2002-03 WIAC Women's Basketball
Athletes of the Week

Week of Feb. 17 - 23
Laura Verdegan, Junior (Tony/Flambeau), Forward of UW-Stout
Verdegan matched a career-high with 21 points in an 83-66 win over UW-Whitewater and pulled down eight rebounds in a 65-54 win over UW-River Falls. In the game against the Warhawks, Verdegan scored eight points during an 18-3 Stout run as the Blue Devils never looked back. She also blocked two shots in the first half to set a new school record career record in blocked shots. Her three-year total now stands at 84 blocked shots.

Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Kristi Channing, Senior, Forward/Center, Fall Creek
UW-La Crosse, Amy Greil, Sophomore, Center, Waterford (Waterford-Union)
UW-Oshkosh, Alison Cesnovar, Junior, Guard, Kenosha (St. Joseph)
UW-Stevens Point, Amanda Tosic, Senior, Center, Franklin

Week of Feb. 10 - 16
Amanda Nechuta, Sophomore (Mosinee), Forward of UW-Stevens Point
Nechuta had the highest scoring game in the WIAC this season, when she poured in 34 points against UW-Whitewater. She made 12-of-19 shots from the field, including two-for-three from the three-point line in the Pointers' 72-62 victory. On Saturday, Nechuta recorded her fifth double-double of the season with a 19-point, 13-rebound effort in a 69-55 win over UW-La Crosse. For the week, the league's leading scorer totaled 53 points on 19-for-39 shooting from the field, while grabbing 20 rebounds and adding nine steals and six assists.

Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Brooke Wozniak, Junior, Forward/Center, Stanley (Stanley-Boyd)
UW-La Crosse, Karen Berg, Senior, Forward, Edgar
UW-Oshkosh, Libby Sievert, Senior, Guard, Suamico (Green Bay Southwest)
UW-Platteville, Katie Freis, Junior, Guard, Oregon
UW-River Falls, Darcy Olsen, Sophomore, Guard, Rosemount, Minn. (Eastview)
UW-Stout, Jesse Herrman, Junior, Guard, Barron

Week of Feb. 3 - 9
Cassandra Schultz, Freshman (Hartford), Guard of UW-Stevens Point
Schultz scored in double figures in consecutive games for the second time this season in victories over UW-River Falls and UW-Platteville. She had 16 points, five assists and three steals in the 70-53 win at UW-River Falls. Against UW-Platteville, she was three-for-five from the three-point line, and finished with 11 points. For the week, Schultz scored 27 points on 10-for-22 shooting, including four three-pointers. She added seven steals, seven assists and six rebounds.

Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Brooke Wozniak, Junior, Forward/Center, Stanley (Stanley-Boyd)
UW-La Crosse, Amy Greil, Sophomore, Center, Waterford (Waterford-Union)
UW-Oshkosh, Kay Mikolajczak, Junior, Forward, Franklin
UW-Platteville, Angie Sisson, Junior, Guard, Watertown (Rochester, Minn./Mayo)
UW-River Falls, Darcy Olsen, Sophomore, Guard, Rosemount, Minn. (Eastview)
UW-Stout, Laura Verdegan, Junior, Forward, Tony (Flambeau)
UW-Superior, Lindsey Anderson, Sophomore, Guard, Superior (Senior)

Week of Jan. 27 - Feb. 2
Cathy Rossi, Senior (Bristol/Westosha), Forward of UW-Whitewater
Rossi helped the Warhawks to a pair of WIAC wins last week with victories at UW-Platteville and a home win against UW-River Falls. In the 60-59 overtime win against the Pioneers, she posted 20 points on eight-of-17 shooting from the field and three-for-four shooting from the free throw line, while adding six rebounds, two steals and one assist. In the victory over the Falcons, Rossi had 21 points on eight-of-19 shooting from the field and four-for-four shooting from the free throw line. She also added 11 rebounds for her fifth double-double (points-rebounds) of the season with two assists, one blocked shot and one steal.

Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Kristi Channing, Senior, Forward, Fall Creek
UW-La Crosse, Karen Berg, Senior, Center, Edgar
UW-Oshkosh, Michele Rosicky, Sophomore, Guard, Plover (SPASH)
UW-Platteville, Angie Sisson, Junior, Forward, Watertown (Rochester, Minn./Mayo)
UW-Stevens Point, Andrea Kraemer, Junior, Guard, Waukesha (North)
UW-Stout, Sara Kahl, Junior, Guard, Menomonie
UW-Superior, Lindsey Anderson, Sophomore, Guard, Superior (Senior)

Week of Jan. 20 - 26
Tara Schmitt, Junior (Brookfield/Catholic Memorial), Guard of UW-Stevens Point
Schmitt recovered from a broken tooth to score a career high in points in UW-Stevens Point's 88-62 victory over UW-Oshkosh on January 22. She left the game in the first half with a shattered front tooth, after colliding with a UW-Oshkosh player. Schmitt returned seven minutes later and went on to score 17 of her 22 points in the second half. For the game, Schmitt was eight-for-10 from the field, including a perfect four-for-four from the three-point line. She grabbed four rebounds, handed out two assists and committed no turnovers in the victory.

Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Emilee Planert, Sophomore, Guard, Eau Claire (North)
UW-La Crosse, Amy Greil, Sophomore, Center, Waterford (Waterford-Union)
UW-Oshkosh, Michele Rosicky, Sophomore, Guard, Plover (SPASH)
UW-Platteville, Katie Freis, Junior, Guard, Oregon
UW-Stout, Laura Verdegan, Junior, Forward, Tony (Flambeau)
UW-Superior, Molly Ray, Freshman, Forward, Two Harbors, Minn.

Week of Jan. 13 - 19
Janel Soppeland, Senior (Cadott), Guard of UW-Eau Claire
Soppeland played a big role in a UW-Eau Claire road victory over UW-Oshkosh on January 15 that helped the Blugolds stay perfect in WIAC play with a 7-0 record. She poured in a game-high 20 points on seven-for-10 shooting from the field, including four-for-seven from three-point range and dished out six assists, grabbed five rebounds and recorded one blocked shot and one steal. Soppeland also hit both of her free throw attempts in the only game for the Blugolds during the week.

Also nominated:
UW-La Crosse, Karen Berg, Senior, Forward, Edgar
UW-Oshkosh, Alison Cesnovar, Junior, Guard, Kenosha (St. Joseph)
UW-Platteville, Katie Fries, Junior, Guard, Oregon
UW-Stevens Point, Cassandra Heuer, Junior, Forward, Two Rivers
UW-Stout, Jessie Herrman, Junior, Guard, Barron
UW-Superior, Stephanie Janigo, Sophomore, Forward, Brule (Northwestern)

Week of Jan. 6 - 12
Libby Sievert, Senior (Suamico/Green Bay Southwest), Guard of UW-Oshkosh
Sievert helped UW-Oshkosh increase its winning streak to a league-high nine games with her performance in WIAC wins over UW-Stout, UW-Whitewater and UW-Superior. In UW-Oshkosh’s 84-70 win over defending WIAC champion UW-Stout on January 6, Sievert scored a career-high 23 points, grabbed three rebounds and dished off three assists in 35 minutes. In UW-Oshkosh’s 82-70 win over UW-Whitewater on January 8, she scored 12 points, grabbed two rebounds, dished off two assists and recorded two steals in 34 minutes. In an 87-63 win over UW-Superior on January 11, Sievert scored 14 points, dished off four assists and recorded one steal in 21 minutes. During the three games, Sievert scored 49 points on 18-of-32 shooting from the field, including eight-of-13 behind the three-point line, and five-of-five shooting from the free throw line.

Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Kristi Channing, Senior, Forward, Fall Creek
UW-La Crosse, Amy Greil, Sophomore, Center, Waterford (Waterford-Union)
UW-Stevens Point, Cassandra Schultz, Freshman, Guard, Hartford
UW-Stout, Jessie Herrman, Junior, Guard, Barron
UW-Superior, Stephanie Janigo, Sophomore, Forward, Brule (Northwestern)

Weeks of Dec. 16 - Jan. 5
Kristi Channing, Senior (Fall Creek), Forward of UW-Eau Claire
Channing had a solid week as she led the Blugolds to three wins, including topping defending NCAA Division III national champion UW-Stevens Point, 68-66, in Stevens Point on Saturday. She scored 23 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in the victory over the Pointers, including hitting all 11 free throws she attempted during the contest. During a two-game trip to Texas, Channing had 17 points and five rebounds against Trinity (Texas) and 10 points and six rebounds against Texas Lutheran. In the three wins, she totaled 50 points on 16-of-31 shooting from the field (51.6 percent) and 17-for-18 shooting from the free throw line (94.4 percent) while grabbing 21 rebounds.

Also nominated:
UW-La Crosse, Karen Berg, Senior, Forward, Edgar
UW-Oshkosh, Kay Mikolajczak, Junior, Forward, Franklin
UW-Platteville, Tiff Flesch, Junior, Forward, Potosi
UW-Stevens Point, Andrea Kraemer, Junior, Guard, Waukesha (North)
UW-Stout, Laura Verdegan, Junior, Forward, Tony (Flambeau)
UW-Superior, Jodie Johnson, Junior, Center, Superior (Senior)
UW-Whitewater, Cathy Rossi, Senior, Forward, Bristol

Week of Dec. 9 - 15
Lindsey Erichsen, Sophomore (Spring Valley, Minn./Kingsland), of UW-Stout
On the week, Erichsen scored 43 points (14.3 per game), shooting 14-for-27 from the field (51.9 percent), 15-for-25 from the line (60.0 percent), had 20 rebounds (6.7 per game), three assists, three blocked shots and four steals. She scored 17 points in a 75-65 win over Luther (Iowa), 17 in an 88-85 overtime win over UW-Stevens Point, including two free throws to tie the game in regulation, and nine points in an 84-63 win over Martin Luther (Minn.).

Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Kristi Channing, Senior, Forward, Fall Creek
UW-La Crosse, Jacquie Bartz, Sophomore, Forward, Rochester, Minn. (John Marshall)
UW-Oshkosh, Kay Mikolajczak, Junior, Forward, Franklin
UW-Platteville, Shannon Boatman, Sophomore, Forward, Darlington
UW-Stevens Point, Amanda Nechuta, Sophomore, Forward, Mosinee
UW-Superior, Stephanie Janigo, Sophomore, Forward, Brule (Northwestern)

Week of Dec. 2 - 8
Janel Soppeland, Senior (Cadott), Guard of UW-Eau Claire
Soppeland led the Blugolds to a pair of conference road victories last week. In a 72-69 win at UW-Stout on Saturday, she had 14 points, two rebounds, two assists and one steal in 36 minutes of action. In a 65-61 victory at UW-La Crosse on Wednesday, Soppeland totaled 11 points, seven rebounds, three assists and one steal. In the two games, she was six-for-13 on three point field goal attempts.

Also nominated:
UW-La Crosse, Karen Berg, Senior, Forward, Edgar
UW-Oshkosh, Melissa Schweitzer, Senior, Guard, Amherst
UW-Stevens Point, Megan Hodgson, Senior, Forward, Ridgeway (Barneveld)
UW-Stout, Laura Verdegan, Junior, Forward, Tony (Flambeau)
UW-Superior, Annie Pearson, Senior, Forward, Sacramento, Calif. (Del Campo)

Week of Nov. 25 - Dec. 1
Tiff Flesch, Junior (Potosi), Forward of UW-Platteville
Flesch, playing against Loras' 6-4 Alicia Davis, led the Pioneers to a 69-54 win on Tuesday, November 26. She had 18 points, a career-high 19 rebounds, seven assists, two blocks and a steal. Flesch held Davis, who averaged 19 points and led NCAA Division III in field goal percentage (72.4 percent) last season to 14 points and eight rebounds.

Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Janel Soppeland, Senior, Guard, Cadott
UW-La Crosse, Karen Berg, Senior, Forward, Edgar
UW-Oshkosh, Kay Mikolajczak, Junior, Forward, Franklin
UW-Stevens Point, Amanda Nechuta, Sophomore, Forward, Mosinee
UW-Stout, Lindsey Erichsen, Sophomore, Forward, Spring Valley, Minn. (Kingsland)
UW-Superior, Molly Ray, Freshman, Forward, Two Harbors, Minn.

Week of Nov. 18 - 24
Erin Effle, Sophomore (Rochester, Minn/John Marshall), Forward of UW-River Falls
Effle had two solid games for the Falcons as the team finished 1-1 at the Chicago (Ill.) Midway Classic last weekend. In the first game of the tournament, a 72-63 victory over Chicago, Effle scored 20 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead the Falcons in both categories. In the title game against Kenyon (Ohio), she scored a career-high 25 points and had six rebounds. For the two games, Effle was 17-for-30 from the field, including one-of-three from three point range, and 10-for-13 from the free throw line. She added 16 rebounds, two assists, two blocked shots and one steal to her weekend totals.

Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Becca Spaeth, Junior, Forward, Chippewa Falls (Chi-Hi)
UW-La Crosse, Karen Berg, Senior, Forward, Edgar
UW-Oshkosh, Libby Sievert, Senior, Guard, Suamico (Green Bay Southwest)
UW-Platteville, Angie Sisson, Junior, Guard, Watertown (Rochester Mayo)
UW-Stevens Point, Amanda Nechuta, Sophomore, Forward, Mosinee
UW-Stout, Laura Verdegan, Junior, Forward, Tony (Flambeau)
UW-Superior, Lindsey Anderson, Sophomore, Guard, Superior (Senior)
UW-Whitewater, Cathy Rossi, Senior, Forward, Bristol

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