WBB Preview: Blue Devils in hunt for tourney berth, at Oshkosh Saturday

THIS WEEK'S GAMES: The Blue Devils (7-17, 3-12 WIAC) will close out the regular season Saturday, Feb. 18 at UW-Oshkosh (22-2, 12-1 WIAC) at 7 p.m. The Titans have locked up the WIAC title. The Blue Devils are still in the hunt for a berth in the WIAC Tournament, with a one game lead over UW-River Falls and UW-Platteville. The Falcons and the Pioneers meet Saturday in River Falls at 3 p.m. A Stout win over Oshkosh would give the Blue Devils the sixth and final tournament berth. Stout owns the tie-breaker over Platteville, but the Falcons hold the tie-breaker over the Blue Devils. A Platteville win, and it doesn't matter what Stout does at Oshkosh. A River Falls win and Stout must defeat Oshkosh to secure the final berth.

Jenna Goldsmith currently has 989 career points with one regular season game remaining. She has scored in double figures in every conference game this season. Kyncaide Diedrich has also scored in double figures in each of the conference games and leads Stout in scoring with 13.6 points. Goldsmith is right behind with 13.4 points. Anna Brown is averaging 10.8 points. Goldsmith leads the team in rebounds with 6.8 and Diedrich is second at 6.2.

Stout lost to UW-La Crosse, 72-50, Wednesday, while Oshkosh clinched their first outright WIAC crown in 18 years with a 59-58 win over UW-Whitewater in Oshkosh Wednesday.

Taylor Schmidt leads Oshkosh with 11.3 points and Eliza Campbell is tossing in 10.7 points. Alex Richards leads the Titans off the glass with 6.2 rebounds.

Oshkosh defeated Stout 64-58 Jan. 7 in Menomonie. Campbell led the Titans with 16 points, 10 in the fourth quarter, and Schmidt finished with 12.  Diedrich led all scorers with 20 points.  Goldsmith scored 13 points for Stout.

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. 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 Logan Stoa 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.

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:

• Kyncaide Diedrich, Jenna Goldsmith, and Bailey Diersen are all averaging more than 10 points per contest. Diedrich leads the Blue Devils with 13.8 points, followed by Goldsmith with 13.3 points and Diersen with 11.1. Both Goldsmith and Diedrich have scored in double digits in all 10 conference games.
• Goldsmith, at 6-1, leads the team in rebounds with 7.0, followed by Diedrich, at 5-5, with 6.2.
• Goldsmith is third in blocked shots (1.7) in the WIAC. 
• Diedrich is first in the league in assists, averaging 3.7. 
• Bailey Diersen has dished off five assists in two two straight games, vs. UW-Eau Claire, Feb. 1, and vs. UW-Whitewater, Feb. 4
• Goldsmith is nearing closer to the 1,000 point mark. Heading into Wednesday's matchup with La Crosse, Goldsmith has 977 career points.
• 2016-17 Statistics

CLIMBING THE LADDER:

• Jenna Goldsmith has certainly taken the "play like this is your last year" mantra to heart. The Blue Devil senior has been crushing it during the conference season, scoring in double figures in every conference game and posting a conference-only scoring average of 16.0 points, almost three points over her season average of 13.3 points.
• Goldsmith continued her scoring streak, dropping 15 points against River Falls and then 16 points against Stevens Point.
• Goldsmith is currently ranked 12th on the Blue Devil all-time scoring list with 977 points and is eighth on the all-time rebounds list with 561 boards.
• Goldsmith currently has 155 blocked shots for her career and she is shooting 47.7 percent from the floor. Goldsmith led the conference in shooting percentage as a sophomore, the year she was a first team all-conference selection.
• Diedrich's 315 points going into the final week of the season puts her on the list for points in the season. She is currently 26th on the single season list. Goldsmith currently has 310 points this season. Goldsmith finished last season with 319 points. 

CONFERENCE STANDINGS:

• The Blue Devils are projected to finish sixth in the WIAC and they are currently tied for fifth heading into the final week of the season.. Last season, the Blue Devils were the highest scoring offense in the WIAC, averaging 69.4 points per game. They also were second in the WIAC in rebounds per game, with 41.2 per game.

STOUT LAST TIME OUT:

• Stout dropped two road losses last week. First against River Falls, 72-63, and then against Stevens Point 81-54.
• UW-River Falls erased a UW-Stout halftime lead by outscoring the Blue Devils 24-8 in the third quarter and went on for a 72-63 win at Karges Center. The Blue Devils took an 11-point, 33-22, point lead into the locker room, but saw the lead evaporate with the Falcons' outburst.
• River Falls Story and Box Score
• UW-Stout found themselves in a hole early and simply could not get out as the Blue Devils lost 81-54 to UW-Stevens Point in Berg Gym Saturday afternoon. The Blue Devils found the bottom of the basket only once in the first quarter and made a couple of free throws as they were outscored 16-4 after the first quarter. The Pointers bulled their way to a 19 point, 41-22, halftime lead, then stretched that into 20-plus point leads in the third.
• Stevens Point Story and Box Score

 

UW-Stout	Statistic	UW-La Crosse	UW-Oshkosh
68.0	Pts	61.0	66.3
71.1	Pts Allowed	59.5	48.7
.309	FG %	.368	.420
.420	FG % Defense	.363	.348
3.7	3 pt made	6.0	6.7
6.6	3 pt allowed	5.6	4.1
40.9	Rebounds	39.6	36.6
37.9	Rebounds Allowed	36.9	32.3
16.9	Turnovers	15.1	16.6
Kyncaide Diedrich 13.8	Leading Scorer	MaKenzie Miller 14.1	Elise DeNoyer 11.9
Jenna Goldsmith 7.0	Leading Rebounder	MaKenzie Miller 8.7	Elise DeNoyer 8.0

SCOUTING UW-LA CROSSE

• MaKenzie Miller is the WIAC's leading rebounder and has 10 double-doubles to her name on the season. .
• Miller is also the leading scorer for the Eagles, averaging 14.1 ppg, but hasn't attempted a three pointer on the season. Miller tops the WIAC in rebounds with 8.7 per contest. Miller knocks down free throws at an 83.7 percent clip, second in the league. 
• Elise DeNoyer is averaging 11.9 points and 8.0 rebounds. DeNoyer ranks second behind Miller in the WIAC in rebounds.
• As a team, the Eagles rank 65th in the nation in free throw percentage at 71.4 percent.
• Statistics

EAGLES LAST TIME OUT

• The Eagles took a win from the Eau Claire Blugolds, 62-44.
•  Alyssa Clemment tied her career-high with 17 points, going six-of-eight from the field, including five-of-seven from three-point range. This was the second time she dropped 17 on Eau Claire this season, the first time back on January 11.
• With the win, the Eagles jumped past the Blugolds in the WIAC standings, going 7-5 overall on the season.
• Game Story and Statistics

LAST TIME STOUT AND LA CROSSE MET

• Stout suffered a road loss in their last match up with La Crosse, 64-52.
• Kyncaide Diedrich and Bailey Diersen both scored 13 points for the Blue Devils, six of Diedrich's points came from the three point line.
• The Eagles' Taylor Nelson and Daleney Schoenenberger ledthe way with 15 points. MaKenzie Miller notched a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds.
• Game Story and Statistics

SCOUTING UW-OSHKOSH

• The Titans are ranked 14th nationally and have been in the top 25 all season long. The Titans captured at least a share of the WIAC crown and a win over UW-Whitewater Wednesday would give them the undisputed crown and the No. 1 seed in the WIAC tournament.
• The Titans are 21-2 on the season, their only two losses coming against DePauw and Whitewater.
• In the nation, the Titans rank eight in points allowed (47.6), 24th in scoring margin (+17.5) and second overall in turnovers per game (11.6).
• Statistics

TITANS LAST TIME OUT

• Oshkosh grabbed a 20-point, 91-71 win against Platteville in their last contest.
• Jaimee Pitt poured in a career-high 18 points as UW-Oshkosh secured at least a share of the WIAC women's basketball title in the win.
• Game Story and Statistics

LAST TIME STOUT AND OSHKOSH MET

• Stout pushed the Titans to the limit in their last meeting, but eventually fell 64-58 in Johnson Fieldhouse. 
• With the Blue Devils (5-8, 1-1 WIAC) leading 56-46 with 7:04 remaining in the game, the Titans got a pair of free throws from Kylie Moe, and a 3-pointer and two buckets by Eliza Campbell to pull the Titans to within 56-55 at 4:46.
• Kyncaide Diedrich lit the fire under the Blue Devils in the third quarter, outscoring the entire Oshkosh team in the quarter when she dropped in 12 of her game-high 20 points, making 3-of-4 field goals and all six of her free throws. Stout led, 48-41 at the end of the third.
• Game Story and Statistics

AWARDS AND HONORS: Kyncaide Diedrich was the UW-Stout/DigiCopy Athlete of the Wee, 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 2016-17 season are Jenna Goldsmith and Anna Brown.

THE COACHES:
UW-STOUT:

• Mark Thomas (465-326) is in his 30th 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. .
• Only former baseball coach Terry Petrie has been a head coach as long as Thomas. Petrie was the baseball head coach for 30 seasons.

UW-LA CROSSE :

• Karen Middleton is in her first season as UW-La Crosse head women's basketball coach in 2016-17.  A native of Jefferson, South Carolina, Middleton served as associate head coach at Cal State Fullerton University in 2015-16, overseeing the day-to-day aspects of the women's basketball program for the Titans.  Middleton appears to have turned a corner with the Eagles. Last season, the Eagles were 7-18 overall and won only one conference game, going 1-13 in the WIAC.

UW-BRAD FISHER:

• Brad Fischer has restored the UW-Oshkosh women's basketball winning tradition in short order. In June 2012, Fischer inherited a program that had won 11 WIAC championships and one national title, but had no winning seasons and a 52-99 record from 2007-12.
• Fischer, who owns a 69-17 record in his first three seasons at UW-Oshkosh, guided the Titans deep into the 2014 and 2015 NCAA Division III tournaments in just his second and third seasons and earned 2014 Central Region Coach of the Year from D3hoops.com.

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

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: The Blue Devils are seeking a WIAC Tournament bid.


UW-Stout 2016-17 Season Highs (Updated February 15, 2017)

Points: 28, Jenna Goldsmith vs. Northland College, Nov. 29, 2016
3-Pointers Made: 4, Kyncaide Diedrich vs. UW-River Falls, Jan. 25, 2017
Rebounds: 12, Jenna Goldsmith vs. Augsburg, Nov. 15, 2016
Assists: 9,  (2x) Kyncaide Diedrich vs. UW-Platteville, Jan. 28, 2017; Kyncaide Diedrich vs. UW-Eau Claire, Jan. 18, 2017
Steals: 5, (3x) Bailey Diersen vs. UW-Platteville, Jan. 28, 20017; Anna Brown vs. UW-Platteville, Jan. 28, 20017; Kyncaide Diedrich vs. UW-River Falls, Jan. 25, 2017
Blocks: 4,  Jenna Goldsmith vs. UW-Eau Claire, Jan. 18, 2017; Jenna Goldsmith vs. Gustavus Adolphus, Dec. 13, 2016); Jenna Goldsmith vs. University of Dubuque, Dec. 10, 2016; Jenna Goldsmith vs. UW-Eau Claire Jan. 18, 2017
Double-Doubles: Kyncaide Diedrich (16 ts, 10 rb) vs. UW-Whitewater, Feb. 4, 2017; Jenna Goldsmith (14 pts, 10 rbs) vs. UW-River Falls, Jan. 25, 2017;  Kyncaide Diedrich (17 pts, 10 rbs) vs. UW-Platteville, Jan. 4, 2017;

UW-Stout 2016-17 Team Season Highs (Updated February 15, 2017)

Points: 90 vs. Northland College, Nov. 29, 2016
Points in First Half: 46 vs. Augsburg, Nov. 15, 2016
Points in Second Half: 53 vs. Northland College, Nov. 29, 2016
Points in First Quarter: 24 vs. University of Dubuque, Dec. 10, 2016
Points in Second Quarter: 29 (2x) vs. UW-Platteville, Jan. 4, 2017; Carleton College, Dec. 30, 2016
Points in Third Quarter: 26 vs. St. Kate's, Nov. 27, 2016
Points in Fourth Quarter: 28 vs. Northland College, Nov. 29, 2016
Field Goals Made: 30 vs. Northland College, Nov. 29, 2016; vs. Augsburg, Nov. 15, 2016
Field Goal Percentage: .484 vs. Augsburg, Nov. 15, 2016;  .482 vs. UW-Eau Claire, Feb. 1, 2017
3-Pointers Made: 10 vs. UW-Eau Claire, Feb. 1, 2017
Free Throws Made: 26 vs. Gustavus Adolphus, Dec. 13, 2016
Free Throw Percentage: .941 vs. UW-Platteville, Jan. 4, 2017;
Rebounds: 55 vs. University of Dubuque, Dec. 10, 2016
Assists: 22 vs. UW-Eau Claire, Jan. 18, 2017
Turnovers: 29 vs. UW-Oshkosh, Jan. 7, 2017
Blocked Shots: 8 vs. Gustavus Adolphus, Dec. 13, 2016
Steals: 15 vs. UW-Platteville, Jan. 28, 20017;

UW-Stout Collegiate Career Highs (Updated February 15, 2017)

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 (2x) 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;

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

Anika Hanson - #14
Points: x
Rebounds: x
Assists: x

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

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

McKenna McVey - #33
Points: 8 vs. UW-Eau Claire, Feb. 1, 2017
Rebounds: 8 vs. Bethel University, Dec. 29, 2016
Assists: 3 (2x) vs. UW-Eau Claire, Jan. 18, 2017

Whitney Folkers- #34
Points: 8 vs. UW-Eau Claire, Jan. 18, 2017
Rebounds: 4 vs. UW-Platteville, Jan. 4, 2017;
Assists: 2 (2x) vs. UW-Whitewater, Feb. 4, 2017: vs. UW-Eau Claire, Feb. 1, 2017

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

Jenna Goldsmith - #41
Points: 28 vs. Northland College, Nov. 29, 2016
Rebounds: 14 vs. UW-Platteville, Jan. 3, 2015
Assists: 3 vs. UW-Platteville, Feb. 20, 2016

Sammi Hayes - #43
Points: 3 vs. St. Benedict, Nov. 20, 2016
Rebounds: 2 vs. St. Catherine, Nov. 27, 2016
Assists: x

Emily Jacques - #44
Points: 9 vs. UW-Whitewater, Feb. 4, 2017:
Rebounds: 8 vs. UW-Oshkosh, Jan. 7, 2017
Assists: 2 vs. Carleton College, Dec. 30, 2016