Saints picked as favorite in UMAC Women's Basketball Coaches' Preseason Poll
Preseason Video Preview: Kayla Kraemer, University of Minnesota Morris
2013-2014 UMAC Women’s Basketball Coaches’ Poll
1. 46 Points – College of St. Scholastica (5 First Place Votes)
2. 42 Points – University of Northwestern (2)
3. 39 Points – University of Minnesota Morris (1)
4. 33 Points – Martin Luther College
5. 25 Points – Bethany Lutheran College
6. 17 Points – North Central University
7. 13 Points – Northland College
8. 9 Points – Crown College
ST. PAUL – Winner of the 2012-13 Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) Women’s Basketball Post-Season Tournament, the College of St. Scholastica was predicted to claim the league regular season title in 2013-2014 according to a poll of the UMAC coaches. The Saints, who earned five first place votes, were followed by the University of Northwestern and the University of Minnesota Morris who finished second and third respectively in the poll. The Eagles earned two first place nods while the Cougars earned one first place vote.
1. College of Saint Scholastica Saints
2012-13 Overall Record: 13-15
2012-13 UMAC Record: 8-6
2012-13 UMAC Finish: 4th
Starters Returning: 4
Starters Lost: 1
The St. Scholastica women's basketball team appeared in its first NCAA Division III Tournament last season after an improbable run in the conference tournament. With virtually everyone back, the Saints are primed for another run this season.
The Saints had just one senior on last year's squad. CSS returns four starters led at forward by first team All-UMAC selection in senior Erin Frase. Frase led the Saints in scoring, averaging 13.4 points per game last season. Frase shot 54.6 percent from the floor, which ranked 13th in the nation and set a program record for best field goal percentage in a season.
Sophomore Danica Schellbach also returns at forward for the Saints. Schellbach averaged 17.8 points per game in the final seven games, including 24 points and 14 rebounds in the UMAC Tournament Championship win at Martin Luther. On the perimeter, juniors Mariah Hovick and Elena Huber are back. Hovick was an honorable mention All-UMAC selection last season. She poured in a career-high 25 points in the UMAC Tournament semifinal upset over Minnesota Morris and finished second on the team with 10.5 points per game. Also returning at guard is sophomore Holly Peterson and junior Sammy Doucette.
Leading the newcomers will be University of Minnesota Duluth sophomore transfer and former Braham standout Kelsey Sorenson. The guard finished with over 1,400 career points at Braham and broke six team records. Coach Deadrick also welcomes freshman guard Kayla Swanson. The former Hibbing High School standout averaged 20.5 points per game her senior season. Other newcomers include Chelsea Schull from St. Clire High School and UMD transfer Kariana DeYoung, who currently plays on the CSS volleyball team.
2. University of Northwestern Eagles
2012-13 Overall Record: 16-10
2012-13 UMAC Record: 11-3
2012-13 UMAC Finish: 2nd
Starters Returning: 5
Starters Lost: 0
There will be no shortage of experience on the University of Northwestern women’s basketball team as it returns to the hardwood for the 2013-14 season after losing no seniors from last year’s campaign in which the Eagles finish second in UMAC play. Head Coach Aaron Kahl’s roster features nine returners, including five starters, while the team will also welcome new faces as it hits the court for its first contest on November 15.
The front court will rely upon the duo of Mollie Sir and Chanel Madson, who combined for an average of 30.4 points per game en route to two first team all-conference honors. The pair also finished fifth and sixth among all NCAA Division III women’s players for three-point percentage, helping the Purple and Gold to a first-place team mark in the same category.
Other key contributors returning to the Northwestern crew are Jessica Fife, Courtney Cunard, and Hannah Holm, each consistent starters throughout last year’s matchups. A two-time second team all-conference selection and one-time all-defensive team selection, Fife was a key contributor on both ends of the floor, averaging 8.4 rebounds per contest while also tallying 11.7 points per game. UNW will look to Cunard and Holm to provide depth on the hardwood after contributing 20-plus minutes per contest to the 2012-13 run that saw the Eagles double their win total from the previous campaign.
3. University of Minnesota Morris Cougars
2012-13 Overall Record: 18-8
2012-13 UMAC Record: 14-0
2012-13 UMAC Finish: 1st
Starters Returning: 3
Starters Lost: 2
The four-time defending UMAC Regular Season Champions will compete for another title in 2013-14. While the Cougars will have to replace 2012-13 UMAC Player of the Year Emily Mehr, they return three starters from last season’s lineup.
All-UMAC First Teamer Kendra Wycoff is back after averaging 14.8 points last year. Kayla Kraemer, the UMAC Freshman of the Year also returns after averaging 8.7 points per game. One of the nation's top rebounders Abby Fragodt joins Wycoff and Kraemer in the Cougar lineup after averaging 10.4 rebounds per game a season ago.
The Cougars also return key contributors Cori Becker, Emily Auch and Maja Coomes. Newcomers Tori Holt and Jordan Zickermann will add depth to the Cougar roster as they and come from big programs in high school.
4. Martin Luther College Knights
2012-13 Overall Record: 12-15
2012-13 UMAC Record: 9-5
2012-13 UMAC Finish: 3rd
Starters Returning: 4
Starters Lost: 1
The Martin Luther College women’s basketball program returns four starters from last season’s team that finished 9-5 in UMAC play and played in the championship game of the UMAC Tournament. The Knights are looking to build off last season’s success in the hopes of challenging for the conference championship once again.
Alex Anthon returns for her junior season to lead an experienced group of perimeter players. The talented wing led the UMAC in assists per game (4.2) during UMAC play, and also averaged 10.6 points and 5.1 rebounds per game as a sophomore. She will be joined in the backcourt by returning starters Hannah Hackbarth (Second Team All-UMAC and leading returning scorer at 11.9 points per game) and Brittney Gossen (9.3 points per game and strong defender), as well as returning guard Sarah Koelpin and newcomers Erin Schmeling and Mariah Schoof.
In the frontcourt, the Knights return Leah Nass and Rebecca Engelbrecht. Nass played in all 27 games as a freshman a season ago, averaging 8.0 points and 6.3 rebounds per game while showing off tremendous athleticism on both sides of the court. Engelbrecht also adds a good deal of athleticism, having led the Knights in rebounds per game (7.0) and blocks (18) to go with 6.9 points per game in her first season with the program last year. They will be joined by returning post player Sara Willems, as well as newcomers Faith Schroeder and Katie Wilson, who hope to provide depth.
5. Bethany Lutheran College Vikings
2012-13 Overall Record: 8-17
2012-13 UMAC Record: 6-8
2012-13 UMAC Finish: 5th
Starters Returning: 2
Starters Lost: 3
Two UMAC All-Conference honorees lead a strong group of returnees to the Bethany Lutheran College women's basketball team in 2013-14 in hopes of getting back to the postseason after narrowing missing out last season.
Senior guard and two-time Second Team All-Conference member, Jade Pelzl, will be in charge of an experienced backcourt. Pelzl averaged 12.7 points and 3.6 assists per contest while shooting over 80 percent from the free throw line and nearly 33 percent from beyond the arc. Joining Pelzl in the backcourt are a trio of returnees in sophomores Aimie Wiechmann (32.7% 3pt) and Rudy Ruffin (3.2 ppg, 1 steal/game) and junior Lacey Ellinghuisen (72.2% FT). In the post, UMAC Honorable Mention forward Kasslin Swenson is back to clean up the boards. The junior was fourth in the UMAC in rebounding at 8.3 per game and second in the conference in offensive boards per game (4.0).
Angie Scheffler, a guard/forward from Yellow Medicine East H.S., leads an impressive list of newcomers who can make an immediate impact. The All-West Central Conference member tallied 1,000 career points while averaging 14.3 points, 7.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 2.5 steals per game her senior year.
6. North Central University Rams
2012-13 Overall Record: 8-20
2012-13 UMAC Record: 4-10
2012-13 UMAC Finish: T-6th
Starters Returning: 4
Starters Lost: 1
North Central will return a solid core from their 2012-13 team that managed a tie for sixth place league finish in their first year of membership in the conference. Four of five regular starters return but NCU must find a way to replace the defense and scoring from Elisabeth Trickey who graduated after being named to the UMAC all-defensive team last season. Coach Jeff Grenell also returns for his second year at the helm for NCU and he believes year two in his system will offer a chance to improve upon last year's rookie run in the UMAC.
The Rams front court returns nearly all its rebounding and scoring from a year ago. Senior Emily Aleckson will combine with junior Melissa Kidd and sophomore Jamie High to give NCU a solid group around the basket. Kidd averaged 7.3 points and 6.3 boards a game last year despite being injured and playing just 13 games and missing most of the conference schedule. High is the Rams second leading returning scorer with 8.1 points and team best 7.4 rebounds a game.
North Central will have its leading scorer and point guard back for their senior seasons which should stabilize the offense and provide a balanced floor plan for the Rams. Jorie Grenell was leading scorer for NCU last season with 14.2 points per game a year ago and is within reach of the Rams all time made three point record. Julia Skeesick is back at the helm in the point guard spot where she averaged 6.9 points and 3.8 assists per game last season. North Central adds versatile Tania Rosener who is an active and athletic wing player to complement returning guards Shelby Norman and Whitney Reams.
7. Northland College LumberJills
2012-13 Overall Record: 6-17
2012-13 UMAC Record: 4-10
2012-13 UMAC Finish: T-6th
Starters Returning: 1
Starters Lost: 4
Still recovering from the graduation of seven quality seniors in the last two years and following the loss of 4 returners just prior to the start of practice, this season the LumberJills will begin the process of rebuilding one of the historically top women’s basketball programs in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference.
Head Coach Bill Wilson begins his 5th season at the helm of the LumberJills who return one player from last year’s squad. Senior Theresa Stewart, a 5’7” guard averaged 6.5 points and 1.8 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game for Northland last season. The top newcomers for the LumberJills this season include Lily Sandstrom, Erin Gilligan, Kaitlyn Witthun, Kaitlyn Windschitl and Ally Hochstetter.
The 2013-14 Northland College LumberJills are prepared to face the tough task of rebuilding a program this season. Although decimated by graduation, the LumberJills feel confident that they can build a foundation that will support their quest to return to the top of the UMAC.
8. Crown College Storm
2012-13 Overall Record: 2-20
2012-13 UMAC Record: 0-14
2012-13 UMAC Finish: 8th
Starters Returning: 2
Starters Lost: 3
The 2013-14 Crown College women’s basketball team has plenty of new faces with the recruiting efforts of head coach Ryan Chmielewski. Crown will return two starters from last year’s team with the addition of 15 freshman players.
Crown’s two returning players are Sophomore Michelle Hyde who averaged 13 points per game in the first semester last season and junior Sam Brueggeman who made 16 starts last year.
Freshmen Katie Hinkle, Alisa Warnes, Rebecca Fritts, and Katrina Holt will bring some much needed support around the basket, while Desiree Davis, Leah Breakfield, Da’Neisha Patterson, and Taylor Dubberke will give Crown a new look at the guard position. This young talented group will look to make an impact in the UMAC this season.
UMAC teams will kick off competition November 15 with the conference portion of the season beginning in January. An automatic berth to the NCAA Championships will be awarded to the winner of the UMAC Women's Basketball Tournament.