, 2017)

Points: 27, Bailey Diersen vs. the University of Duqubue, Nov. 17, 2017
3-Pointers Made: 4, (2x) Bailey Diersen vs. UW-Superior, Dec. 1, 2017; 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: 6, Kyncaide Diedrich vs. Northland College, Dec. 2, 2017
Blocks: 5, Amber Fabeck vs. Martin Luther College, Dec. 4, 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 December 17, 2017)

Points: 84 vs. the University of Dubuque, Nov. 17, 2017
Points in First Half: 39 vs. Northland College, Dec. 2, 2017
Points in Second Half: 47 (3x) vs. Martin Luther College, Dec. 4, 2017; vs. St. Olaf, Nov. 28, 2017; vs. the University of Dubuque, Nov. 17, 2017
Points in First Quarter: 24 vs. Northland College, Dec. 2, 2017
Points in Second Quarter: 29 vs. the University of Dubuque, Nov. 17, 2017
Points in Third Quarter: 28 vs. Martin Luther College, Dec. 4, 2017
Points in Fourth Quarter: 24 vs. St. Olaf, Nov. 28, 2017
Field Goals Made: 30 (2x) vs. St. Olaf, Nov. 28, 2017; vs. the University of Dubuque, Nov. 17, 2017
Field Goal Percentage: .492 vs. the University of Dubuque, Nov. 17, 2017
3-Pointers Made: 12 vs. University of Dubuque, Nov. 17, 2017
Free Throws Made: 24 vs. St. Catherine, Nov. 26, 2017
Free Throw Percentage: 909 vs. UW-Superior, Dec. 1, 2017
Rebounds: 54 vs. the University of Dubuque, Nov. 17, 2017
Assists: 19 vs. the University of Dubuque, Nov. 17, 2017
Turnovers: 32 vs. the University of Dubuque, Nov. 17, 2017
Blocked Shots: 7 vs. Martin Luther College, Dec. 4, 2017
Steals: 18 vs. St. Catherine, Nov. 26, 2017

UW-Stout Collegiate Career Highs (Updated December 17, 2017)

Liz Oswald - #1
Points: 6 vs. UW-Superior, Dec. 1, 2017
Rebounds: 2 vs. Martin Luther College, Dec. 4, 2017
Assists: 3 vs. the University of Dubuque, Nov. 17, 2017

Lizzy Olsem - #2
Points: 2 vs. UW-Superior, Nov. 18, 2017
Rebounds: 3 (2x) vs. Hamline University, Dec. 16, 2017; 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 (3x) vs. St. Olaf College, Nov. 28, 2017: vs. Carleton College, Dec. 30, 2016; vs. Hamline, Nov. 22, 2016
Rebounds: 10 (3x) vs. the University of Dubuque, 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 Dubuque, Nov. 17, 2017
Rebounds: 2 vs. the University of Dubuque, Nov. 17, 2017
Assists: 1 vs. UW-Superior, Nov. 18, 2017

Carsyn Osterman - #14
Points: 6 vs. Martin Luther College, Dec. 4, 2017
Rebounds: 3 vs. Hamline University, Dec. 16, 2017
Assists: 2 vs. Hamline University, Dec. 16, 2017

Bailey Diersen - #20
Points: 27 vs. the University of Dubuque, Nov. 17, 2017
Rebounds: 7 (3x) vs. St. Catherine, Nov. 26, 2017; 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: 6 (2x) vs. Hamline University, Dec. 16, 2017; vs. St. Catherine, Nov. 26, 2017
Rebounds: 4 vs. St. Catherine, Nov. 26, 2017
Assists: 4 vs. the University of Dubuque, Nov. 17, 2017

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

Kara Griswold - #25
Points: 8 vs. the University of Dubuque, Nov. 17, 2017
Rebounds: 4 vs. St. Catherine, Nov. 26, 2017
Assists: 2 (2x) vs. Hamline University, Dec. 16, 2017; 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: 1 vs. St. Olaf, Nov. 28, 2017
Rebounds: 1 (2x) vs. St. Olaf, Nov. 28, 2017; 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:4 vs. Martin Luther College, Dec. 4, 2017

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

Keysha Hazelton - #34
Points: 3 vs. Northland College, Dec. 2, 2017
Rebounds: 2 vs. Northland College, Dec. 2, 2017
Assists: x

Courtney Oleson - #35
Points: 2 (2x) vs. Northland College, Dec. 2, 2017; vs. UW-Whitewater, Feb. 4, 2017:
Rebounds: x
Assists: x

Amber Fabeck - #41
Points: 17 vs. Hamline University, Dec. 16, 2017
Rebounds: 10 vs. Ripon College, Nov. 21, 2017
Assists: 4 vs. St. Olaf, Nov. 28, 2017
Blocks: 5 vs. Martin Luther College, Dec. 4, 2017

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

Ayesha Paskert - #43
Points: 2 vs. St. Olaf, Nov. 28, 2017
Rebounds: 2 vs. St. Olaf, Nov. 28, 2017
Assists: x

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

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