Wisconsin-Superior looks to repeat as UMAC women's basketball champion in 2016-17
ST. PAUL---ST. PAUL, Minn.---The 2015-16 Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) women's basketball season saw first-year member University of Wisconsin-Superior go undefeated in conference play at 16-0 to capture the league title. With a core of players returning and Coach of the Year Don Mulhern at the helm, the Yellowjackets were an easy choice for the top spot in the UMAC Women’s Basketball Preseason Coaches’ Poll announced Thursday.
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Poll |
Matchups |
Team Previews |
Coming off a title in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) in 2014-15, Mulhern led the Yelllowjackets to a UMAC title in the team's first season competing in the UMAC and the team cruised to the NCAA tournament with dominant wins in the UMAC playoffs. The Yellowjackets received seven first place votes for 63 points and remain the favorite to repeat in 2016-17.
A year ago, the Yellowjackets dominated in nearly every statistical category including 72.9 points per game in scoring while surrendering just 57.3 ppg to league opponents. The Yellowjackets outscored their opponents by an average of 15.6 ppg and out-rebounded teams by a margin of 11.7 rebounds per game. Mulhern's squad shot 44.7 percent from the field to lead the league and over 31 percent to rank in the three. On the glass, the Yellowjackets were the only team to average over 40 rpg in league play and they led with 15.6 offensive rpg. Their 14.8 assists per game were also a league
The Yellowjackets – who finished 16-0 in conference games and 24-4 overall – look to be in good shape with the return of Hailey Kontney who earned UMAC Player of the Year honors as a sophomore. She averaged 11.9 ppg against UMAC teams and shot 44.4 percent from the floor. The junior guard will need to be at her best again to help lead the Yellowjackets to another title.
Joining Kontny will be fellow junior Justin Larson and the UMAC Tournament MVP Sarah Lekson. Larson was a 2015-16 Honorable mention selection and part of the All-Defensive Team. With a wealth of talent last season, Larson and Lekson averaged just 7.7 ppg and 6.1 ppg in conference play, but the two should see their roles expand with the loss of three other top players. Lekson finished her two tournament games with 29 points, eight rebounds and six assists.
Mulhern's talent poll will see a slight decrease with the loss to graduation of Allyssa Lindberg, Allie Nelson and Hadley Smalkoski. The three players were part of a dominant senior class that led the team to gradual improvement over their four years. Together they combined for an average of over 23.3 ppg against UMAC squads. Eight new first-years should help Mulhern fill in the gaps where needed.
Defending the league title for the Yellowjackets may be tough as they will have to hold off a University of Northwestern squad that was a clear second in 2015-16 going 14-2 in conference play. The Eagles received one first-place nod in the preseason tallies and 54 points overall.
As a team, Northwestern was solid across the board ranking third in conference ppg (66.5) and second in field goal percentage (43.4). The Eagles were barely second in 3-point percentage (32.2), but led in blocks (3.8 per game) and steals (11.9 per game). They weren't as strong in rebounding averaging just 38.3 rpg in UMAC competition. They also lose Second Team All-UMAC pick Regan Cooper who averaged the fourth-most rpg (7.9) against conference foes and posted 9.3 ppg as well as a league-best 57.0 percent from the field.
The Eagles welcome back Amy Berglund who was a First Team All-UMAC selection after averaging 13.6 ppg – fourth most in conference contests. Behind Cooper, Berglund ranked second in field goal shooting (52.0) and her 82.9 percent from the charity stripe was second best. The Eagles also get back Tiffany Stubbs who missed part of the season due to injury but returned in time for the tournament to add to the offense.
Bethany Lutheran College should also be in the conversation to take the crown from the Yellowjackets after placing third a year ago and return two of the top players in the league from 2015-16. The Vikings received one first-place vote in the poll and were just three points behind Northwestern with 51 points.
The Vikings will get back 2015-16 Freshman of the Year Haley Sandin who ranked second in conference game scoring (16.3), as well as Minnie Frederick-Childress who was the NCAA statistical champion for overall steals per game with 4.79. Frederick-Childress was fifth in the UMAC for scoring with 13.3 ppg. The Vikings also return Dakota Ellinghuysen who averaged over 10.3 ppg and will only need to replace Brianna Brandts who was the only player in UMAC games to average a double-double with 12.6 ppg and 11.3 rpg.
After years as the top dog in the UMAC, the University of Minnesota Morris finished fourth in the standings and suffered a first-round upset to Martin Luther College. The Cougars were picked to be fourth again with 46 points, but should compete for one of the top three spots. The Cougars will be without three-time All-Defensive player Cori Becker, but see Second Teamer Elli Stevenson and Honorable Mention Tori Holt return to the lineup. Stevenson average 10.6 ppg while Holt was among three Cougar players hovering around 8.0 ppg.
The College of St. Scholastica missed out on the postseason for the first time since 2008-09 last year. They were outscored by 65 points in the fourth quarter of games last season and only by six in the other three combined. They will need to replace First Team pick Brittani Brennan if they want to return to playoff contention. The Saints were picked fifth with 35 points and should push for the postseason with the return of Michaela Walther who averaged 11.1 ppg as a rookie in UMAC games.
Martin Luther worked its way in to the playoffs on the final day of the regular season and scored a playoff win in the quarterfinal. The Knights were slated sixth with 28 points but will feel the loss of Honorable Mention Erin Schmeling who ranks among the top players in program history. Second Team All-UMAC pick Grace Schultz returns after a rookie season where she ranked eighth in UMAC scoring (12.3 ppg).
Northland College was picked seventh by the coaches with 24 points and could have an outside shot at the postseason. They will need Honorable Mention senior Bethany Best to answer the call after she ranked int he top 20 in the UMAC for scoring (9.9 ppg) and top 10 for rebounds (6.5 rpg).
Crown College edged out North Central University for eighth place by one point with a total of 12 points. Crown will need to replace Honorable Mention Desiree Davis but have three experienced returns to lead the charge. The Rams lost Second Team All-UMAC and All-Defensive team player Jamie High but get back Second Team honoree Lizzy Swanson who led the UMAC in conference scoring with nearly 20 ppg.
The UMAC women's basketball schedule sees several conference teams taking on some of the top teams from the Midwest in non-conference play with games beginning Nov. 15 before conference games start Dec. 2. That first weekend features the premier matchup of the season with Wisconsin-Superior traveling to play Northwestern on Dec. 3. Mankato-area rivals Bethany Lutheran and Martin Luther will also meet that week for games with postseason implications.
The first weekend of the new year will see Northwestern and Minnesota Morris clash in a game with impact on the standings while the following weekend will see the Cougars face Wisconsin-Superior and St. Scholastica.
Minnesota Morris and Bethany will meet for their second meeting of the year on Jan. 28 before a weekend of top-five matchups the weekend of Feb. 3. Playoff spots will be on the line in the final weekend of the year with more top five match ups that will make the season exciting down to the final seconds.
Complete UMAC Schedule
2016-17 UMAC Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Wisconsin-Superior - 63 points (7 FIrst Place Votes)
2. Northwestern - 54 points (1 First Place Vote)
3. Bethany Lutheran - 51 points (1 First Place Vote)
4. Minnesota Morris - 46 points
5. St. Scholastica - 42 points
6. Martin Luther - 28 points
7. Northland - 24 points
8. Crown - 12 points
9. North Central - 11 points
Team Previews
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BLC |
CC |
CSS |
MLC |
NC |
NCU |
UMM |
UNW |
UWS |
1. University of Wisconsin Superior
Don Mulhern | 11th season |
2015-16 Season
16-0 UMAC, 24-4 | 1st |
Postseason: UMAC Tournament Champion/Defeated by Univ. of Wis.-Oshkosh 63-53 in NCAA Regional First Round
Starters returning: 2
Starters lost: 3
Top Returners
- Hailey Kontney, Jr., G | 2015-16 UMAC Player of the Year | 28 GP-25 GS, 13. PPG, 4.4 RPG, 37 steals |
- Justine Larson, Jr., F| 2015-16 UMAC Honorable Mention and All-Defensive | 28 GP-34 GS, 6.9 PPG, 3.4 RPG |
- Sarah Lekson, Sr., F | 23 GP, 6.0 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 45.2 FG% |
Top Losses
- Allyssa Lindberg | 24 GP-6 GS, 8.1 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 37.1 3FG%
- Allie Nelson | 28 GP-26 GS, 7.0 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 98 assists
- Hadley Smalkoski | 25 GP-24 GS, 7.6 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 23 blocks
Need to Know
- Don Mulhern is the reigning UMAC Coach of the Year.
- UW-Superior shot 44.7 percent as a team last season including 31.6 percent from three-point range. The Yellowjackets out-scored opponents by an average of 15.6 points per game and out-rebounded teams by a margin of 11.7 per contest.
- UWS welcomes eight first-year Yellowjackets to this year’s roster.
2. University of Northwestern
Aaron Kahl | 7th Season |
2015-16 Season
14-2 UMAC, 23-8| 2nd |
Postseason: Lost to Wisconsin-Superior in UMAC Championship, Took fourth at the NCCAA National Tournament
Starters returning: 2
Starters lost: 3
Top Returners
- Amy Berglund, Jr., G | First Team All-UMAC, 2015-16 | NCCAA Second Team All-American | 11.9 ppg, 103 steals in 2015-16, shot 48.9 percent from the floor|
- Tiffany Stubbs, Sr., G | 9.5 ppg, made 48 3-pointers, 25.2 minutes per game |
-Taryn Tumbleson, So., G | 8 ppg, 1.8 assists/game, swiped 75 steals in 2015-16|
Top Losses
- Regan Cooper, F | Second Team All-UMAC, 2015-16 | 9.8 ppg, 7.9 rebounds/game, shot 57.6 percent from the floor|
- Courtney Cunard, G| 5.9 ppg, 2.3 assists/game, 24.7 minutes/game|
- Kim Campbell, G | 6 ppg, made 27 3-pointers, 2.3 assists/game |
Need to Know
- Finished fourth at the NCCAA National Tournament in 2016.
- UNW opens the year with five of its first six games at home.
- The Eagles averaged over 80 points per game in 2015-16.
3. Bethany Lutheran College
Lyle Jones | 3rd season |
2015-16 Season
10-6 UMAC, 14-12 | 3rd |
Postseason: Number 3 seed in 2015-16 UMAC postseason tournament. Lost to UNW 53-66 in the semi-finals.
Starters returning: 4
Starters lost: 1
Top Returners
- Haley Sandin, So., G | 2015-16 Freshman of the Year | First-Team All-UMAC | Three-time UMAC Player of the Week | 20.0 PPG | 77.0% FT% - 2
nd in UMAC, 5
th in Nation | 2.5 steals/assists per game |
- Minnie Frederick-Childress, Sr., G | NCAA DIII Statistical Champ for Steals per Game |First-Team All-UMAC, 2015-16 | All-Defensive Team UMAC Honors | 4.79 Steals per Game | 13.0 PPG | 4.8 RPG | 3.5 Assists per Game | 35.6 min. per Game|
- Dakota Ellinghuysen, Sr., F |9.4 PPG | 5.8 RPG | 26 Games played |
Top Losses
- Briana Brandts, F | Honorable Mention All-UMAC, 2015-16| 13 double-doubles last season, 30 career total |12.4 PPG | 11.4 RPG | 26 GP | 36.6 minutes per game |
Need to Know
-The Vikings return the UMAC Freshman of the Year and NCAA Statistical Champion for Steals per Game
- The four players returning to the Vikings lineup in 2016-17 played an average of 32.6 Minutes per Game
- Bethany averaged 66.9 Points per Game compared to their opponents 66.2 last season
4. University of Minnesota Morris
Tim Grove | 11th season |
2015-16 Season
9-7 UMAC, 14-12 | 4th |
Postseason: Lost to Martin Luther 67-66 in first round
Starters returning: 3
Starters lost: 2
Top Returners
- Elli Stevenson, So., G |Second-Team All-UMAC, 2015-16 | 11.7 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 3.1 ast./g |
- Tori Holt, Sr., F | UMAC Honorable Mention, 2015-16, 2013-14; Second-Team All-UMAC, 2014-15 | UMAC Freshman of the Year, 2013-14 | 10.6 ppg, 54.7 FG%, 6.8 rpg |
- Kendra Raths, So., F | 8.5 ppg, 7.5 rpg |
Top Losses
- Cori Becker, F |UMAC All-Defensive Team, 3x | 6.0 ppg, 1.4 stl./g, 1.2 bl./g |
- Kayla Kraemer, G | UMAC Honorable Mention, 2015 | 8.4 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 2.5 ast./g |
- Maja Coomes, G | 5.7 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 1.2 ast./g |
Need to Know
- The Cougars have reached the UMAC Postseason Tournament 11 straight seasons.
- Coach Grove has a 117-25 record in UMAC games.
- Cougars were second in the conference in both field goal percentage defense (36.6) and 3-point field goal percentage defense (28.6).
5. College of St. Scholastica
Stacy Deadrick | 23rd Season |
2015-16 Season
7-9 UMAC, 10-15 | T-5th |
Starters returning: 3
Starters lost: 2
Top Returners
- Michaela Walther, So., G | Named team’s Rookie of the Year | 10.3 ppg., 35 made 3-point FG, 56 assists |
- Holly VanKempen, Sr., F | 47 blocks (led UMAC), 8.2 ppg, 6.7 rpg. |
- Sam Brannen, Jr., G | 6.5 ppg, 38 assists, 23 steals |
Top Losses
- Brittani Brennan, F | First Team All-UMAC, 2015-16; Honorable Mention All-UMAC, 2014-15 | 12.2 ppg, 82% free throws, 35 steals |
- Kelsey Sorenson-Giffrow, G | Second Team All-UMAC, 2013-14, 2014-15 | 16.5 ppg – Only played in six games before injury |
- Danica Schellbach, F | 6.2 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 37 off. rebounds |
Need to Know
- The Saints missed the postseason for the second time since the 2008-09 season last year
- In each of its final four losses last season, the Saints led at halftime and failed to score 20 points in the second half in three of those game
- CSS was outscored by 65 points in the fourth quarter of games last season and by only six points in the other three quarters combined.
6. Martin Luther College
Dan Gawrisch | 3rd season |
2015-16 Season
7-9 UMAC, 13-14 | T-5th |
Postseason: Defeated Minnesota Morris in opening round 67-66, lost semifinal at UW-Superior 66-51
Starters returning: 3
Starters lost: 2
Top Returners
- Grace Schultz, So., G | Second Team All-UMAC, 2014-15, 2015-16 | 11.1 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 48 steals |
- Mariah Schoof, Sr., F | 9.6 PPG, 47 3FG, 31 blocks |
- Jade St. Germaine, Jr., F | 6.6 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 48.1% FG |
Top Losses
- Erin Schmeling, G | Honorable Mention All-UMAC, 2015-16 | 9.7 PPG, 79 assists, 56 steals |
- Leah Nass, F | 7.0 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 21 blocks |
- Moriah Hackbarth, F | 5.0 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 16 blocks |
Need to Know
- Senior forward Mariah Schoof enters this season third in program history in career blocks (91), and fourth in career three-point field goals (113).
- Schoof finished each of the last two seasons as the only player in the UMAC with at least 30 blocks and 30 three-point field goals.
- MLC must replace departed seniors Erin Schmeling (top six in career free throws and assists in program history) and Leah Nass (third in program history in both career field goals and rebounds).
7. Northland College
Daryle Tucker| 3rd season|
2015-16 Season
6-10 UMAC, 11-12 | 7th |
Starters returning: 3
Starters lost: 1
Top Returners
- Bethany Best, Sr., C | Honorable Mention All-UMAC, 205-16 | 10 ppg, 7 rpg |
- Nicole Huber, So., G | 12 ppg, 5 rpg |
- Katherine Taylor, So., G | 7 ppg |
Top Losses
- Alison Blackford, Sr., PG
8. Crown College
Kevin Boozikee | 3rd season |
2015-16 Season
1-15 UMAC, 4-21 | 9th |
Starters returning: 3
Starters lost: 2
Top Returners
- Andrea Besa, Jr., G | 5.4 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 1.8 ast./g, 2.2 stl/g
- Hannah Malone, So., G | 6.7 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 1.7 ast./g
- Madison Strickland, Jr., P |3.9 ppg, 3.4 rpg
Top Losses
- Desiree Davis, G | UMAC All-Defense | Honorable Mention All-UMAC, 2015-16 | 12.5ppg, 6.6rpg, 2.8 ast./g |
- Jessica Klaustermeier, G | Honorable Mention All-UMAC, 2014-15 | 8.9ppg, 4.3rpg, 1.2 ast./game |
Need to Know
- In lone conference win, Desiree Davis scored 19, had 9 rebounds, and had 5 steals
- Andrea Besa was seventh in steals in the UMAC and is returning
- Third straight year of bringing in 10-plus recruits
9. North Central University
Paul Brunner | 2nd Season |
2015-16 Season
2-14 UMAC, 10-19 Overall | 8th |
Starters returning: 3
Starters lost: 2
Top Returners
Lizzy Swanson, Jr., G | Second-Team All-UMAC, 2015-16 | 20.4 ppg, 35.8 3PT%, 4.2 rpg |
Sydney Steele, So., G | 5.5 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 1.8 apg |
Marissa Kari, Jr., F | 7.4 ppg, 5.2 rpg|
Top Losses
- Jamie High, F | Second-Team All-UMAC 2015-16, UMAC All-Defensive 2015-16| 15.4 ppg, 10.8 rpg, 2.7 spg |
- Jenna Cielocha, G | 5.3 ppg, 4.4 rpg |
Need to Know
- North Central won ten games under first year head coach Paul Brunner.
-Lizzy Swanson broke NCU’s single season scoring record and was named an NCCAA All-American.
- The Rams bring in seven new players and have no seniors on the roster.