Women's Basketball Preview: Stout travels to Point Saturday

at UW-Platteville: Live Stats | Live Video | Listen at UW-Stevens Point:  Live Stats | Live Video | Listen

THIS WEEK'S GAMES: The Blue Devils (7-4, 0-0 WIAC) have been road warriors for most of the first half of the season, and road trips are in UW-Stout's future as the team opens the WIAC schedule with a pair of road games, traveling to UW-Platteville (4-7, 0-0 WIAC), Wednesday, Jan. 3 at 7 p.m. and at UW-Stevens Point (6-5, 0-0 WIAC) Saturday, Jan. 6 at 3 p.m. The Blue Devils played only two home games during the first semester of play, but will begin a four-game homestand when they host UW-Oshkosh, Wednesday, Jan. 10 at 7 p.m.

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. Listen to Interviews

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, Jake Bostrom or Jimmy Kaska 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 freshmen.
• Bailey Diersen is having a banner season and leads the team and is second in the WIAC in scoring, averaging 15.6 points per contest. Diersen has scored in double digits in 9 of 11 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 29.
• Kyncaide Diedrich has simply picked up where she left off last year. The All-WIAC honorable mention pick is averaging 14.6 points per game, third in the league. Diedrich is in the WIAC's top five in four categories - third in points (14.6), fourth in rebounds (7.1), third in assists (38/3.45),and second in steals (27). She leads the team in assists and rebounds.
• Sophomore transfer Amber Fabeck is averaging 9.3 points and 6.5 rebounds. The 6-foot-2 post player also has 18 blocked shots on the season, recording five against Martin Luther and three against Hamline, ranking second in the WIAC. Fabeck has shown range from 3-point range, dropping in 12, one behind Diersen and Diedrich. She connected on two 3-pointers against Martin Luther and three against Hamline. Fabeck has recorded at least two blocks in each of the last four games.
• Stout is outshooting their opponents from the 3-point line, collecting 69 3-pointers made, compared to 39 made for their opponents. Diersen and Diedrich have each hit 13 3-pointers and Fabeck 12 . Stout is third in the WIAC in 3-pointers made at 6.27.
• Stout leads the WIAC in steals, averaging 11.25 per game. Diersen leads the conference in steals (2.64/game).
• Stout is averaging 66.5 points per game and is giving up 59.9 points.
• 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 could eturn to the Blue Devil lineup at some point in the second semester. Watkins did an internship this fall.
• 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:

• Stout took a brief lead over sixth-ranked Trine University to start the fourth quarter, but the Thunder recaptured the lead and went on to a 52-46 win at the D3Hoops.com Classic at South Point Arena Dec. 28. The Blue Devils rebounded from a five point, 23-18, halftime deficit to outscore Trine 13-9 in the third stanza and trailed 32-31 heading into the final period. Senior guard Haley Seifert scored 10 points, one less than her career-best, to lead Stout. Kyncaide Diedrich and Amber Fabeck each contributed nine points. Fabeck also had nine rebounds and two blocked shots. Bailey Diersen finished with eight.
• Trine Story and Box Score
• Stout trailed after the first period, turned up the defensive pressure in the second and third periods to take the lead, then had to hold off Occidental College in the final minutes in a 60-54 win Dec. 30 at South Point Arena in the D3Hoops.com Classic.  BaileyDiersen led all scorers with 14 points and Kyncaide Diedrich contributed 12 points, seven rebounds, three assists and six steals. Diedrich was slected to the all-tournament team.  Amber Fabeck led Stout off the glass, pulling down 11 rebounds, including 10 defensive boards. Kara Griswold and Emily Jacques each had five rebounds, a personal-best for Griswold. Fabeck and Anna Brown each had two blocked shots.
• Occidental Story and Box Score

UW-Stout	Statistic	UW-Platteville	UW-Stevens Point
66.5	Pts	71.4	62.1
59.9	Pts Allowed	70.7	60.6
.368	FG %	.395	.388
.374	FG % Defense	.381	.409
6.3	3 pt made	5.8	3.7
3.5	3 pt allowed	5.7	5.4
42.9	Rebounds	43.9	37.5
41.7	Rebounds Allowed	38.9	31.5
18.5	Turnovers	22.2	19.2
Bailey Diersen 15.6	Leading Scorer	Kassie Bucholtz 11.7	Taylor Barrett 10.2
Kyncaide Diedrich 7.1	Leading Rebounder	Maiah Domask 7.0	Mickey Roland 7.0

SCOUTING UW-PLATTEVILLE

• The Pioneers are second in the WIAC in scoring, averaging 71.4 points, but the Pioneers are last in scoring defense, allowing 70.7. Morgan Horstman is averaging 13.4 points per game over five games and Kassie Bucholtz is averaging 11.7 points over nine games. Allison Prestegaard leads the WIAC in blocked shots with 30 (2.73/game). Prestegaard is averaging 8.9 points and 5.4 rebounds. Maiah Domask has predomiately come off the bench to lead the team in rebounds with 7.2. She is averaging 7.9 points. 
• Pioneers Statistics
   

THE PIONEERS LAST TIME OUT

• The Pioneers lost a pair of close games in the St. Louis, Mo., area last week, falling to Fontbonne, 82-81, Dec. 29, then dropping a 73-65 decision at  Wash U, Dec. 30
• vs. Fontbonne, Dec. 29
• vs. Washington University

THE LAST TIME PLATTEVILLE AND STOUT MET

• Anna Brown's steal as time ran out sealed an 86-84 UW-Stout win over UW-Platteville Jan. 28, 2017 in Johnson Fieldhouse. With the Blue Devils clinging to the two point lead coming out of a timeout with 13 seconds remaining after Carolyn Feddema made a free throw, Platteville worked the ball around their own perimeter. Brown stepped in front of a pass in front of the Platteville bench with four seconds showing on the clock, tipped the ball towards the scorers table, then dived to keep the ball in play, pushing it towards Stout's basket where Kyncaide Diedrich retrieved the ball at the baseline as the buzzer sounded.The play put an end to a furious Platteville comeback that saw the Pioneers hack away at a 14 point Stout fourth quarter lead.
• Game Story and Statistics
• Kyncaide Diedrich scored UW-Stout's first double-double of the season and UW-Stout went on to a 72-59 conference opening win at UW-Platteville Jan. 4, 2017. Diedrich was only 3-of-15 from the field, with one 3-pointer, but made the Pioneers pay at the free throw line where she drained 10-of-11 charity shots. Diedrich was also opportunistic off the glass, pulling down 10 rebounds. Diedrich dished off seven assists, flirting with a triple double.
• Game Story and Statistics

SCOUTING UW-STEVENS POINT

• The Pointers' leading scorer is Taylor Barrett, who is averaging 10.2 points. Mickey Roland is the leading glass cleaner, averaging 7.0 rebounds. The Pointers average 62.1 points and give up 60.6.
• Pointers Statistics
   

THE POINTERS LAST TIME OUT

• The Pointers defeated St. Mary's College, 67-46 Dec. 30
• The Pointers lost 58-46 to DePauw, Dec. 29
• The Pointers open the WIAC season by hosting UW-River Falls, Jan. 3.

THE LAST TIME STEVENS POINT AND STOUT MET

• 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 Feb, 11, 2017. Down by 26 points, 54-28, in the third quarter, Stout dug their way back into contention, going on a 17-1 run to pull to within 12 points, 55-43, with 1:14 remaining in the third period. Jenna Goldsmith led Stout with 16 points, running her career totals to 977 points. Kyncaide Diedrich contributed 12 points. Goldsmith had seven rebounds and Diedrich six. The Pointers' Lauren Anklam matched Goldsmith's total, leading the Pointers with 16 points. Taylor Barrett had 13 points and Payton Mix came off the bench for 12 points. Autumn Hennes pulled down seven rebounds
• Game Story and Statistics
• UW-Stout couldn't find the basket, shooting only 38.6 percent from the field on the game, as the Stevens Point Pointers took the win in Johnson Fieldhouse Jan. 11, 2017. Stout's Jenna Goldsmith scored 13 points, grabbed eight boards, and blocked two shots.
  Autumn Hennes scored 17 to lead the game for the Pointers.
• Game Story and 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: Kyncaide Diedrich, Jr, Athens, Wis.

AWARDS AND HONORS: 2017-18: Kyncaide Diedrich was selected as the UW-Stout/Toppers Athlete of the Week, Jan. 1 after being named to the D3Hoops.com All-Tournament team...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.

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

THE COACHES:
UW-STOUT:

• Mark Thomas (472-332) 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. .

UW-PLATTEVILLE:

• Megan Wilson (62-126) is in her eighth season at UW-Platteville.

UW-STEVENS POINT:

• Shirley Egner (532-234) is in her 29th season at UW-Stevens Point and has the most wins of any women's basketball coach in the WIAC.

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:  The Blue Devils played only two home games during the first semester of play, but will begin a four-game homestand when they host UW-Oshkosh, Wednesday, Jan. 10 at 7 p.m. Stout will host UW-Whitewater, Saturday, Jan. 13 at 3 p.m.


UW-Stout 2017-18 Season Highs (Updated January 7, 2018)

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 January 7, 2018)

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: 28 vs. UW-Stevens Point, Jan. 6, 2018
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 January 7, 2018)

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: 23 vs. UW-Platteville, Jan. 3, 2018
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: 5 vs. Occidental College, Dec. 30, 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: 11 vs. Occidental College, Dec. 30, 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