Women's Basketball

December 29, 2001

MENOMONIE - Chiara Chambers banked a shot off the glass and provided the winning margin as Tri-State University downed host UW-Stout, 66-63, in the Third Annual Snowflake Jamboree, Saturday, Dec. 29 in Johnson Fieldhouse.

The Thunder (6-7) went into halftime with a 37-33 lead, but the Blue Devils (9-3) took the lead five minutes into the second half and held it until Chambers hit her shot to give Tri-State a 64-63 lead. Stout's Amy Zelinger (Sr, Racine) launched a shot from the free throw circle as time ticked down, but the shot only drew iron.

Tri-State's Ann Miller and Chambers each made a free throw in the final seconds for the final tally.

Tri-State led for nearly the first 15 minutes of the game, but Stout took the lead when Erin Churchill (Fr, Plum City) nailed a bucket to go up 27-26 with four minutes left in the first half. Stout built the lead up to five points on baskets by Churchill and Zelinger.

The Thunder took the halftime lead on a 3-pointer by tournament MVP Crystal Hardesty and a 2-pointer by all-tournament pick Julie Dobbs in the final 1-minute, 9-seconds.

Stout regained the lead in the second half when Zelinger scored four points and Laura Verdegan (So, Tony) and Tanya Halbach (Jr, Janesville) each added a bucket. Lindsey Erichsen (Fr, Spring Valley, Minn) kept the pressure on with six points over two minutes.

The teams stayed stuck at 61-58 for more than four minutes, with the drought ending on a layup by Chambers.

Erichsen led all scorers with 18 points, 14 of them coming in the second half. Halbach, who was named to the all-tournament team along with Verdegan, finished with 15 points and Zelinger 10.

Tri-State got 16 points from Hardesty, 13 from Dobbs and Ann Miller and 12 from Chambers.

In the consolation game, Colorado College got 10 points from Eleanor Kelly (six) and Mary Voelbel (four) in a 12-2 run over the first seven minutes of the second half and the Tigers went on to take the University of Dubuque, 70-64.

Voelbel scored a team high 18 points and Kelly added 17. Dubuque's Greta Pemsl scored a game-high 20 points and added 10 rebounds to record her second double-double of the tournament. Dana Kester added 12 points for Dubuque.

2001 Snowflake Jamboree All-Tournament Team
Tournament MVP - Crystal Hardesty, Tri-State
UW-Stout: Laura Verdegan, Tanya Halbach; Tri-State: Julie Dobbs; Colorado College: Mary Voelbel; University of Dubuque: Greta Pemsl

December 28, 2001

MENOMONIE - UW-Stout had as much as a 22 point lead in the second half, but had to withstand a furious comeback by the University of Dubuque during the first day of the Third Annual Snowflake Jamboree at Johnson Fieldhouse, Friday, Dec. 28, as the Blue Devils took a 91-74 win.

Spartans' post player Greta Pemsl scored 10 of her game-high 28 points during a four minute stretch to pull the Spartans to within seven points, 69-62, with 7-minutes, 53-seconds remaining in the game.

The Blue Devils (9-2) responded with five points by Tanya Halbach (Jr, Janesville) and two by Laura Verdegan (So, Tony) to go back out front, 78-67, with 4:24 left in the contest.

The spunky Spartans (4-4) managed to cut the deficit back to within seven a couple of times - the latest at the two minute mark - but three free throws by Lindsey Erichsen (Fr, Spring Valley, Minn), a 3-pointer by Halbach and four points by Sara Kahl (So, Menomonie) were enough for the 17 point final cushion.

Pemsl, who moved to No. 2 on the Dubuque all-time scoring list, led the way not only in scoring, but on the boards, pulling down 14 caroms. Halbach paced Stout with a season-high 18 points. Kahl and Verdegan each finished with 12 points and Amy Zelinger (Sr, Racine) finished with 11.

The Spartans got 16 points from Dana Kester and 14 points from Jessica Cox.

The Blue Devils outrebounded the Spartans, 60-39, but made up a difference from the first half when Dubuque held a 22-21 lead off the boards. Stout cleared 22 offensive rebounds in the second half.

The Blue Devils will meet Tri-State University in the championship game, which defeated Colorado College, 70-66, in the opening game.

Tri-State's (5-7) Crystal Hardesty hit a 3-pointer with 20 seconds left in the game to give the Thunder a 68-66 lead. Julie Dobbs landed two free throws with five seconds left for the final score.

Hardesty led all scorers with 24 points and 12 rebounds. Dobbs added 13 points.

Colorado College (8-6) got 21 points for Eleanor Kelly, 15 points from Mary Voelbel, 14 points from Jody Peterson and 10 points from Loren Udall.

December 18, 2001

MENOMONIE - Stacie Anderson (Sr, Clayton) ignited UW-Stout several times in the Blue Devils' 87-79 win over UW-Eau Claire, Dec. 12, and for her efforts was named the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) player of the week.

Anderson started the game off with seven of the Blue Devils' first nine points as Stout ran out to a 20-6 lead.

After the game became a nip-and-tuck affair late in the second half, Anderson hit a 3-pointer with two minutes remaining to break a tie and give Stout a three point, 74-71, lead. Anderson connected on 5-of-6 free throws down the stretch and also had a key steal to seal the win.

Anderson finished with a season-high 20 points, hitting 5-of-11 from the floor, 3-for-8 from 3-point range and 7-for-8 from the line, had four rebounds, one assist and two steals.

On the season, Anderson, a 5-foot-, 7-inch guard, is averaging 8.6 points per game, two assists and 1.5 steals. Anderson is hitting 35 percent (26-of-74) of her field goals in the Blue Devils' fast paced offense, 38 percent (15-of-40) of her 3-point shots and 70 percent (19-of-27) of her free throws. She is pulling down 2.4 rebounds.

Men's Basketball

December 18, 2001

MENOMONIE - The UW-Stout men's basketball team made an appearance in the Dec. 16 D3hoops.com national poll.

The Blue Devils received eight votes, six more votes than the previous week. Stout is currently 7-4 overall and 3-1 in league play, good for second place. Stout has defeated three nationally ranked Division III schools (St. John's, UW-Platteville, UW-Stevens Point) and have lost to two top 10 Division II opponents (Southwest State, Northwest Missouri State).

Stout is off until Wednesday, Jan. 2 when they travel to UW-River Falls. Stout will host UW-Oshkosh, Saturday, Jan. 5.

December 18, 2001

MENOMONIE - Steve Krueger (Sr, Three Lakes) picked up his fourth and fifth double-doubles of the week in leading Stout to a perfect 2-0 record on the week, defeating UW-Eau Claire, 80-74, Dec. 12, and Viterbo University, 71-53, Dec. 15. For his efforts, Krueger was named the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) player of the week award.

Against the Blugolds, Stout snapped a nine-game conference road losing streak as Krueger, a 6-foot, 9-inch post player, scored 25 points and pulled down 12 rebounds. Krueger was 8-for-15 from the floor and 9-for-13 from the line. He had two assists and one blocked shot.

Against Viterbo, Krueger scored 21 points and had 14 rebounds. Krueger was 8-for-10 from the floor - including 1-for-1 from 3-point range, his first Stout 3-pointer, and 4-for-4 from the line (Stout was a perfect 9-for-9 from the line, Viterbo 13-for-13). Krueger had one assist, one blocked shot and two steals.

On the week, Krueger scored 46 points (16-for-25 field goals, 13-for-17 from the line), had 26 rebounds, three assists, two blocked shots and two steals.

For the season, Krueger is averaging a team-high 16.9 points per game and 9.1 rebounds. Krueger is shooting at a 56 percent clip from the floor and 78 percent from the line. Krueger ranks sixth in the league in scoring and field goal percentage, and sits on top of the conference in rebounding. His one blocked shot per game ranks fifth.

In conference games only, Krueger is averaging 20.8 points (second in league games), 10.3 rebounds (first) and 1.25 blocked shots (fifth).

The Blue Devils are currently 7-4 overall, and in second place in the WIAC with a 3-1 record.

Men's Ice Hockey

December 31, 2001

MENOMONIE - UW-Stout returns to action Friday, Jan. 4 when they travel to Gustavus Adolphus. Stout returns home Saturday, Jan. 5 to host St. Olaf at 7:30 p.m.

Women's Gymnastics

December 31, 2001

RIVER FALLS - UW-Stout is off until Friday, Jan. 11 when they compete at Hamline University.

Football

December 27, 2001

MONTGOMERY, Ala - In a game that was dominated by defense, the only NCAA Division III player in the Blue Gray All-Star Classic made his presence known in the 64th annual game in Montgomery, Ala., Tuesday, Dec. 25.

UW-Stout cornerback Tony Beckham (Sr, Ocala, Fla) alternated at cornerback and saw considerable action against the mostly NCAA Division I field as his Blue team defeated the Gray, 28-10. The Blue defense forced five Gray fumbles and Beckham recovered one of those fumbles in the second half.

Although defensive statistics were not available, the UW-Stout coaching staff counted Beckham, who wore No. 24, as making two special team tackles and two defensive tackles, to go along with his two pass break ups.

The pre-game television show nationally broadcast on ABC also included an approximately 60 second piece that featured Beckham as the only Division III player and stated that Beckham "has been spectacular (in practice) this week."

Blue Devil head football coach Ed Meierkort said after the game, Beckham was invited to the NFL Combines in Indianapolis, Ind., in March. The combines are where NFL scouts evaluate the potential draft class.

The Blue Gray All-Star Classic features college seniors not playing in a post season bowl game. Future NFL greats Len Dawson, Bart Starr, Fran Tarkenton, Norm Snead, Napoleon McCallum, Howie Long and Jerry Rice played in the Blue Gray game.

Updated: December 31, 2001