2006-07 WIAC Women's Basketball Headlines

2006-07 WIAC Women's Basketball Headlines

UW-Stout’s Duoss Grabs All-America First Team Honors

RELEASED: Tuesday, March 20, 2007

Madison, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Stout’s Kelsey Duoss has been named to the 2007 D3hoops.com All-America First Team and NCAA Division III Kodak/Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) All-America Team for the second straight year.

Duoss, a senior center from Janesville, Wis. (Clinton H.S.), is a two-time Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Player of the Year and three-time All-WIAC first team selection.

Duoss is the first Blue Devil to earn WBCA All-America honors twice and becomes the third conference player to win the award twice, joining Sonja Sorensen of UW-Stevens Point (1987, 1988) and Jayme Anderson of UW-Eau Claire (1999, 2000). The Blue Devils' all-time leading scorer, Julie Maki, claimed WBCA All-America status in 1993.

Duoss, an All-WIAC defensive team pick for the third straight year, led the Blue Devils to their third straight WIAC regular season and tournament titles and third consecutive NCAA playoff appearance this year. She topped the conference with a .593 field goal percentage and 80 blocked shots, while ranking second with 8.4 rebounds per contest and third with 15.8 points per game. Duoss posted a league-best eight double-doubles (points-rebounds) and led the team in rebounding in 23 of 29 games and scoring in 22 contests. Her 10 blocked shots against UW-Whitewater on January 27 is the second-highest single-game total in WIAC history.

The Blue Devils registered a 69-21 record in Duoss' three seasons and her 258 career blocked shots rank second on the WIAC all-time list. She compiled 1,413 career points and 750 career rebounds - both totals place her second on UW-Stout's all-time chart. Her 457 points this season places her third on the UW-Stout single-season scoring list, while her 552 points last season is second.

Last week, Duoss was named to the D3hoops.com All-Central Region First Team for the second straight season. UW-Oshkosh’s Whitney Tyriver earned all-region third team status.

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UW-Oshkosh’s Tyriver Among Comeback Award Finalists

RELEASED: Wednesday, March 14, 2007

Oshkosh, Wis.--The V Foundation for Cancer Research has named UW-Oshkosh's Whitney Tyriver (Jr., Oshkosh, Wis./West H.S.) as one of its nine finalists for the seventh annual V Foundation Comeback Award. The award is presented in conjunction with ESPN and the recipient will be announced during ESPN's basketball Final Four/NIT weekend coverage.

The other finalists are Warren Carter of the University of Illinois, Kaitlyn McCormick of Bethany College, Ashley McMillen of Syracuse University, Lauren Mueller of Converse College, Michael Neal of the University of Oklahoma, Ralphanee' Peyton of Wayne State University, Ann-Marie Torp of Metro State College and the United States Military Academy Women's Basketball Team.

The annual award is open to men and women collegiate basketball student-athletes in all NCAA divisions. It is awarded to an individual or a team who has accomplished a personal triumph in the face of true adversity, be it in health, life or moral dilemma.

The award is presented in memory of Jim Valvano, the late basketball coach and ESPN commentator, whose personal battle with cancer inspired the creation of The V Foundation. In his memorable speech at ESPN's inaugural ESPY Awards announcing the creation of The V Foundation, Valvano's "Don't Give Up. . .Don't Ever Give Up!"® motto created a legacy from which the Comeback Award has been created.

Tyriver was diagnosed with a rare cerebral condition called Pseudo Tumor Cerebri - a narrowing of the blood vessels at the base of the skull, causing excruciating headaches and seizures. She was not accurately diagnosed until the spring of her senior year in high school - and prior to that she went through many surgeries for different diagnosed ailments that doctors believed to be the cause of her discomfort.

Despite being bedridden for a month of basketball season and losing 20 pounds, she was able to comeback and lead her Oshkosh West High School team to the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) Division 1 state title. She now competes as an all-conference performer in both basketball and softball at UW-Oshkosh.

Tyriver has started 61 of the 79 basketball games that she has played in for UW-Oshkosh the past three seasons. Her career statistical totals include 676 points, 422 rebounds and 161 assists. This past season, Tyriver received All-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) first team honors after averaging 15.6 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.1 assists per contest. She led the WIAC in free-throw percentage (.867) while ranking third in scoring and fourth in assists.

In softball, Tyriver has started all 81 games for the Titans the past two-plus seasons. She has hit .393 during her career with six home runs and 31 runs batted in. Last spring, Tyriver shared WIAC Position Player of the Year honors after hitting .412 with four home runs and 21 runs batted in. Through four games this spring, Tyriver is hitting .333 with one home run and four runs batted in.

The 2007 Comeback Award recipient will be selected by an eight-member sub-committee of The V Foundation Board of Directors. Past recipients of the award are Katie Douglas of Purdue University (2001), Kristin Koetsier of Western Michigan University (2002), Justin Allen of Arizona State University (2003), Jamie Carey of the University of Texas (2004), Kayla Burt of the University of Washington (2005) and Grant Dykstra of Western Washington University (2006).

The V Foundation for Cancer Research was founded in 1993 by ESPN and the late Jim Valvano, legendary North Carolina State University men's basketball coach and ESPN commentator. Since 1993 The Foundation has raised more than $60 million used to fund cancer research grants nationwide.

For more information about the V Foundation, log on to www.jimmyv.org.

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UW-Stout’s Duoss Claims WBCA All-Region Honors

RELEASED: Friday, March 9, 2007

Madison, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Stout’s Kelsey Duoss has been named to the 2007 NCAA Division III Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) All-Region 7 Team.

In securing the regional honor, she is one of 40 finalists for the 10-member Kodak/WBCA All-America Team, which will be announced on March 15. Duoss secured All-America First Team status last season from the WBCA.

A senior forward from Janesville, Wis. (Clinton H.S.), Duoss was named the WIAC Player of the Year for the second straight season after leading the conference with a .593 field goal percentage and 80 blocked shots, while ranking second with 15.8 points per game and 8.4 rebounds per contest. She registered a league-best eight double-doubles and led the team in rebounding in 23 of 29 games and scoring in 21 contests. Her 10 blocked shots against UW-Whitewater on January 27 is the second-highest single-game total in WIAC history.

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Blue Devils Come Up Short in NCAA Women’s Basketball First Round

RELEASED: Friday, March 2, 2007

Menomonie, Wis.--In a turnaround from last season, Simpson College (Iowa) defeated UW-Stout, 91-86, in the NCAA Division III Women’s Basketball Tournament on the host team's court. Last year, the Blue Devils were victorious in the second round of the tournament, but the Storm won this season’s first round meeting on March 2 at Johnson Fieldhouse.

Last season, UW-Stout (23-6) defeated Simpson (22-6) in the regional finals in Indianola, Iowa, the Storm was just that as Whitney Franker and Katelyn Whiton combined for 49 points to provide a very potent one-two punch, especially in the second half when Whiton exploded for 18 points and Franker tossed in 14. Simpson will face Wheaton College (Ill.), Saturday, March 3 at 7 p.m.

UW-Stout held the lead for much of the first half, but the Storm tied the score at 32-32 with six minutes left after trailing by as much as 10 points four minutes earlier. Simpson took as much as a four point lead with three minutes left, but UW-Stout cut the lead and went ahead after Savanah Oeltjen racked up a couple of buckets and UW-Stout held a 47-43 halftime lead.

UW-Stout worked their way to a seven point, 52-45, lead as Kelsey Duoss - who would finish with a game-high 27 points - scored five points in the run. Whiton would match and surpass Duoss over the next couple of minutes, scoring six points in a three minute span. Whiton put the Storm ahead for good with two free throws and UW-Stout played catch-up the rest of the way.

Simpson built up as much as a 10 point lead, but Duoss scored 14 points in the final six minutes of the game to gnaw away at the lead. A 3-pointer by Lindsey Geissler pulled UW-Stout to within three points, 87-84, with 48 seconds left, but that would be as close as UW-Stout would get.

Simpson shot 61.5 percent from the floor in the second half and finished the game hitting 52.5 percent. The Storms' Franker had 25 points and Whiton finished with 24. Carlie Beals added 11 points.

UW-Stout shot 46.5 percent for the game. Duoss was perfect from the floor, hitting all 10 of her shots. She added seven free throws. Oeltjen finished with 18 points, Geissler had 13 points and Julia Hirssig had a double-double with 11 points and 14 rebounds. UW-Stout held a 48-31 advantage in rebounds.

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UW-Stout’s Duoss Claims Second Straight Women’s Basketball Player of the Year Honor; Thomas Named
Coach of the Year

RELEASED: Thursday, March 1, 2007

Madison, Wis.--For the second consecutive season, University of Wisconsin-Stout’s Kelsey Duoss has been named the Player of the Year to headline the 12 individuals selected to the 2007 All-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Women’s Basketball Team by the league coaches. Blue Devil head coach Mark Thomas was recognized as the Coach of the Year.

Duoss becomes just the second individual in conference history to win the award in back-to-back seasons, joining UW-Stevens Point’s Amanda Nechuta (2004-05), and is the third Blue Devil to claim the honor. Julie Maki won the prize in 1993, while Cindy Hovet secured the trophy in 1994.

Duoss, a senior forward, led the Blue Devils to their third straight WIAC regular season and tournament titles this year. She secured first team honors for the third consecutive season after leading the conference with a .578 field goal percentage and 77 blocked shots, while ranking second with 8.4 rebounds per contest and third with 15.4 points per game. Duoss has posted a league-best eight double-doubles (points-rebounds) and led the team in rebounding in 22 of 28 games and scoring in 21 contests. Her 10 blocked shots against UW-Whitewater on January 27 is the second-highest single-game total in WIAC history.

The Blue Devils have compiled a 69-20 record in Duoss’ three seasons and her 255 career blocked shots rank second on the WIAC all-time list. She has registered 1,386 career points and 742 career rebounds – both totals place her second on UW-Stout’s all-time chart.

Also repeating on the All-WIAC first team was UW-River Falls senior center Traci Reimann, who earned first team status for the second straight year after securing honorable mention accolades in 2005. This season, Reimann leads the conference with 9.4 rebounds per game, while ranking fourth with a .481 field goal percentage, fifth with 12.7 points per contest, eighth with 17 blocked shots and ninth with 30.37 minutes played per game. She also compiled seven double-doubles (points-rebounds), which was the second-highest total in the league.

Reimann led the Falcons in rebounding in 25 of 27 contests and grabbed a league-leading 17 rebounds against College of St. Scholastica (Minn.) on January 4 and shot a WIAC-leading .909 percent (10-of-11) against Augsburg College (Minn.) on November 25. She holds the school career record with 840 rebounds and ranks seventh with 1,139 points.

Additional first team selections included: UW-Eau Claire’s Heidi Arciszewski and Michelle Burns, UW-La Crosse’s Katy Searing, UW-Oshkosh’s Becky Knapp and Whitney Tyriver, UW-Platteville’s Liz Tesch, UW-Stevens Point’s Laura Neuenfeldt, UW-Stout’s Savanah Oeltjen, UW-Superior’s Katie Moench and UW-Whitewater’s Lindsey Buechner.

Named to the honorable mention team were: UW-La Crosse’s Mackenzie Hunter, UW-River Falls’ Melanie Preiner, UW-Stevens Point’s Chelsea Kranz and UW-Whitewater’s Trisha Thill.

The league coaches also selected a five-member all-defensive team for the 2007 season. Duoss and Reimann were joined on the squad by Burns, Preiner and Thill. Duoss was named to the team for the third straight season, while Reimann received the honor for the second consecutive year.

UW-Stout head coach Mark Thomas was voted the Coach of the Year for the third straight season and sixth time in his career. He becomes the first coach in league history to secure the honor three consecutive years. Thomas is in his 20th season leading the Blue Devils and owns an all-time record of 355-179 (.665 winning percentage). His 355 victories are the most in WIAC history.

2006-07 All-WIAC Women's Basketball Team
First Team
Name, School, Year, Position, Height, Hometown (High School)
Heidi Arciszewski, Eau Claire, Sophomore, Guard, 5-9, Thorp
Lindsey Buechner, Whitewater, Junior, Center, 5-11, Cross Plains (Middleton)
Michelle Burns, Eau Claire, Junior, Forward, 5-11, Eau Claire (North)
Kelsey Duoss, Stout, Senior, Forward, 6-2, Janesville (Clinton)
Becky Knapp, Oshkosh, Senior, Guard, 5-6, West Allis (Hale)
Katie Moench, Superior, Senior, Guard, 5-7, Carlton, Minn.
Laura Neuenfeldt, Stevens Point, Junior, Guard, 5-11, Two Rivers
Savanah Oeltjen, Stout, Senior, Guard, 5-8, Spring Valley, Minn. (Kingsland)
Traci Reimann, River Falls, Senior, Center, 6-0, North Branch, Minn.
Katy Searing, La Crosse, Senior, Forward, 5-11, Mukwonago
Liz Tesch, Platteville, Senior, Center, 6-0, Dorchester (Colby)
Whitney Tyriver, Oshkosh, Junior, Guard, 6-0, Oshkosh (West)

Honorable Mention
Mackenzie Hunter, La Crosse, Sophomore, Forward, 6-0, Eau Claire (Regis)
Chelsea Kranz, Stevens Point, Junior, Forward, 6-0, Columbus
Melanie Preiner, River Falls, Senior, Guard, 5-6, Stillwater, Minn.
Trisha Thill, Whitewater, Junior, Guard, 5-9, Belgium (Ozaukee)

All-Defensive Team
Michelle Burns, Eau Claire, Junior, Forward, 5-11, Eau Claire (North)
Kelsey Duoss, Stout, Senior, Forward, 6-2, Janesville (Clinton)
Melanie Preiner, River Falls, Senior, Guard, 5-6, Stillwater, Minn.
Traci Reimann, River Falls, Senior, Center, 6-0, North Branch, Minn.
Trisha Thill, Whitewater, Junior, Guard, 5-9, Belgium (Ozaukee)

Player of the Year: Kelsey Duoss of Stout
Judy Kruckman Scholar-Athlete: Nathalie Lechault of Stevens Point
Coach of the Year: Mark Thomas of Stout

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UW-Stevens Point’s Lechault Named Women’s Basketball Scholar-Athlete

RELEASED: Thursday, March 1, 2007

Madison, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point’s Nathalie Lechault has been named the 2007 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Judy Kruckman Women’s Basketball Scholar-Athlete.

A senior from Chavannes de Bogis, Switzerland (International School of Geneva), Lechault boasts a 3.98 grade point average and is majoring in biology with a pre-med emphasis. She is a two-time CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Second Team selection and has been recognized on the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll three times. Lechault has earned High Honors from UW-Stevens Point and appeared on the Dean’s List numerous semesters.

A team captain this season, Lechault received All-WIAC honorable mention and all-defensive team honors a year ago when she set the school single-season record with 95 blocked shots. She was a member of UW-Stevens Point’s Final Four team in 2004 the WIAC championship teams in 2004 and 2005.

She is a member of the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society and has worked as a chemistry lab assistant and a reading/writing tutor at the UW-Stevens Point Tutoring-Learning Center.

UW-Stevens Point has now had four individuals secure the conference’s women’s basketball scholar-athlete award.

Also nominated for this year’s scholar-athlete award were: UW-La Crosse’s Karrie Lamers (Sr., Little Chute, Wis.) and Katy Searing (Sr., Mukwonago, Wis.), UW-Platteville’s Liz Tesch (Sr., Dorchester, Wis./Colby), UW-River Falls’ Megan Lindman (Sr., Rochester, Minn./Mayo) and UW-Superior’s Katie Moench (Sr., Carlton, Minn.).

The WIAC Scholar-Athlete Award is named after Judy Kruckman and sponsored by Hewlett-Packard. Kruckman served as Assistant Commissioner for the WIAC from 1996-98. Prior to this appointment, she functioned as Commissioner of the Wisconsin Women's Intercollegiate Athletic Conference from October, 1984 - September, 1996.

In order to be nominated for the scholar-athlete award, a student-athlete must have a minimum 3.25 grade point average, be in their last year of competition, or on schedule to graduate this academic year, and have competed for a minimum of two years.

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UW-Stout To Host NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament First and Second Round

RELEASED: Monday, February 26, 2007

Madison, Wis.--For the third straight season, University of Wisconsin-Stout will represent the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) in the NCAA Division III Women’s Basketball Tournament.

UW-Stout will host a first and second round series on March 2-3 at Johnson Fieldhouse. The Blue Devils (23-5) will face Simpson College (Iowa) (21-6), while College of St. Benedict (Minn.) (22-5) will play Wheaton College (Ill.) (19-7). The first round winners will meet on March 3.

The Blue Devils earned the conference’s automatic bid into the 63-team field by winning the WIAC Tournament. UW-Stout also won the league’s regular season championship.

UW-Stout owns an 1-0 all-time mark against Simpson and St. Benedict and has never faced Wheaton.

The second round winner will advance to the Division III sectional tournament on March 9-10 at a site to be announced.

The Blue Devils will make the ninth NCAA appearance in program history and have advanced to the “Sweet 16” round of the event the last two seasons.

2007 NCAA Division III Women’s Basketball Tournament
Friday, March 3
First Round (at Menomonie, Wis.)
College of St. Benedict (Minn.) (22-5) vs. Wheaton College (Ill.) (19-7), 5 p.m.
Simpson College (Iowa) (21-6) at UW-Stout (23-5), 7 p.m.

Saturday, March 4
Second Round (at Menomonie, Wis.)
First round winners, 7 p.m.

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UW-Stout Secures Third Straight Women’s Basketball Tournament Championship

RELEASED: Saturday, February 24, 2007

Menomonie, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Stout became the first school in Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) history to win three straight women’s basketball tournament championships with a 73-61 victory over UW-Eau Claire at Johnson Fieldhouse on Feb. 24.

The Blue Devils have now won four tournament titles in program history – they also won the spectacle in 2002 - and earned the conference’s automatic bid into the 2007 NCAA Division III Tournament.

The Blue Devils entered the tournament as the No. 1 seed and with the three victories helped the top seed improve to 27-0 all-time in the nine-year history of the event. This year’s title game also marked the third straight season that the No. 3 seed (UW-Eau Claire) has reached the contest.

The Blugolds were appearing in the fifth championship game in school history with victories in 2000, 2001 and 2003.

UW-Stout (23-5) led from the opening tipoff, jumping out to a 42-27 halftime lead after shooting 60.7 percent (17-of-28) from the field. The Blue Devils held a 25-13 lead with 6:10 left in the first half after Lindsey Geissler hit a lay-up, and then stretched that out to a 19 point lead after Kelsey Duoss scored five points and Dani Boese added four points during a 9-2 run.

The Blue Devils had as much as a 20 point advantage in the second half, but UW-Eau Claire (19-9) made the last few minutes interesting, cutting the lead to as little as nine points with 40 seconds left in the game.

Duoss led all scorers with 19 points and added 13 rebounds for her league-leading eighth double-double of the year. Savanah Oeltjen finished with 13 points, including nine in the second half.

Michelle Burns led UW-Eau Claire with 15 points, while Heather Witt added 10 points and Ashley Anderson had 10 rebounds.

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UW-Stevens Point’s Lechault Named to Academic All-District Women’s Basketball Team

RELEASED: Thursday, February 8, 2007

Madison, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point’s Nathalie Lechault has been named to the 2007 CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Five College Division Women’s Basketball Second Team.

The team is comprised of all NCAA Division II, Division III and NAIA student-athletes from Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana and Minnesota and is voted on by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

Lechault, a senior center from Chavannes de Bogis, Switzerland (International School of Geneva), is majoring in biology (pre-med) and boasts a 3.98 grade point average.

She earned All-WIAC honorable mention and defensive team status a year ago after leading the league with a 64.6 field goal percentage and establishing a school single-season record with 95 blocked shots. Lechault holds the school career mark, and ranks fourth on the league list, with 220 blocked shots. She has played in every game in her career and earned the team’s Most Improved Player award each of her first three seasons.

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Blue Devils Claim Women’s Basketball Title

RELEASED: Thursday, February 8, 2007

Menomonie, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Stout claimed the 2007 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) women’s basketball title with a 79-51 triumph over UW-Superior on Feb. 7 at Johnson Fieldhouse.

The Blue Devils (19-4 overall, 12-2 WIAC) can capture the league championship outright with a victory in one of their remaining games against UW-Stevens Point on Feb. 10 or UW-La Crosse on Feb. 17.

UW-Eau Claire and UW-Whitewater, both 9-4 in WIAC contests, can secure a share of the conference crown with wins in their remaining three games and a pair of losses by UW-Stout.

The conference championship for the Blue Devils is their third straight and fifth in school history. They also won titles in 1997 and 2002. The three consecutive crowns is longest streak in the WIAC since UW-Oshkosh won three straight from 1994-96.

UW-Stout was the preseason choice of the WIAC sports information directors to win the league prize this season.

In the victory over the Yellowjackets, UW-Stout shot out to a 37-23 halftime lead, then forced five UW-Superior (7-15, 1-12) turnovers with full court pressure in the first five minutes of the second half to jump out to a 21-point lead and held an advantage of no less than 15 points the rest of the game.

UW-Stout’s pressure defense was a key in the game as the Blue Devils recorded 14 steals and forced 30 Yellowjacket turnovers.

Senior Kelsey Duoss led UW-Stout with 15 points, nine rebounds and three blocked shots, while senior Savanah Oeltjen came off the bench to add 12 points and senior Amanda Geissler contributed nine points and had five assists.

UW-Superior senior Katie Moench tallied a game-high 25 points, including 15 in the second half and junior Breanna Herzog added a team-best five rebounds.

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UW-Stevens Point’s Egner Registers 300th Career Win

RELEASED: Thursday, January 4, 2007

Stevens Point, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point women’s basketball head coach Shirley Egner registered her 300th career win in the Pointers’ 84-48 victory over UW-Superior at Berg Gymnasium on Jan. 3.

Egner is in her 18th season in charge of the Pointers and owns a 300-154 record (.661 winning percentage). Her 300 career victories rank second on the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference all-time list behind current UW-Stout head coach Mark Thomas who owns a 343-177 mark.

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UW-Stout Receives Women’s Basketball Preseason Nod

RELEASED: Thursday, November 2, 2006

Madison, Wis.--For the second time in as many years, University of Wisconsin-Stout is projected to win the 2007 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) women’s basketball championship, according to the league’s sports information directors.

UW-Stout secured seven first-place votes in the league predictions after winning the regular season and tournament titles for the second straight season a year ago. The Blue Devils also participated in the NCAA Division III Tournament for the eighth time in program history - advancing to the “Sweet 16” of the tournament for the second consecutive season.

The Blue Devils have registered 18-plus victories in six consecutive years and return eight of their top 10 scorers from the 2005-06 campaign, highlighted by senior Kelsey Duoss who led the league with 19.0 ppg. Duoss was the second All-America First Team selection in program history and also captured WIAC Player of the Year honors.

UW-Stevens Point claimed one-first place vote in the league poll is picked to place second in the nine-team conference derby. The Pointers earned a share of the WIAC crown in 2004 and 2005 and have compiled six straight 20-plus win seasons. The 2006-07 squad returns 80.8 percent of its scoring from a season ago when the team ranked second in the NCAA Division III with 47.5 percent field goal shooting. Senior Natalie Lechault set a school single-season record with 95 blocked shots.

UW-La Crosse picked up the remaining first-place vote in the conference survey and is expected to place fourth in the league ledger. The Eagles last won the WIAC crown during the 1982-83 season. UW-La Crosse’s overall and conference win totals in 2005-06 were the most since the 1987-88 campaign. The Eagles also advanced to the semifinals of the WIAC Tournament for the first time in school history a year ago.

UW-Eau Claire has no seniors on this year’s roster that boasts four players at 6-0 or taller and another five at 5-10 or 5-11. The Blugolds also added a pair of transfers from Minnesota State-Moorhead to the mix. UW-Eau Claire has finished .500 or better (both overall and in the WIAC) for 19 consecutive seasons.

UW-Oshkosh has finished third or higher in the WIAC standings every year since 1990 and has captured at least a share of the WIAC title 10 times in the past 16 years, including twice in the past three seasons. The Titans return two players that combined to start 54 games a year ago.

UW-River Falls returns five of its top six scorers from a year ago, including the top two in seniors Traci Reimann (14.2 ppg) and Melanie Preiner (11.6). Reimann also led the conference with 10.5 rpg, while Preiner topped the WIAC with 73 steals. The Falcons play six of the first seven games at home this season and close the year with four of the last five WIAC contests at Karges Center.

UW-Whitewater has four starters returning from the 2005-06 club and those four individuals combined to start 95 games. The Warhawks have also added transfers Kelsey Hendrickson of Wisconsin and Tiffany Morton of UW-Milwaukee.

UW-Platteville returns two players, senior Liz Tesch and sophomore Lisa Grantman, who saw extensive playing time a season ago. Sophomore Lisa Wubben is back, after being injured in the first game last year and averaging 9.8 ppg in 2004-05.

UW-Superior welcomes new head coach Donald Mulhern to the program. He served as the associate head coach at Rockford (Ill.) College last season and directed the club to the NCAA tournament.

2006-07 Preseason Picks

                                          2005-06 Record
1. Stout (7)                       (22-8, 12-4)
2. Stevens Point (1) (20-8, 11-5)
3. Eau Claire                    (13-13, 8-8)
4. La Crosse (1)               (19-8, 9-7)
5. Oshkosh                      (19-8, 12-4)
6. River Falls                   (12-14, 8-8)
7. Whitewater                 (12-14, 6-10)
8. Platteville                     (10-15, 6-10)
9. Superior                       (4-20, 0-16)
( )--First-Place Votes

*Voted on by WIAC Sports Information Directors

Team Vitals

UW-Eau Claire
Head Coach: Tonja Englund; 7th season;
124-45 at UWEC / 124-45 overall
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 10/7
Starters Returning/Lost: 3/2
Returning All-WIAC: Heidi Arciszewski, So., G (2006-HM); Michelle Burns, Jr., F (2005-HM)
WIAC record in last 5 years: 54-26
WIAC record in last 10 years: 121-39

UW-La Crosse
Head Coach: Lois Heeren; 14th season;
73-105 record at UWL / 125-207 overall
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 14/4
Starters Returning/Lost: 5/0
Returning All-WIAC: Mackenzie Hunter, So., G/F (2006-First); Abby Johnson, Sr., F/C (2006-HM); Katy Searing, Sr., F (2005-HM)
WIAC record in last 5 years: 24-56
WIAC record in last 10 years: 43-117

UW-Oshkosh
Head Coach: Terri Schumacher; 2nd season;
19-8 record at UWO / 19-8 overall
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 5/7
Starters Returning/Lost: 2/3
Returning All-WIAC: Becky Knapp, Sr., G (2006-All-Def.)
WIAC record in last 5 years: 59-21
WIAC record in last 10 years: 128-32

UW-Platteville
Head Coach: Tina Kuhle; 9th season;
23-28 record at UWP / 107-87 overall
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 6/11
Starters Returning/Lost: 2/3
Returning All-WIAC: Liz Tesch, Sr., C (2006-HM)
WIAC record in last 5 years: 36-44
WIAC record in last 10 years: 61-99

UW-River Falls
Head Coach: Cindy Hovet; 7th season;
81-73 record at UWRF / 81-73 overall
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 8/5
Starters Returning/Lost: 4/1
Returning All-WIAC: Traci Reimann, Sr., P (2006-First, 2006-All-Def., 2005-HM); Melanie Preiner, Sr., G (2006-HM); Chantele Melgaard, Sr., G (2005-All-Def.)
WIAC record in last 5 years: 31-49
WIAC record in last 10 years: 73-87

UW-Stevens Point
Head Coach: Shirley Egner; 18th season;
290-152 record at UWSP / 290-152 overall
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 13/3
Starters Returning/Lost: 3/2
Returning All-WIAC: Nathalie Lechault, Sr., P (2006-HM, 2006-All-Def.)
WIAC record in last 5 years: 63-17
WIAC record in last 10 years: 105-55

UW-Stout
Head Coach: Mark Thomas; 20th season;
332-174 record at UWS / 332-174 overall
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 12/9
Starters Returning/Lost: 4/1
Returning All-WIAC: Kelsey Duoss, Sr., F (2006-POY, 2006-All-Def., 2005-First, 2005-All-Def.)
WIAC record in last 5 years: 59-21
WIAC record in last 10 years: 114-46

UW-Superior
Head Coach: Donald Mulhern; 13th season;
0-0 record at UWS / 144-167 overall
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 4/5
Starters Returning/Lost: 3/2
Returning All-WIAC: Katie Moench, Sr., G (2006-HM)
WIAC record in last 5 years: 6-74
WIAC record in last 10 years: 15-145

UW-Whitewater
Head Coach: Keri Carollo; 5th season;
46-57 record at UWW / 46-57 overall
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 10/8
Starters Returning/Lost: 4/1
Returning All-WIAC: None
WIAC record in last 5 years: 28-52
WIAC record in last 10 years: 60-100

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UW-Stout's Thomas Receives Coach of the Year Award - Again

RELEASED: Friday, September 29, 2006

Madison, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Stout women's basketball coach Mark Thomas was named the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Women's Division II/III Coach of the Year for the second consecutive year.

Thomas led the Blue Devils to their second consecutive Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) women's basketball title and their second consecutive trip to the NCAA Division III Sweet 16 game. The Blue Devils finished the season at 22-8 overall and 12-4 in the WIAC.

Thomas, and nine other coaches, will receive awards Saturday, Sept. 30 at the annual WBCA banquet at the Marriott Hotel in Middleton. The organization's Hall of Fame banquet will be held in conjunction. Former UW-Stout men's basketball coach Dwain Mintz will be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

"I'm glad to be going down to the banquet for Dewey (Mintz)," Thomas said. "He was at the end of his career here when I first started. I learned a few things from him and respect him highly."

Thomas personally passed off his honor as an honor for the school, rather than an individual coaching honor.

"This is a neat award for the program and for the university," Thomas, who began his collegiate coaching career at Stout in 1987, said. "Personally, I am just part of the puzzle. This is a neat thing for everyone involved.

"This caps off a very successful (2005-06) season. It was a great honor to be chosen out of all the other options out there."

The Line on Mark Thomas
NAIA District 14 champions, 1991
NAIA National Tournament, 1991
NCAA Division III playoffs, 1992, 93, 94, 96, 97, 02, 05, 06
NCAA Division III second round, 1997, 2005, 2006
NCAA Division III Sweet 16, 2005, 2006
1993, 97, 2002, 2005, 2006 WIAC Coach of the Year
2005, 2006 WBCA Division III women's coach of the year
WIAC regular season and tournament champions, 2002, 2005, 2006
WWIAC co-champions, 1997
Overall Record: 332-174

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Conference to be Represented on Overseas Basketball Team

RELEASED: Wednesday, May 24, 2006

Madison, Wis.--The Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) will be well represented on two basketball teams playing in the 2006 Goodwill Series in London June 19-27.

UW-La Crosse head coach Lois Heeren will lead a women's team that includes UW-La Crosse's Mackenzie Hunter and Abby Johnson as well as UW-Platteville's Holly Kaiser, Liz Tesch and Lisa Grantman.

UW-Platteville head coach Paul Combs will guide a men's squad that includes UW-Platteville's Charlie Lohoff and UW-La Crosse's Chris Fehrenbach and Joe Werner.

The WIAC will also be represented by UW-Stout's Amanda Geissler and Lindsey Geissler on the women's team and UW-Superior's Leonard Cobb and UW-Eau Claire's Dan Beyer on the men's roster.

Wofford's Drew Gibson, Wesley's Jermaine Logan and Alvernia's Zachary Straining round out the eight-player men's team, while SUNY-Geneseo's Amanda Haney completes the women's squad.

The USA Athletes International teams will play five to six games during the London Open. During their eight-day tour of the United Kingdom, they will tour Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, St. Paul's Cathedral and Westminster Abbey, among other places.

Founded in 1991, USA Athletes International is a non-profit organization dedicated to giving amateur athletes an opportunity to participate in sporting events in the international theater, while also allowing them to broaden their educational and cultural knowledge of the world through the experience.

Combs earned the 2004-05 WIAC Coach of the Year after guiding UW-Platteville to its 19th conference championship. In four years, he has a 47-32 record at UW-Platteville. Counting four seasons at Lakeland, Combs has compiled a 107-77 record. He led the Pioneers on an international tour in May, 2005 that culminated with his team overcoming a 31-point deficit to defeat USK Praha, in Prague, Czech Republic.

"I am honored to coach this team in June at the Goodwill Series in London," Combs said. "It will be a great experience for all of us and will allow me personally to work with some of the elite student-athletes in all of NCAA Division III. This experience also allows Charlie Lohoff to develop his game as he continues to grow as a Pioneer."

Lohoff (Fr., Oshkosh, WI/North H.S.) began his UW-Platteville career with a bang, scoring 14 points in a 63-47 exhibition loss to NCAA Division I tournament team UW-Milwaukee Nov. 8. Playing in all 25 games in 2005-06, Lohoff averaged 5.0 points per game in his freshman year.

Werner (Jr., Chippewa Falls, WI/McDonell H.S.) was selected to the 2005-06 National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) All-America Third Team after earning NABC All-West Region honors. A 2005-06 all-WIAC First Team choice for the second straight season, Werner started all 28 games this season and led UW-La Crosse in scoring (14.4), rebounding (8.4) and field goal shooting (58.1 percent). Werner led the WIAC in field goal shooting while ranking second in rebounding, seventh in scoring and tied for ninth in blocks per game (0.56). A D3hoops.com All-West Third Team selection, he had eight double-doubles in 2005-06 and now has 18 in his three-year career. He ranks first in career blocks at UW-La Crosse (50), eighth in rebounding (566) and 17th in points (946). Werner is also second in career field goal shooting (56.7 percent).

Fehrenbach (So., Waukesha, WI/Catholic Memorial H.S.) finished fourth on the team in scoring this season at 8.8 points per game. He was also second in steals (34) and assists (59) while averaging 2.3 rebounds. Fehrenbach, who started all 28 games this season, led the WIAC in assist-turnover ratio this year at 2.0. He finished 11th in the conference in steals (1.21 per game) and 13th in three-point shooting (46-of-128, 35.9 percent). Fehrenbach, who scored in double figures in 13 contests, was 10th in the WIAC with 1.64 three-point field goals per game.

Cobb (Jr., Detroit, MI) led the WIAC in scoring (21.4) and rebounding (9.0), while ranking second in minutes played (34.12) and fourth in blocked shots (0.96) en route to claiming all-WIAC First Team accolades. He is the fourth individual in the last six years to lead the league in scoring and rebounding, joining UW-River Falls' Rich Melzer (2003), UW-Oshkosh's Tim Dworak (2002) and UW-Superior's Vince Thomas (2001). Cobbs' 39 points against St. Scholastica (Minn.) on January 2 were the most in the conference this year, while his 35 field goal attempts in that same game were the second-most in league history.

Beyer (So., Waukesha, WI/Catholic Memorial H.S.) started all 26 games for the Blugolds and was third on the team in scoring (9.8). He shot .463 percent from the field and added 3.7 rebounds per contest, 30 assists, 15 steals and 11 blocked shots.

The women's team will be guided by Heeren, who was named the 2005-06 WIAC Co-Coach of the Year after leading UW-La Crosse to a 19-8 overall and 9-7 conference mark. The 19 overall and nine WIAC wins were the most since the 1987-88 season when UW-L finished 22-7 overall and 12-4 in the league. The Eagles finished fourth in the WIAC in 2005-06, their best finish since 1987-88. UW-La Crosse hosted a WIAC Tournament Quarterfinal for the first time in school history and appeared in the WIAC Semifinals for the first time in school history. The Eagles had an eight-win improvement from 2004-05.

"This a wonderful opportunity to experience a different style of basketball, to explore a different culture and meet new people," she said.

"It has always been a goal of mine to coach a team internationally. I am excited to have two of our players be a part of this trip and look forward to working with the other athletes and sharing this experience with them. It is exciting to know that basketball can you take more places than just on the court."

Hunter (Fr., Eau Claire, WI/Regis H.S.) was a 2005-06 all-WIAC First Team selection after leading UW-La Crosse in scoring (11.4) and blocks (13) while ranking fifth in rebounding (3.5). She also finished second on the team in steals (48) and third in assists (40). Hunter is the first freshman to claim first team all-conference honors since UW-River Falls' Holly Spoo in 1995. Hunter shot 85.9 percent (55-of-64) at the free throw line last season. Her 85.9 percent shooting ranks second in single-season school history and led the WIAC this year (third-best in conference history). Hunter finished ninth in the conference in steals, 13th in scoring and 14th in field goal shooting (42.3 percent).

Johnson (Jr., Prescott, WI) was named to the 2005-06 all-WIAC Honorable Mention Team after starting all 27 games. She finished third on the team in scoring (9.6) while tying for second in rebounding (5.3). Johnson was 11th in the WIAC in rebounding and 20th in scoring. A three-year letter winner, Johnson scored a career-high 18 points versus UW-Oshkosh January 11. She has four double-doubles in her career.

The Pioneers' Kaiser (Sr., Hazel Green, WI/Southwestern H.S.) and Tesch (Jr., Dorchester, WI/Colby H.S.) both earned all-WIAC honors. Kaiser, a two-time all-league forward, led the Pioneers with 13.8 ppg. She scored 25 points in a victory over co-conference champion UW-Stout and 19 in a win vs. UW-Oshkosh, the other champion. Kaiser, also the league's scholar-athlete, finished her career as the most accurate shooting in school history at 48.3 percent.

Tesch averaged 11.6 ppg, scoring in double figures 17 times. She led the 2005-06 team in field goal and free throw shooting. Grantman (Fr., Lomira, WI) played in all 25 games her first year, starting 21 of them. She led the Pioneers in rebounding from her guard position, averaging 6.6 per game.

Amanda Geissler (Jr., Thorp, WI) registered 25 starting assignments in the 30 games she played for the Blue Devils this season. She averaged 3.8 points per game and contributed 71 assists, 30 steals and four blocked shots.

Lindsey Geissler (So., Thorp, WI) started 26 of 28 games during the 2005-06 campaign. She was second on the squad in scoring (8.7) and added 59 assists, 41 steals and six blocked shots. Geissler led the Blue Devils with a .767 free throw shooting percentage (66-86).

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UW-Stevens Point's Egner Selected Chair of NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Committee

RELEASED: Wednesday, May 3, 2006

Stevens Point, Wis.--Selection Sunday is an anxious day for most basketball coaches and it will be double the anxiety for UW-Stevens Point women’s basketball coach Shirley Egner the next two seasons.

Egner, who enters her 18th season as the Pointers’ head coach, has been selected as chair of the NCAA Division III women’s basketball committee through September 2008.

Egner, who has served on the committee for the past two seasons, was chosen for the post at last week’s committee meeting in Indianapolis by the other members of the eight-person group that oversees the national championship tournament.

“This is a tremendous honor and I’m thankful that the committee believes I’m capable of leading,” said Egner, who replaces Springfield (Mass.) Athletic Director Cathie Schweitzer. “We don’t have some of the challenges that the Division I selection committee faces, but it will be a lot of work and it will be a challenge to lead our constituency of coaches.”

In fact, Division III women’s basketball is the largest NCAA-sponsored sport with 423 schools supporting teams that were eligible for last season’s national championship. Egner will oversee the national selection committee that selects the teams and establishes the bracket for the national tournament. She also serves as chair for the Central Region advisory committee.

Egner ranks second in Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference history in victories with a 291-152 career record, including six consecutive 20-win seasons.

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Mulhern Named UW-Superior Women's Basketball Head Coach

RELEASED: Friday, March 31, 2006

Superior, Wis.--The University of Wisconsin-Superior named Don Mulhern its women’s basketball coach today, replacing interim coach Craig Morrissey.

It’s the second coaching change in five days for the Yellowjackets, who hired former UW-Parkside assistant Dave Buchanan to take over the men’s basketball program on Monday.

“The thing that excites me about UW-Superior is, for me, this is kind of coming home,” Mulhern said. “This whole area, the Superior-Duluth area for me is home to my family and friends.”

Mulhern spent last season as associate head coach at Rockford (Ill.) University where the Regents finished 21-7 and qualified for the NCAA Division III tournament.

The Regents’ victory mark last season was one shy of UWS’s combined win total the past four years. The Yellowjackets are 22-79 since 2002-03, including 4-20 last season. The ’Jackets were winless in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in 2005-06 and have just seven conference victories in four seasons.

Morrissey coached the Yellowjackets last season after being hired on an interim basis in July to fill the void left by coach Sandy Eilertson’s departure. Mulhern was in contact with the university about the open position, but wasn’t ready to pursue.

“At that point, with regard to the family situation, the timing was not good,” Mulhern said. “There was no (coaching) offer at that point, just communication.”

Morrissey will continue to help with recruiting through the end of the school year. He has been pleased with his time at UWS despite the rough season.

“For us it was a little bit of a learning year,” he said. “We had a lot of inexperience.”

Mulhern began his coaching career at UW-La Crosse in 1988-89 as a women’s assistant. He went on to become the head coach at Upper Iowa from 1989 to 1992 and then took over as head coach at MacMurray (Ill.) College from 1992 to 2001. Mulhern was the head men’s coach at Lindenwood (Mo.) University from 2002 to 2005 before spending his only season at Rockford.

UWS athletic director Steve Nelson said it was Mulhern’s history of turning around programs that helped with the selection committee’s decision.

“There’s never any quick fixes there,” Nelson said. “They’re always very methodical, thought-out processes of building strong programs. And I can tell you, we will do that here.”

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**Article courtesy of Jim Bellamy, Superior Telegram**

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