Women's Basketball

January 19, 2002

MENOMONIE - UW-Stout used a stifling full court pressure defense and downed UW-Stevens Point, 82-64, to take over sole possession of first place in the women's Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) in a showdown between the top two teams, Saturday, Jan. 19 at Johnson Fieldhouse.

The Blue Devils (13-4, 8-1) forced 27 Stevens Point (16-2, 7-2) turnovers, 14 in the second half, and got eight second half steals, many of them off the inbound pass, which were then turned into points.

The first half was a game of runs, with Stout jumping out to several leads - as much as 10 points - but the Pointers seemed to have an answer and pulled back to even twice and took the lead at one point, 36-35, with 1-minute, 4-seconds left in the half.

But Stout began a run to finish the first half and carried that four minutes into the second period.

Bethany Halverson (Sr, Independence) hit a bucket with 56 seconds left in the half, Ann Schachtner (Fr, Somerset) nailed one free throw and Erin Churchill (Fr, Plum City) added a basket to close out the half, giving Stout a 40-36, halftime lead.

Stout then held the Pointers silent for the first 4:04 of the second half as Lindsey Erichsen (Fr, Spring Valley, Minn) scored four points and Laura Verdegan (So, Tony) tickled the twine for two to give Stout a 10-point, 46-36, lead with 17:26 to go in the game.

The Pointers cut the lead to as little as eight points, but that would be it as Stout built as much as a 24 point lead.

Stout controlled the boards with a 43-27 advantage. Schachtner led Stout's assault off the boards, pulling down a game and career-high 11.

Erichsen, who scored 10 points in the second half, and Stacie Anderson (Sr, Clayton), who hit two 3-pointers early in the game, led Stout with 14 points. Amy Zelinger (Sr, Racine) finished with 13 points. Verdegan knocked in eight points, but had four steals.

The Pointers' Amanda Nechuta came off the bench to lead all scorers with 22 points. Kari Groshek added 22.

The win marked Stout's 13th consecutive win over the Pointers at Johnson Fieldhouse. The seventh ranked Pointers' only two losses have come at the hands of Stout.

The Blue Devils will resume play Wednesday, Jan. 23 when they play at UW-La Crosse. Stout will host UW-Platteville, Saturday, Jan 26 at 7 p.m.

Men's Basketball

January 19, 2002

STEVENS POINT - Steve Krueger (Sr, Three Lakes) scored 37 points to lead UW-Stout to a 95-87 win over UW-Stevens Point, Saturday, Jan. 19 in Stevens Point.

Krueger hit 12-of-17 shots from the floor and went 13-of-19 from the charity stripe. The 6-foot, 9-inch post player pulled down 10 rebounds to record his seventh double-double of the season.

Stout (10-7, 5-4) led for most of the first half, but the Pointers (14-4, 5-4) went on an 11-3 run in the final two minutes of the first half to tie the game at 32 going into the locker room.

The teams played to a 44-44 draw until Stout went on a 15-0 run over more than three minutes midway through the second half. Dave Loewe (Sr, Hiles) connected on two 3-pointers to fuel the well balanced run. The Pointers never got closer than six points and that didn't come until 41 seconds left in the game.

The Blue Devils had their lunch at the line, connecting on 31-of-49 free throws. Stout shot 38 free throw attempts in the second half.

As a team, Stout shot 59 percent from the field, including 71 percent in the second half. Meanwhile, the Pointers shot 44 percent from the floor and hit 15-of-20 from the free throw line.

Barrington Smith (Jr, Oklahoma City, Okla) tossed in 12 points for Stout. Loewe scored nine points, all on 3-pointers.

Jesse Iserloth hit five 3-pointers for the Pointers and racked up 30 points. Nick Bennett added 13, Kalonji Kadima 12 and Ron Nolting 11.

The team played without head coach Eddie Andrist, who was absent due to a death in the family.

The win was the first for the Blue Devils at Stevens Point since the 1994-95 season. Coupled with the Blue Devil women's season sweep of Stevens Point, this was the first time both the men's and women's team have both swept the Pointers in the same season. This season was the first time the men have swept Stevens Point since the 1980-81 season.

Stout will host UW-La Crosse, Wednesday, Jan. 23 at 7 p.m., then will be at UW-Platteville, Saturday, Jan. 26.

January 17, 2002

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Dave Larson (Sr, LaCrescent, Minn) and Andy Bray (So, Menominee, Mich) each scored a career-high 17 points to lead UW-Stout to a 79-60 non-conference win over Northwestern College in St. Paul, Minn., Thursday, Jan. 17.

Larson was perfect on the night, hitting 6-of-6 shots from the floor and 5-of-5 free throws. Larson's previous high was 14 points, which he hit twice - once on Nov. 18, 2000, and on Dec. 17, 1998, during his freshman season.

Bray topped his previous best of 11 points, which he hit the last time out against UW-Whitewater.

The Blue Devils (9-7) opened up the game with a roar, running off to a 36-19 halftime lead as Stout held Northwestern (11-11) to 27 percent shooting in the first half.

After shooting 41 percent in the first half - including 0-for-12 from 3-point range - Stout made their case in the second half, not shooting as many times, but making 68 percent of their shots from the floor, while hitting all four long range bombs.

Steve Krueger (Sr, Three Lakes) added 15 points for Stout, while John Reeves had 17 points to lead the Eagles. Paul Brohman pitched in 11 points.

Men's Ice Hockey

January 21, 2002

MENOMONIE - UW-Stout goalie Jeff Dotson (So, Chanhassen, Minn.) played a key role in his team's 2-1 overtime win over UW-River Falls Friday, Jan. 18 in Menomonie.

Dotson, a 6-3, 180 pound sophomore, stopped 57 River Falls shots to help his team to the win. The win was the first for the Blue Devils over the Falcons in 22 years.

Dotson made 19 saves in the first period, 21 in the second, 15 in the third and two in overtime.

On the season, Dotson is posting a 5-51 overall record and has recorded 336 saves for a .918 save percentage. Dotson has a goals against average of 2.99, which if it holds, will be a new school record.

January 19, 2002

RIVER FALLS - Just one night after UW-Stout defeated UW-River Falls for the first time in 22 years, the Blue Devils returned to the way things were as the Falcons blanked Stout, 5-0, Saturday, Jan. 19 at River Falls.

The Falcons' Jamie Steinert scored early in the first period, but it was in the third period that River Falls came to life, getting four goals in the period.

River Falls (13-3-2, 4-2-2) outshot Stout (8-10-1, 1-7-0) 36-17 as Stout's Ben Plester (Sr, Chemanius, BC) turned away 31 shots.

Stout returns to action Thursday, Jan. 24 at UW-Eau Claire. Stout will be at UW-Stevens Point, Saturday, Jan. 26.

January 18, 2002

MENOMONIE - It's been a long time - more than 22 years to be exact -since the UW-Stout hockey team defeated UW-River Falls. The long wait is finally over for the Blue Devils who downed the Falcons, 2-1, in overtime, Friday, Jan. 18 at the Dunn County Ice Arena.

Cale Finseth (So, Austin, Minn) got the game winner 2-minutes, 47-seconds into the overtime period. Finseth went top shelf from the slot, getting a perfect pass from Derek Nichols (So, Victoria, Minn). River Falls was ranked fifth in the latest USCHO.com Division III poll.

The Blue Devils (8-9-1, 1-6-0 NCHA) got on the board first in this contest, but it wouldn't be until the second period was almost over. Matt Olson (Sr, Buffalo, Minn) recorded the power play goal with 18:02 off the second period clock. Aaron Decker (Sr, Mound, Minn) and Finseth were awarded the assists.

The Falcons (12-3-2, 3-2-2 NCHA) spoiled Blue Devil goalie Jeff Dotson's (So, Chanhassen, Minn) shutout bid in the third period when Rob Novak scored, on an assist by Jamie Steinert with seven minutes left in regulation.

Dotson recorded perhaps his best game in a Blue Devil uniform as the Falcons took shot-after-shot, but Dotson turned away 57 shots on goal. The Falcons' Jacque Vezina recorded 33 saves.

The last time Stout, which did not have varsity hockey from the 1982-83 season until resuming the sport for the 1996-97 season, defeated the Falcons was Jan. 9, 1979 - and that was at River Falls. Stout's last home win against River Falls came on Jan. 21, 1975. Stout did forge a 3-3 tie with the Falcons on Nov. 5, 1999.

Overtime has also been a foe for the Blue Devils this season, who played in their sixth overtime game, and picked up their first overtime win to go along with one tie.

January 15, 2002

MENOMONIE - In two games last week against the Milwaukee School of Engineering, UW-Stout forward Mitch Kellin (So, Cohasset, Minn/Grand Rapids) scored four goals and three assists in Stout's 8-4, 9-4 sweep of MSOE Jan. 11 and Jan. 12. For his efforts, Kellin was named the hockey player of the week by the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC).

Kellin scored two goals in the third period of the Jan. 11 win. Kellin repeated the effort the next day, only this time in the second period and both were power play goals. Kellin scored two assists Jan. 12 and added another Jan. 11.

Kellin is currently the Blue Devils' leading scorer with 20 points, coming on 10 goals and 10 assists. Kellin has three power play goals.

Earlier in the season, Kellin was named the player of the week by the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association (NCHA). Stout participates in both the five team WIAC and the eight team NCHA.

Women's Gymnastics

January 18, 2002

SEATTLE, Wash - Tasha Pasch (Jr, Northfield, Minn) set a new school record in the balance beam and Scarlett Ramey (Sr, Seattle, Wash) set four personal best marks in front of her hometown audience as UW-Stout competed in a triangular meet at Seattle Pacific University in Seattle, Wash., Friday, Jan. 18.

Pasch broke her own school mark in the balance beam as she tied for seventh in the event against Seattle Pacific, an NCAA Division II team, and the University of California-Davis, an NCAA Division I team. Pasch topped her previous mark of 9.50 with a score of 9.525.

Ramey, performing in her hometown of Seattle for the first time in her collegiate career, set personal bests in the vault (8.40), uneven bars (7.35), floor exercise (8.20) and the all-around (31.05).

Freshmen Lacey Schroedl (Minneapolis, Minn), Mandi Neuman (St. Paul, Minn) and Jill Birschbach (Chilton) each set personal bests. Schroedl set new marks in the vault (9.175), uneven bars (8.05), balance beam (9.25) and all-around (35.225). Neuman established best marks in the vault (8.55), bars (8.45), beam (8.975) and all-around (34.325). Birschbach set new standards in the vault (8.70), beam (8.20) and floor (8.05).

Seattle Pacific won the event, with UC-Davis second. The Blue Devils scored their highest total of the season for the fifth straight outing. Stout will be idle until Wednesday, Jan. 30 when they compete at Winona State.

Uneven Bars: 1. Ericka Ruelas (UCD) 9.850; 2, Lynn Schwaebe (UCD) 9.800; 3. Corrie McDaniel (SPU) 9.725; 11. Tasha Pasch 8.90; 12. Mandi Neuman 8.45; 14. Erika Opoien 8.30; 15. Lacey Schroedl 8.05; 16. Scarlett Ramey 7.35.

Balance Beam: 1. Anastasia Ahr (SPU) Corrie McDaniel (SPU) Kristen Strid (SPU) and Ericka Ruelas (UCD) 9.700; 7. Tasha Pasch 9.525; 13. Erika Opoien 9.00; 15. Mandi Neuman 8.975; 17. Jill Birschbach 8.20; 18. Scarlett Ramey 7.10.

Floor Exercise: Tiffany Chan (UCD) 9.750; 2. Alison Siegel-McAfee (SPU) 9.700; 3. Vanessa Baume (UCD) and Flora Bare (UCD) 9.650; 12. Tasha Pasch 8.775; 13. Lacey Schroedl 8.75; 14. Erika Opoien 8.675; 16. Mandi Neuman 8.35; 17. Scarlett Ramey 8.20; 18. Jill Birschbach 8.05;

All-Around: 1. Alison Siegel-McAfee (SPU) 38.600; 2. Flora Bare (UCD) 38.525; 3. Corrie McDaniel (SPU) 37.775; 6. Tasha Pasch 35.85; 7. Lacey Schroedel 35.225; 8. Erika Opoien 34.725; 9. Mandi Neuman 34.325; 10. Scarlett Ramey 31.05.

Women's Track & Field

January 18, 2002

MENOMONIE - Heidi Bedsted (Jr, Plainview, Minn) won the 5000-meter runs as UW-Stout opened the 2002 track and field season, Friday, Jan. 18 at Johnson Fieldhouse.

Bedsted finished the distance event in a time of 19-minutes, 49.54-seconds, outdistancing her second place opponent, Sam Runde of Winona State by more than seven seconds.

Jenney Luer (Sr, Colfax) was second in the shot put (39-feet, 11.50-inches) and Amy Arndt (Sr, Lakefield, Minn) was third in the 1500 (5:24.40), a race in which only two seconds separated the top three finishers.

Kate Werner (Fr, Elk Mound) was fourth in the 55-meter dash (7.85), as was Michelle Beckman (Sr, Monroe) in the 800-meter run (2:46.73), Meredith Nordberg (Sr, Bloomington, Minn) in the 3000 (12:06.21), and Nacole Ewerdt (So, Fond du Lac) in the 5000 (21:03.04).

No team scores were kept. The Blue Devils will be at the St. Mary's Invitational, Saturday, Jan. 26.

High jump: 1. Kaylyn Habberstad (Winona) 5-1; Pole vault: 1. Kendra Taylor 8-6; Long jump: 1. Jamie Miller (Winona) 16-3; 8. Amy Biegel 14-0.25; Triple jump: 1. Tracy Knippel (Winona) 35-11.25; Shot put: 1. Jenny Klatt (Winona) 40-6.75; 2. Jenney Luer 39-11.50; 4. Marci Schachtner 34-5.

January 18, 2002

MENOMONIE - Jeff Rotering (Sr, Waumandee) hit an automatic qualifier in the first meet of the season as UW-Stout opened the 2002 track and field season, Friday, Jan. 18 at Johnson Fieldhouse.

Rotering, pushed by former teammate Jamie Buchholtz who was competing unattached after using up his eligibility, cleared 15-feet, 10-inches in the pole vault to qualify automatically to the NCAA Division III indoor championships in March.

Dave Hanson (Jr, Sun Prairie) took top honors in the 55-meter hurdles (7.88). Hanson was also a member of the 4X400-meter relay team that placed second (3:33.84), teaming with Mike Twining (Sr, Clear Lake), Matt Schlough (Fr, Boyceville) and John Hanson (Sr, Grantsburg).

Sam Werner (Jr, Elk Mound) was second in the 200-meter dash (23.12) and freshman Brady Hurtgen (Ridgeland) was third (23.59). Werner and Hurtgen teamed with Tim Faber (Sr, Fond du Lac) and Twining to take the 4X200-relay (1:34.90). Hurtgen placed second in the 55 (6.70) and Werner was third (6.74). Schlough was third in the 400-meter dash (51.47).

No team scores were kept. Stout will compete next Saturday, Jan. 26 at the St. Mary's Invitational.

High jump: 1. Kurt Heilman (Eau Claire) 6-4; 3. Jay Sitek 6-0; Pole vault: 1. Jamie Buchholtz (unattached) 15-10; 2. Jeff Rotering 15-10 auto; 4. Lewis Cassellius 13-10.50; Long jump: 1. Herc Hyland (La Crosse) 21-11; Triple jump: 1. Mike Brace (La Crosse) 44-5.25; 4. Chad Sosalla 43-2.25; Shot put: 1. Thomas Norman 36-2; 35-lb wt: 1. Dave Luety (unattached) 36-3.50.

Updated: January 21, 2002