UMAC coaches select Cougars as 2014-2015 women's basketball favorite
2014-2015 UMAC Women’s Basketball Coaches’ Poll
1. 48 Points – University of Minnesota Morris (6 First Place Votes)
2. 43 Points – College of St. Scholastica (2)
3. 36 Points – University of Northwestern
4. 32 Points – Martin Luther College
5. 26 Points – Bethany Lutheran College
6. 16 Points – North Central University
7. 13 Points – Northland College
8. 10 Points – Crown College
ST. PAUL - Winner of at least a share of five consecutive Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) women's basketball regular season titles, the University of Minnesota Morris was once again selected by the league coaches to finish as the top team in the conference in 2014-2015. The Cougars received 48 points and six first place votes in the annual coaches’ poll while the College of St. Scholastica finished in second place with 43 points and two first place nods.
1. University of Minnesota Morris Cougars
2013-14 Overall Record: 17-10
2013-14 UMAC Record: 13-1
2013-14 UMAC Finish: 1st
Starters Returning: 4
Starters Lost: 1
Minnesota Morris will again look to defend a UMAC Regular Season Championship, after going 13-1 in UMAC play last season and claiming the league title. The Cougars return nearly everybody from last year’s roster, but will be sans All-UMAC performer Abby Fragodt, who averaged almost 11 rebounds per game.
Kendra Wycoff, the leading scorer from last year is back for her senior year. She averaged 13.3 points per game and hit 60 three pointers on the season. Emily Auch had a coming out party last year, averaging 14 points per game during the UMAC season. Tori Holt also returns after being named the UMAC Freshman of the Year. During conference play she averaged 10.9 points and 6.7 rebounds per game.
The Cougars will look to returners and newcomers to add depth this season as they hope to again be in the hunt for a conference title.
2. College of St. Scholastica Saints
2013-14 Overall Record: 16-10
2013-14 UMAC Record: 11-3
2013-14 UMAC Finish: 2nd
Starters Returning: 4
Starters Lost: 1
The St. Scholastica women’s basketball team set a program record with 11 conference wins last season and the team’s 16 wins overall were tied for the second-most in the last 20 seasons.
CSS was the preseason favorite last year and ultimately finished second and was eliminated by eventual UMAC Tournament champion Northwestern in the semifinals. The Saints set a program record for field goal percentage and free throw percentage in a season in 2013-14 and reigning UMAC Coach of the Year Stacy Deadrick hopes to go farther in 2015. The Saints return four of five starters. The one starter not returning is Erin Frase, who was a first team All-UMAC choice a season ago and was named the UMAC Tournament MVP when the Saints made their postseason run in 2013.
However, back is guard Mariah Hovick, who was a first team all-conference choice last season and has earned UMAC honors every season. Joining Hovick in the back court is junior Kelsey Sorenson. In her first season with the Saints, Sorenson was a second team All-UMAC choice and led the conference in free throw percentage and 3-point percentage. Other key players back with plenty of experience include Brittani Brennan, Danica Schellbach, Elena Huber, Sammy Doucette and Emily Glomski. Guard Holly Peterson also returns after missing last season due to injury. Freshmen Emelia Miner, Sam Brannen, Holly Vankempen and Jenna Langer will add to the returning firepower for the Saints this season.
3. University of Northwestern Eagles
2013-14 Overall Record: 20-8
2013-14 UMAC Record: 10-4
2013-14 UMAC Finish: T-3rd
Starters Returning: 1
Starters Lost: 4
In addition to advancing to the 2013-2014 NCAA Tournament, Northwestern is coming off its first 20-win season in 12 years. Much of the experience that got the Eagles to that point graduated in May, yet head coach Aaron Kahl is optimistic about another successful season with the newcomers and returning players he has this year.
Northwestern had to say goodbye to UMAC Player of the Year Mollie Sir and rebounder extraordinaire Jessica Fife, but senior Chanel Madson returns from last year’s group to lead the 2014-2015 squad. Madson was an All-UMAC Second Team selection, scoring 13.8 points per game in her junior campaign. Tiffany Stubbs made a difference off the bench in her freshman season, contributing 5.9 points with 33 three-point field goals while now-senior Jacki Smith had 99 points and 47 blocks in 21 games. Kim Campbell will be the favorite to run the floor from the point guard position after scoring 5.1 points per game and dishing out 40 assists in her sophomore year.
Kahl is excited about his group of newcomers, with Regan Cooper and Amy Berglund standing out amongst them. The 6-1 Cooper transferred to Northwestern from Briar Cliff University, where she started 16 games in 2013-2014. Berglund’s 18.5 points per game as a high school senior last year was second-best in the Washington D.C. metro area.
4. Martin Luther College Knights
2013-14 Overall Record: 13-13
2013-14 UMAC Record: 10-4
2013-14 UMAC Finish: T-3rd
Starters Returning: 4
Starters Lost: 1
The Martin Luther College women’s basketball team enters a new era in the 2014-15 season. New head coach Dan Gawrisch takes over for Larry Czer after serving as an assistant last season, and hopes to build off the program’s recent success and compete for the conference championship again this season.
The Knights return four starters from last year’s team that finished 10-4 in the UMAC, but must replace two of the top six scorers in program history (Hannah Hackbarth and Brittney Gossen). Alex (Anthon) Maas led the team last season in points per game (11.4), assists (70) and steals (53), and brings three years of winning experience as a leader this season. She will be joined in the backcourt by returning point guard Erin Schmeling, who averaged 7.0 points per game last season. Also on the perimeter will be 5’11” sophomore Mariah Schoof, who offers the ability to play inside or outside and shot 25-71 (.352 percent) from beyond the three-point arc as a freshman. Sophomore Emily Neeb and freshman Jessica Friebe look to provide depth at the guard spots this season.
Up front, the Knights return junior Leah Nass, who led the team last season in rebounds per game (6.1) and blocks (22), and enters this season healthy after dealing with injuries at the start of her sophomore campaign. Sophomore Faith Schroeder returns after starting 12 games and averaging 5.7 rebounds in 17.7 minutes per game last season. Junior Sara Willems and sophomore Katie Wilson also provide experienced depth up front, along with several other potential newcomers.
5. Bethany Lutheran College Vikings
2013-14 Overall Record: 9-16
2013-14 UMAC Record: 6-8
2013-14 UMAC Finish: 5th
Starters Returning: 2
Starters Lost: 3
Bethany was in need of a new head coach after Tiffany Young Klockziem retired following last season after 11 years. To replace her, the Vikings called on the man who she replaced following the 2002-03 season, Lyle Jones. Jones inherits a bit of a rebuilding project as he is tasked to replace 70 percent of Bethany's scoring from last season, most of which are lost due to the graduations of Jade Pelzl (16 ppg) and Kasslin Swenson (13.8 ppg).
Bethany will have a young team in 2014-15 with eight freshmen and three sophomores comprising the 13 player roster. Lacey Ellinghuysen will provide the senior leadership from the backcourt. She is one of two returning starters who averaged 6.2 points and 6.0 rebounds per contest a season ago. The other returning starter is sophomore forward Angie Scheffler. She played well as a freshman putting up 10.1 points and 6.2 rebounds a game. Returning to the squad after not being able to play a season ago is Briana Brandts. She averaged 8.2 points and 8.0 rebounds a game in 2012-13 and should provide a boost to the frontcourt.
6. North Central University Rams
2013-14 Overall Record: 8-15
2013-14 UMAC Record: 3-11
2013-14 UMAC Finish: T-6th
Starters Returning: 2
Starters Lost: 3
North Central will be a young team in 2014-15 and under the leadership of first year, interim head coach Christina Goodman and assistant coach David Risdall. Goodman is an NCU alum who played three years for the Rams before losing her senior season to an injury. Risdall was an assistant for the NCU men’s program for several years after playing his final two years of eligibility for the Rams.
The Rams will lose two of their top three scoring options and most of their assists from a year ago. Program scoring record holder Jorie Grenell and point guard Julia Skeesick who was second on the Rams all-time list in assists have both graduated. North Central will have junior Jamie High back a year after averaging 14.5 points and 10.4 rebounds per game last season that also earned her an honorable mention all-conference nod. Junior Shelby Norman will also be back after averaging over eight points and four rebounds a game last season.
After missing 2013-14, forward Melissa Kidd will return to the team this year after averaging nearly 10 points and over six rebounds in her previous two seasons in 2011-12 and 2012-13. The Rams have also added talented scoring forward Lizzy Swanson from East Central (MN) High School who averaged over 17 points and 7 rebounds per game her senior year and surpassed 1300 career points in her high school career.
7. Northland College LumberJills
2013-14 Overall Record: 6-19
2013-14 UMAC Record: 3-11
2013-14 UMAC Finish: T-6th
Starters Returning: 2
Starters Lost: 3
Northland College women’s basketball program is moving in a new and exciting direction under first-year Head Women’s Basketball Coach Daryle Tucker. Last year team lost four players to graduation and they have four incoming players this season.
Coach Tucker is excited about the future of the program and believes that this season will be about building an identity and setting the tone for years to come. The LumberJills return hardworking upperclassmen Erin Gilly, Alison Blackford, Briana Tody and Kaitlyn Witthun. Depth will be the biggest challenge for the squad this season as they introduce the “Riot” style of basketball but Tucker believes the team is up for the challenge.
The four incoming freshmen Ali Vernon (Washburn, WI), Haley Modahl (Minneapolis, MN), Lane Schraufnagel (Twin Harbors, MN) and Katie Guetter (Argyle, MN) are eager and hungry to get started with their collegiate career. Seeing how quickly they can get adjusted to the college game will be the key to team success this season.
8. Crown College Storm
2013-14 Overall Record: 1-22
2013-14 UMAC Record: 0-14
2013-14 UMAC Finish: 8th
Starters Returning: 3
Starters Lost: 2
A new era begins for Crown women’s basketball in 2014-15. First year head coach Kevin Boozikee has brought in 10 new recruits that will join seven returners with the goal of ending a decade’s worth of futility in the UMAC.
Working off a 1-22 record a year ago, Coach Boozikee will look to instill a winning culture at Crown. Starting from scratch, the Storm will look to be a more disciplined and aggressive team in 2014-15. Coach Boozikee brings a wealth of coaching experience after 24 years on the sideline at various levels.
Desiree Davis will look to replicate her productive 2013-14 season and lead a young Storm roster that is full of new faces. She will be joined by starters Katie Hinkle and Sam Brueggeman, as well as additional returner Leah Breakfield. Joining that group will be newcomers Jessica Klaustermeier and Fiona De Mario, two local products who transferred to Crown this fall. That core will be joined by a talented group of players from all over the country, including Andrea Besa and Marissa Becerra from Texas, Madison Stricklin from California, and Susanna Pjecha from Pennsylvania as well as regional players Kirsten Shank (MN), Darian Ogilvie (WI), Alexis Johnson (MT), and Miranda Brueggeman (IA).
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.