Women's basketball team excited to get season underway

Game Notes | WIAC Preseason Poll

MENOMONIE (November 11, 2018) – The last six-plus months have been an exciting and educational time for first year UW-Stout women's basketball coach Hannah Iverson, her coaching staff and for her 2018-19 team.
 
"This is an exciting time for us," Iverson said, as the season opener is only days away. "We have spent a lot of time learning from each other. As a staff we have set high expectations for this team and these young ladies have embraced the challenge. This is a great group of girls and they are a blast to work with."
 
The Blue Devils return 13 players from last year's squad and bring in four players new to the program, one transfer and three freshmen.
 
"The cupboard is not empty here," Iverson said. "We have a great deal of talent on our roster. Our job as a coaching staff is to find the best way to utilize that talent and put some wins on the board,"
 
The Blue Devils return three seniors – Kyncaide Diedrich (Athens), Bailey Diersen (Greenville) and Carolyn Feddema (Buffalo, Minn).
 
"This is not a rebuilding year," Iverson emphasized. "I want to make this work for those seniors who have given so much to this program."
 
The team has bought into the new system. The run-and-gun gives way to a motion offense.
 
"Our motto will be the best player is our open players," Iverson said.
 
Diedrich, the league's leading scorer last season with 15.9 points per game, was a first team All-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) pick, as well as being selected to the all-defensive team. Diedrich was third in the WIAC in rebounds and third in steals.
 
Diersen earned honorable mention honors, just trailing Diedrich in points scored at 15.2 points and led the WIAC in steals with 2.44. Diedrich hit 33 3-pointers and Diersen 27 to lead the team.
 
"Both Kyncaide and Bailey are strong and smart players," Iverson said. "They can create for their teammates, hit the 3-pointer and attack the basket.  When some of your best players are your hardest workers it puts your program in a position."
 
Feddema has been a steady player for the Blue Devils throughout her career, getting onto the court in 75 of 76 possible games over her career, averaging anywhere from 10 to 20 minutes per game.
 
"Carolyn is a swing player for us," Iverson said. "She can play at the 3, 4 or 5 positions."
 
After more than a year out due to injury, Shannan Watkins (Jr, Hoover, Ala) returns, adding another experienced player to the lineup. Watkins averaged almost seven points during the 2015-16 season and was scoring more than 10 points when she went down nine games into the 2016-17 season.
 
Liz Oswald (So, Watertown) has been working at the point guard spot.
 
"Liz will give Kyncaide relief at the point and allows her to run the 2," Iverson said. "She is a smart point guard that makes the players around her better."
 
Also at guard, Becky Fesenmaier (Jr, Spring Valley) "has been just a worker," Iverson said. "We can ask anything of her and she will do it."
 
Expect to see junior college transfer Kelsey Krainz (Jr, Thief River Falls, Minn), Kara Griswold (So, Olathe, Kan), Keysha Hazelton (So, Eau Claire) and Katie Sukanen (So, Neenah) see time in the guard positions, along with Lexi Todd (Fr, Lake Geneva), Shayna Hohlfelder (Jr, Fall Creek) and Gina Palasz (Fr, Naperville, Ill).
 
Underneath the basket, Amber Fabeck (Jr, Cottage Grove, Minn) acclimated herself to the conference last year and, at 6-foot-3, stretches her post position.
 
"Amber has a really nice skill set," Iverson said. "She is smooth around the rim and can stretch out to shoot the 3(-pointer)."
 
After transferring to Stout from the University of Sioux Falls last season, Fabeck averaged 8.5 points and 5.1 rebounds. Only Diedrich and Diersen connected on more 3-pointers, as Fabeck drained 23 of 65 3-pointers at a .354 clip. Fabeck was third in the league in blocked shots with 31.
 
In addition to Fabeck playing underneath, Lizzy Olsem (So, St. Charles, Ill), Emily Jacques (Jr, Oshkosh) and Maddy Otto (Fr, Cameron) will patrol the paint.
 
"Lizzy is all physicality," Iverson said. "She is not afraid to bang around underneath. Emily is a nice piece to have under the rim as well, she doesn't mind the physical play."
 
"This team is committed to whatever it takes to get the job done," Iverson said. "In our conference, there is no night off. I want us to be the hardest working team on the floor."
 
Iverson wants to continue the team's involvement in the community.
 
"We want to get the community excited," Iverson said. "We want to put a product on the floor that they are excited to get behind."
 
The Blue Devils open the season when they host St. Olaf College, Tuesday, Nov. 13 at 7 p.m. Stout travels to the UW-River Falls Tournament, Nov. 16-17, where they will face St. Catherine on Friday and will see St. Olaf again on Saturday.
 
The Blue Devils have four more home games before Christmas, hosting Hamline University, Tuesday, Nov. 20, Martin Luther College, Monday, Dec. 3, Crown College Friday, Dec. 7 and Ripon College Tuesday, Dec. 11. Conference play opens Wednesday, Jan. 2 by hosting UW-La Crosse.