Women's Basketball Preview: Superior provides season-opening foe

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THIS WEEK'S GAMES: The Blue Devils (0-0, 0-0 WIAC) will open their season as the opening part of a doubleheader at Johnson Fieldhouse, Friday, Nov. 8, when they host UW-Superior (0-0, 0-0 UMAC) at 5:30 p.m. Tonight's game marks the beginning of the second year of the Hannah Iverson era for Blue Devil basketball. The Blue Devils are coming off an 18-9 season that saw the team open on a 10-game winning streak to start the season and saw the Blue Devils return to the WIAC tournament. UW-Superior was the team that ended the Blue Devils' season-opening winning streak late in December last season.


HANNAH IVERSON INTERVIEWS: Throughout the season, Pete Knutson of iHeartRadio's Newstalk WMEQ AM 880 and 106.3FM will speak with head women's basketball coach Hannah Iverson about the season. Listed are each of the interviews throughout the season. Listen to Interviews

BLUE DEVIL WEBCASTS: All UW-Stout home games will be available in a live video stream by Blue Devil Video. Stout will provide Live Stats for all home games. Check the Blue Devil Webcast page or 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:

• The Blue Devils return two starters from last season's team in Amber Fabeck, who earned all-WIAC honorable mention honors, and Liz Oswald. Fabeck averaged 13.4 points and had 5.0 rebounds. Oswald, along with Shannan Watkins, Becky Fesenmaier, Emily Jacques and Lizzy Olsem have seen considerable throughout their careers. The Blue Devils return nine players from last year and welcome nine newcomers.
• The Blue Devils lost two all-conference players in guards Kyncaide Diedrich and Bailey Diersen and will need to replace the duo's scoring prowess. Also lost to graduation was Carolyn Feddema.
• But Amber Fabeck, who earned All-WIAC honorable mention honors, returns. Fabeck last season averaged 13.4 points and pulled down 5.0 rebounds. Shannan Watkins returned full-time for the Blue Devils last year after missing nearly a season and a half due to injury. The senior guard from Hoover, Ala., saw action in 26 games and averaged 8.2 points. Watkins was among the leaders for the Blue Devils in scoring, assists and steals. 
• Senior Becky Fesenmaier and Emily Jacques have been contributors their first three season and Fesenmaier saw action in all 27 games last year and Jacques in 26 games. Throughout her career, Jacques played in 76 of 77 possible games. Throughout her career, Jacques has averaged 3.8 rebounds per contest. Fesenmaier has played in 74 possible games. 
• Liz Oswald and Lizzy Olsem played in all 27 games year, with Oswald starting all 27 games where she averaged 6.7 points. 
• Also returning this season are senior Kelsey Kainz, junior Keysha Hazelton and sophomore Gina Palasz.
• Newcomers this year include junior transfer guard Molly Wampler, guards Lindsey Johnson, Courtney Crouch, Melanie Carli, Katie Christopherson, Alexa Neilitz, and Paityn Tiefs, freshman forward Haylee Yaeger and freshman center Erin O'Brien.
• 2018-19 Statistics

CONFERENCE STANDINGS:

• The Blue Devils are projected to finish fifth in the WIAC according to a WIAC preseason poll by conference coaches and sports information directors. UW-Oshkosh was picked to finish first, UW-La Crosse second, UW-Whitewater third, UW-Eau Claire fourth, UW-Platteville sixth, UW-Stevens Point seventh and UW-River Falls eighth..

STOUT LAST TIME OUT:

• The third time proved to be the charm for UW-Stout as the Blue Devils avenged two regular season losses with an 81-69 win over UW-Platteville in the first round of the WIAC Championship (presented by Culvers) at Johnson Fieldhouse last march, but the season ended in the second round of the WIAC Championship when the eventual conference tournament champion and top-seeded UW-Oshkosh ended Stout's season with a 61-58 decision. The game was Stout's first second round game since the 2009-10 season. | Game Story and Statistics

 

SCOUTING UW-SUPERIOR

• Superior women's basketball team has been picked to finish second in the 2019-20 Upper Midwest Athletic Conference Preseason Poll. The Yellowjackets, who finished the season 24-3 overall, earned 57 points and two first-place votes in the poll. Bethany Lutheran edged UWS with 60 points and five first-place votes. Minnesota Morris was third with 52 points and the remaining two first-place nods. The 'Jackets return 11 players from a team that advanced to the UMAC championship game, and welcome eight newcomers who look to help UWS return to the NCAA tournament in March.
   Back for Superior are senior All-UMAC selections Eva Reinertsen and Emily Carpenter. Reinertsen averaged 14.9 points and 6.1 rebounds per game to pick up the second first-team honor of her career. Carpenter was a second-team pick, averaging 9.6 points, 5.3 and 1.4 steals per game.
• 2018-19 Statistics

THE YELLOWJACKETS LAST TIME OUT

• UW-Superior finished last season at 24-3 overall and are picked to finish second in the UMAC. The 'Jackets return 11 players from a team that advanced to the UMAC championship game, and welcome eight newcomers who look to help Superior return to the NCAA tournament in March. 

WHEN STOUT AND SUPERIOR LAST MET

• The Yellowjackets handed the Blue Devils their first loss of the season, snapping a Stout 10-game winning streak last December at the UW-Superior Tournament.  The Yellowjackets scored 11 of their 14 overtime points from the free throw line and went on to an 86-80 win. | Game Story and Statistics

THE COACHES:
UW-STOUT:

• Hannah Iverson (18-9) is in her second year as the head coach of the Blue Devils.
• Prior to becoming the Blue Devils' head coach, Iverson was the director of player development for women's basketball at NCAA Division I UW-Green Bay, a position she began in October, 2016. As well as working directly with the team, Iverson managed the program's operating budget, coordinated team travel, co-directed summer camps and clinics and handled all aspects of team film. She assisted in the set-up of on-campus recruiting and coordinating official and unofficial visits for potential recruits. Iverson held a similar position - director of basketball operations - at the University of Illinois from 2014-16.
• Iverson spent two years at NAIA member Ashford University in Clinton, Iowa, as an assistant women's basketball coach for the 2012-14 school years. Iverson was in charge of guard development in a season where she helped the Saints to the 2014 Association of Independent Institutions tournament championship, earning Ashford a berth in the NAIA Division II Women's Basketball Championship tournament, the first conference title and appearance in the NAIA D-II tournament in Saints history.
• A member of the UW-Green Bay women's basketball team from 2008-12, playing as Hannah Quilling, Iverson finished her career in the top 10 for games played as the Phoenix posted a 122-13 record over her four years. The team was 68-4 in Horizon League play and advanced to the NCAA Division I tournament four times, including one trip to the Sweet 16. She led the Horizon League in assist-to-turnover ratio in 2011-12, was sixth in steals per game and ninth in assists per game. She was also named to the Horizon League Honor Roll, earned the UW-Green Bay Chancellor's Leadership Medallion, was a two-time recipient of the UW-Green Bay University Leadership Award and the Patricia Hinckley Scholarship, and won the JoAnne Jennings Award in 2012.

UW-SUPERIOR

• Zach Otto-Fisher enters his third season as head coach of the UW-Superior women's basketball team in 2019-20.
• Otto-Fisher was named UMAC Co-Coach of the Year in his second season, leading the Yellowjackets to a 24-3 overall record. The 'Jackets were 15-1 in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference, advancing to the championship game. Superior snapped a 53-game conference-game winning streak with a loss at Bethany Lutheran Jan. 5.
• Otto-Fisher mentored two all-UMAC first team players in Hannah Norlin and Eva Reinertsen last season. Norlin was also named UMAC Player of the Year and closed her career ranked second all-time in career scoring at UWS with 1,359 points. Norlin collected 12 double-doubles on the season and was named UMAC Player of the Week five times, including four consecutively Nov.19-Dec. 10. Norlin was also honored as part of the D3hoops.com Team of the Week twice and earned Division III National Player of the Week from the U.S. Basketball Writers Association Dec. 4. On March 11 Norlin was also named D3hoops.com All-Region. 

UP NEXT: The Blue Devils will be at the St. Norbert College Tournament where they will face Illinois Wesleyan, Friday, Nov. 15, then will play either St. Norbert or Calvin College, Saturday, Nov. 16.

 
UW-Stout 2018-19 Season Highs (Updated February 23, 2019)
Points: 33, Bailey Diersen vs. UW-Stevens Point, Feb. 13, 2019; 28, Bailey Diersen vs. UW-Superior, Dec. 30, 2018; 27, Bailey Diersen vs. UW-Eau Claire, Jan. 19, 2019; 26 Kyncaide Diedrich vs. UW-Platteville, Jan. 26, 2019
3-Pointers Made: 4 (3x), Kyncaide Diedrich vs. UW-Eau Claire, Jan. 19, 2019; Amber Fabeck vs. UW-Whitewater, Jan. 9, 2019: Liz Oswald vs. Crown College, Dec. 7, 2018
Rebounds: 12, Kyncaide Diedrich vs. UW-River Falls, Jan. 16, 2019; Amber Fabeck vs. Albion College, Nov. 24, 2018
Assists: 7, Kyncaide Diedrich vs. Martin Luther, Dec, 3, 2018
Blocks: 6, Amber Fabeck vs. Crown College, Dec. 7, 2018
Steals: 10, Bailey Diersen vs. Martin Luther College, Dec. 3, 2018
Double-Doubles: Kyncaide Diedrich (15 pts, 10 rbs); Kyncaide Diedrich (13 pts, 10 rbs); Kyncaide Diedrich (18 pts, 12 rbs) vs. UW-River Falls, Jan. 16, 2019; Bailey Diersen (19 pts, 10 steals) vs. Martin Luther, Dec, 3, 2018; Kyncaide Diedrich (19 pts, 10 rbs) vs. Berea College, Nov. 25, 2018; Amber Fabeck (19 pts, 12 rbs) vs. Albion College, Nov. 24, 2018; Kyncaide Diedrich (19 pts, 10 rbs) vs. St. Olaf College, Nov. 17, 2018

UW-Stout 2018-19 Team Season Highs (Updated February 23, 2019)
Points: 83 vs. Crown College, Dec. 7, 2018
Points in First Half: 49 vs. Crown College, Dec. 7, 2018
Points in Second Half: 47 vs, UW-Stevens Point, Jan. 23, 2019
Points in First Quarter: 30 vs. St. Scholastica, Dec. 29, 2018
Points in Second Quarter: 30 vs. Crown College, Dec. 7, 2018
Points in Third Quarter: 28 vs. UW-Eau Claire, Feb. 6, 2019
Points in Fourth Quarter: 28 vs. UW-Oshkosh, Feb. 2, 2019
Points in First Overtime: 8 vs. UW-Superior, Dec. 30, 2018
Field Goals Made: 33 vs. Crown College, Dec. 7, 2018
Field Goal Percentage: .492 vs. UW-La Crosse, Jan. 2, 2019
3-Pointers Made: 11 (2x) vs. UW-Eau Claire, Jan. 19, 2019; vs. Martin Luther, Dec, 3, 2018
Free Throws Made: 24 vs. UW-Whitewater, Jan. 9, 2019
Free Throw Percentage: .900 vs. Hamline University, Nov. 20, 2018
Rebounds: 48 vs. UW-Eau Claire, Feb. 6, 2019
Assists: 19 vs. Berea College, Nov. 25, 2018
Turnovers: 23 vs. Berea College, Nov. 25, 2018
Fewest Turnovers: 5 vs. St. Scholastica, Dec. 29, 2018
Blocked Shots: 7 vs. Crown College, Dec. 7, 2018
Steals: 29 vs. Martin Luther, Dec, 3, 2018

UW-Stout Collegiate Career Highs (Updated February 23, 2019)

Liz Oswald - #1
Points: 22 vs. Crown College, Dec. 7, 2018
Rebounds:7 vs, UW-Stevens Point, Jan. 23, 2019
Assists: 4 (2x) vs. UW-Whitewater, Jan. 9, 2019; vs. Ripon College, Dec. 11, 2018

Lindsey Johnson - #2
Points: x
Rebounds:x
Assists: x

Becky Fesenmaier- #4
Points: 14 vs. Crown College, Dec. 7, 2018
Rebounds: 6 vs. UW-Platteville, Jan. 27, 2018
Assists: 3 vs. UW-River Falls, Jan. 25, 2017

Courtney Crouch - #5
Points: x
Rebounds: x
Assists:x

Haylee Yaeger - #10
Points: x
Rebounds: x
Assists: x

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

Kelsey Kainz - #14
Points: 2 vs. Crown College, Dec. 7, 2018
Rebounds: 3 vs. Crown College, Dec. 7, 2018
Assists: 4 vs. Crown College, Dec. 7, 2018

Melanie Carli- #15
Points: x
Rebounds: x
Assists: x

Lizzy Olsem - #20
Points: 6 vs. St. Olaf, Nov. 13, 2018
Rebounds: 7 vs. Crown College, Dec. 7, 2018
Assists: 2 vs. St. Olaf, Nov. 13, 2018

Katie Christopherson - #21
Points: x
Rebounds: x
Assists: x

Alexa Neilitz - #22
Points: x
Rebounds: x
Assists: x

Molly Wampler- #23
Points: x
Rebounds: x
Assists: x

Paityn Tiefs - #30
Points: x
Rebounds: x
Assists:x

Keysha Hazelton - #34
Points: 13 vs. Martin Luther, Dec, 3, 2018
Rebounds: 4 vs. UW-River Falls, Jan. 31, 2019
Assists: x

Gina Palasz - #35
Points: 4 vs. Crown College, Dec. 7, 2018
Rebounds: 3 vs. Martin Luther, Dec, 3, 2018
Assists: x

Amber Fabeck - #41
Points: 24 vs. UW-Whitewater, Jan. 9, 2019
Rebounds: 12 vs. Berea College, Nov. 25, 2018
Assists: 4 vs. St. Olaf, Nov. 28, 2017
Blocks: 5 (2x) vs. UW-Oshkosh, Feb. 17, 2018; vs. Martin Luther College, Dec. 4, 2017

Emily Jacques - #44
Points: 9 (3x) vs. Hamline University, Nov. 20, 2018; vs. UW-Stevens Point, Feb. 10, 2018; vs. UW-Whitewater, Feb. 4, 2017:
Rebounds: 9 (2x) vs. Martin Luther College, Dec. 4, 2017; vs. UW-Superior, Nov. 18, 2017
Assists: 3 vs. Berea College, Nov. 25, 2018

Erin O'Brien - #51
Points: x
Rebounds: x
Assists: x


The Last Time....A Stout Individual...
Scored 25-29 points: 26, Kyncaide Diedrich vs. UW-Platteville (1/26/19)
Scored 30 points: 33, Bailey Diersen, vs. UW-Stevens Point, Feb. 13, 2019; 34, Kyncaide Diedrich vs. UW-River Falls (1/21/18); 31, Sami Schoeder vs. UW-Platteville (1/8/11)
Scored 6 or more 3-pointers: 6, Sami Schoeder vs. UW-Platteville (1/8/11)
Recorded 15-plus rebounds: 20, Katelynne Folkers vs. UW-La Crosse, (1/15/14)
Recorded 6-9 steals: 6, Katelynn Folkers vs. UW-Superior (2/25/14)
Recorded 6 or more blocked shots: 8, Jenna Goldsmith vs. St. Mary's (1/2/16)
Recorded 10 or more steals: 10, Bailey Diersen, vs. Martin Luther (12/3/18); Heather Peterson vs. Hope (11/19/99)

The Last Time...A Stout Team...
Scored 105 points: 106, vs. Crown, (11/28/12); 111, vs. St. Scholastica (1/6/04)
Scored 100-104 points: 103, vs. Finlandia (12/11/07)
Had six players score in double digits: vs. UW-Platteville, Feb. 20, 2016 - Sarah Schoch (17), Jenna Goldsmith (17), Kyncaide Diedrich (13), Shannan Watkins (10), Bailey Diersen (10), Anna Brown (10);
Had five players score in double digits: vs. UW-Platteville, Jan. 28, 2017 - Bailey Diersen (17); Kycaide Diedrich (15); Jenna Goldsmith (15); Carolyn Feddema (13); Anna Brown (10).
Had four players score in double digits: vs. UW-Oshkosh, Feb. 22, 2019, Amber Fabeck 18, Kyncaide Diedrich 13, Shannan Watkins 11; Bailey Diersen 10; vs. UW-Eau Claire, Feb. 6, 2019, Amber Fabeck (23), Kyncaide Diedrich (15), Bailey Diersen (13), Liz Oswald (10); vs. UW-Oshkosh, Feb. 2, 2019, Bailey Diersen (16), Amber Fabeck (16), Kyncaide Diedrich (13), Liz Oswald (12); vs. UW-Platteville, Jan. 26, 2019, Kyncaide Diedrich (26), Amber Fabeck (15), Shannan Watkins (11), Bailey Diersen (10); vs. UW-Eau Claire, Jan. 19, 2019, Bailey Diersen (27), Kyncaide Diedrich (20), Amber Fabeck (14), Liz Oswald (10); vs. UW-River Falls, Jan. 16, 2019, Kyncaide Diedrich (18), LIz Oswald (16), Bailey Diersen (14), Shannan Watkins (13); vs. UW-La Crosse, Jan. 2, 2019, Bailey Diersen (21), Kyncaide Diedrich (20), Shannan Watkins (11), Amber Fabeck (10); vs. UW-Superior, Dec. 30, 2018, Bailey Diersen (28), Kyncaide a Diedrich (23), Amber Fabeck (18), Shannon Watkins (11); bs. St. Scholastica, Dec. 29, 2018, Bailey Diersen (20), Amber Fabeck (17), Shannan Watkins (14); Kyncaide Diedrich (12); vs. Crown College, Dec. 7, 2018 - Liz Oswald (22), Becky Fesenmaier (14), Shannan Watkins (12), Kyncaide Diedrich (10); vs. UW-Platteville, Jan. 27, 2018 - Kyncaide Diedrich (21), Bailey Diersen (15), Anna Brown (13), Carolyn Feddema (13); vs. UW-River Falls, Jan. 20, 2018 - Kyncaide Diedrich (34), Bailey Diersen (16), Haley Seifert (15), Amber Fabeck (10); . UW-River Falls, Feb. 8, 2017 - Jenna Goldsmith (15), Anna Brown (15), Kyncaide Diedrich (14), Bailey Diersen (10); vs. UW-River Falls, Jan. 25, 2017 - Kyncaide Diedrich (19), Bailey Diersen (15), Jenna Goldsmith (14), Anna Brown (14).
Recorded 60 rebounds: 68, vs. North Central, (11/15/13)
Recorded 55-59 rebounds: 55 vs. University of Dubuque, (12/10/16)
Season-opening wins: 10-0, 2018-19; 7-0, 1997-98; 9-0, 1995-96; 13-0, 1992-93
Won 6 or more consecutive games: 10, 2018-19;
Won 10 or more consecutive games: 10, 2018-19; 10, 2005-06; 13, 2001-02; 15, 1993-94 season
Lost 5 or more consecutive games: 14, 2017-18 season

The Last Time...A Stout Individual Opponent...
Scored 25-plus points: 25, Hallee Hoeppner, UW-Eau Claire (2/6/19)

The Last Time...A Stout Opponent...
Scored 105 points: 107, vs. Millikin (12/30/99)
Held Stout to less than 50 points: 46 vs. Trine University (12/28/17)
Stout held an opponent to less than 50 points: 40, vs. Crown College (12/7/18)

UW-Stout Individual Game Records
Most Points: 39, Cindy Hovet vs. UW-Platteville, 1/22/94
Most Rebounds: 26, Yonna Grey vs. Valley City State, 11/19/94
Most FG Attempted: 30, Julie Maki vs. UW-Eau Claire, 1993
Most FG Made: 15, Cindy Hovet vs. UW-Platteville, 1/22/94
Most 3Pt FG Made: 8 (2x) Staci Anderson vs. UW-La Crosse, 1/20/00; Shannon Berg vs. Northwestern College, 12/17/98
Most FT Attempted: 17, Andrea Bresette at UW-Superior, 1/15/00
Most FT Made: 14, Andrea Bresette at UW-Superior, 1/15/00
Most Assists: 11, Amanda Geissler vs. UW-Platteville, 1/20/07
Most Blocked Shots: 10, Kelsey Duoss vs. UW-Whitewater, 1/27/07
Most Steals: 11, Cindy Hovet vs. Marian College, 1991