This Week in the UMAC: February 22, 2016
"This Week in the UMAC" is a weekly publication of the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference that is normally distributed on Mondays throughout the academic year. It features standings, schedules, news and notes, as well as upcoming events from around the conference.
HEADLINES
Undefeated Wisconsin-Superior headlines 2015-2016 Women's Basketball Tournament
February 21, 2016
After a competitive season of Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) women's basketball, the University of Wisconsin-Superior emerged at the top with a flawless 16-0 record to claim its first UMAC title and headline the postseason tournament set to begin Monday.
2015-2016 UMAC Men's Basketball playoffs set to thrill beginning Monday
February 21, 2016
After a competitive season of Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) men's basketball, the College of St. Scholastica emerged at the top to claim its first outright regular season title in program history to highlight the postseason tournament set to begin Monday.
St. Scholastica takes down Northwestern to clinch 2015-2016 men's basketball title
February 20, 2016
Following a competitive Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) men's basketball season, the College of St. Scholastica emerged as the 2016 regular season champion with a dramatic 76-69 win over the University of Northwestern-St. Paul in a winner-take-all season finale Saturday.
Wisconsin-Superior women's basketball captures first UMAC regular-season title
February 19, 2016
After competing in a closely-contested game with University of Northwestern-St. Paul squad that had upset on its mind, the University of Wisconsin-Superior used a fourth-quarter run for a 68-56 win to remain undefeated and capture the 2015-2016 Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) Women's Basketball regular season title Friday night.
UMAC student-athletes partner with Special Olympics for annual bowling event
February 18, 2016
Each February, student-athletes from each Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) gather for the a bi-annual meeting of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) to learn about NCAA legislation, talk about conference issues and share institutional best practices.
St. Scholastica claims top spot in 2016 UMAC Softball Coaches' Poll
February 18, 2016
The College of St. Scholastica has established itself as one of the top softball programs in the Midwest over the last two decades with consistent appearances in the NCAA tournament and dominance in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC).
Game of the Week: Northwestern at UW-Superior - Women's Basketball
February 17, 2016
This week's Game of the Week will take place on Friday, February 19th at 7:30 p.m. as the University of Northwestern travels to the University of Wisconsin-Superior in women's basketball action.
Saints Predicted to Claim 20th Straight UMAC Baseball Title in 2016
February 16, 2016
Over nearly two decades, the College of St. Scholastica baseball program has risen to the top of the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) claiming each of the last 19 regular season conference titles and 18-straight tournament championships.
NEWS AND NOTES
Bethany Lutheran College
The Bethany women’s basketball team secured the No. 3 seed entering the 2016 UMAC Postseason Tournament. The Vikings will travel to Northwestern to take on the No. 2 Eagles on Wednesday, February 24th starting at 7:30 p.m.
Over the weekend, the women’s team split a pair of games by defeating Crown and falling to Minnesota Morris. Haley Sandin led the Vikings offensively, averaging 22.5 PPG. The Vikings finished the regular season schedule with a 14-11 overall mark and 10-6 UMAC record.
The men’s basketball team finished their 2015-16 campaign at 10-15 overall and 8-8 in UMAC play. In the final two games of the season, the Vikings earned a pair of victories over Crown and Minnesota Morris.
The men’s tennis team earned their first victory of the 2016 season by defeating Ripon on Saturday afternoon at the Owatonna Tennis Club. Score was 9-0.
College of St. Scholastica
Men's Basketball captured its fifth UMAC Regular Season title on Saturday, but it was the program's first outright league championship. CSS last won the league in 2008-09. The win also extended the program record home winning streak to 14 games and was the 18th victory of the season, the most under Head Coach David Staniger. The program record is 19 wins during the 1988-89 season.
Men's Track & Field set two program records Friday night at the Bemidji State University Twilight. Jeremy Peterson broke his own program record in the weight throw with a winning mark of 59'7.75" (18.18m). That mark currently ranks fourth in NCAA Division III. Kevin Wagner also set the 60m hurdles record for the second straight week with a time of 8.44.
Crown College
Desiree Davis finished the UMAC season in the top 10 for points, rebounds, assists, and steals, despite playing just 24.9 minutes per game.
Austin VanDerHeyden took the UMAC rebounding crown, averaging 10.9 boards per contest, a full 2.1 rebounds more than the second best mark. VDH also averaged 18.4 points per game, good for fifth in the league.
James Brown reached the 30 point plateau in both games on the weekend, vaulting him into 7th in the conference in scoring to finish the year.
Martin Luther College
The MLC women's basketball team clinched its eight consecutive trip to the UMAC Postseason Tournament over the weekend. The Knights face Minnesota Morris in the opening round game, marking the fourth time the two programs have met in the conference tournament in the last six seasons.
Senior wing Todd Brassow set a new MLC men's basketball single-season record for points with 570 this season. He broke the previous record of 526, set by Tom Engelbrecht during the 2002-03 season.
The MLC men's tennis season opened over the weekend with matches against Saint Mary's and Simpson. First-year player Nicolas Gartner earned his first career wins in both singles and doubles against Simpson on Sunday.
University of Minnesota Morris
Women's basketball hit 17 three point field goals on Saturday. It was the most for a team since 2012. Mauren Thiesen had a career high 27 points, including seven treys, the most for a Cougar since Kendra Wycoff in 2012. The women secured the number 4 seed in the UMAC tournament and will host Martin Luther Monday at 7:30 p.m. Monday night.
The Men's basketball team also landed the 4 seed and will host the 5 seeded University of Wisconsin-Superior at 5:30 p.m. Monday night.
The Cougars track and field team won both 60m and both 200m races at the St. John's Invite. Justin Terry won the the two events on the men's side and Teja Foy won them both on the women's side.
University of Northwestern
The UNW women’s basketball team split over the weekend, falling to UW-Superior Friday before defeating the College of St. Scholastica Saturday. The Eagles secured the No. 2 seed in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) Tournament and will host Bethany Lutheran College at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday night.
The men’s basketball team dropped back-to-back conference games for the first time since the 2002-03 season over the weekend. Michael Carney, who scored a season-high 28 points Friday night, cashed in on 11 three-pointers to move into third place in career threes made at Northwestern. The Eagles will be the No. 2 seed in UMAC Tournament and will host North Central University at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday evening.
The men’s tennis team dropped a pair of matches over the weekend in Eau Claire, Wis. The Eagles fell to UW-Eau Claire, 9-0, Saturday morning before dropping their afternoon match to Lake Forest College, 7-2.
The women’s tennis team moved to 4-1 on the season with its dominant 8-1 win over Hamline University on Friday night.
The men’s indoor track and field team had a strong showing at the University of Minnesota’s Snowshoe Open Friday night. Wil Maki (Mile Run) and Brent Wipf (600-meter run) set school records in their respective events.
The women’s lacrosse team made history Saturday night, playing its first-ever game in school history. The Eagles had a strong showing against the University of Dubuque in the opener, but fell 21-8 inside the Augsburg Dome.
STANDINGS
Men's Basketball
| School |
UMAC |
Overall |
| *#St. Scholastica |
13-3 |
18-7 |
| *Northwestern |
12-4 |
20-5 |
| *North Central |
10-6 |
13-12 |
| *Minnesota Morris |
9-7 |
12-13 |
| *UW-Superior |
8-8 |
12-13 |
| Bethany Lutheran |
8-8 |
10-15 |
| Northland |
7-9 |
9-16 |
| Crown |
4-12 |
5-20 |
| Martin Luther |
1-15 |
1-24 |
Women's Basketball
| School |
UMAC |
Overall |
| *#UW-Superior |
16-0 |
22-3 |
| *Northwestern |
14-2 |
20-5 |
| *Bethany Lutheran |
10-6 |
14-11 |
| *Minnesota Morris |
9-7 |
14-11 |
| *Martin Luther |
7-9 |
12-13 |
| St. Scholastica |
7-9 |
10-15 |
| Northland |
6-10 |
11-12 |
| North Central |
2-14 |
6-18 |
| Crown |
1-15 |
4-21 |
*Clinched UMAC Tournament Berth
#Regular Season Champion
Men's Tennis
| School |
UMAC |
Overall |
| Northwestern |
1-0 |
2-3 |
| St. Scholastica |
1-0 |
1-2 |
| Bethany Lutheran |
0-0 |
0-7 |
| Martin Luther |
0-0 |
0-2 |
| Minnesota Morris |
0-0 |
0-0 |
| North Central |
0-2 |
0-2 |
Women's Tennis
| School |
UMAC |
Overall |
| Northwestern |
1-0 |
4-1 |
| St. Scholastica |
1-0 |
3-2 |
| Bethany Lutheran |
0-0 |
1-7 |
| Martin Luther |
0-0 |
0-3 |
| Minnesota Morris |
0-0 |
0-0 |
| North Central |
0-2 |
0-4 |
THIS WEEK'S SCHEDULE
Men's Basketball
UMAC TOURNAMENT
Monday, February 22
UW-Superior at Minnesota Morris at 5:30 p.m.
Wednesday, February 24
North Central at Northwestern at 5:30 p.m.
Winner of Quarterfinal at St. Schoalstica at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, February 27
Winners of Semi-final games at highest remaining seed
Women's Basketball
UMAC TOURNAMENT
Monday, February 22
Martin Luther at Minnesota Morris at 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, February 24
Bethany Lutheran at Northwestern at 7:30 p.m.
Winner of Quarterfinal at UW-Superior at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, February 27
Winners of Semi-final games at highest remaining seed
Men's Indoor Track & Field
UMAC CHAMPIONSHIPS (UW-Superior)
Friday, February 26 - Saturday, February 27
Bethany Lutheran , Crown College, St. Scholastica, Minnesota Morris, Northwestern and UW-Superior
Women's Indoor Track & Field
UMAC CHAMPIONSHIPS (UW-Superior)
Friday, February 26 - Saturday, February 27
Bethany Lutheran , Crown College, St. Scholastica, Minnesota Morris, Northwestern and UW-Superior
Men's Tennis
Saturday, February 27
Northwestern at St. Scholastica (Arrowhead) at 2:30 p.m.
Bethany Lutheran at Edgewood (Madison, Wis.) at 3 p.m.
Women's Tennis
Saturday, February 27
Macalester at Bethany Lutheran (Owatonna, Minn.) at 11 a.m.
Northwestern at St. Scholastica (Arrowhead) at 12 p.m.