2002-03 WIAC Women's Basketball Headlines

League Tops Women's Basketball Attendance Race, Men Finish Third

RELEASED: Thursday, July 3, 2003

Madison, Wis.--The Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) led all NCAA Division III conferences in women's basketball attendance during the 2002-03 season, while placing third in the national standings in men's basketball attendance.

The nine league schools had 58,289 spectators attend the 108 women's games last season for an average of 540 per contest to help the conference capture its first attendance title. The Ohio Athletic Conference, which had 47,165 spectators in 128 affairs, finished second in the rankings.

UW-Eau Claire led all NCAA Division III women's teams, drawing 24,580 spectators in their 19 home contests. UW-Stout ranked fourth nationally with 9,687 viewers in 11 home dates.

NCAA women's attendance was compiled for the first time in 1982 and overall attendance in the three divisions has increased every year since 1984.

The WIAC ranked third nationally in men's basketball attendance during the 2002-03 campaign, drawing 89,660 spectators in 110 contests for an average of 815 per game. The Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Conference won the men's gate race with an average of 1,050 per contest.

UW-Stevens Point placed eighth in the men's race with an audience of 19,694 for 15 home dates, while UW-Stout finished 14th with 9,956 in nine games, UW-Eau Claire placed 19th with 12,093 spectators in 13 contests and UW-Platteville finished 25th in the national race with 8,869 viewers in 10 skirmishes.

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UW-Eau Claire's Englund Named National Coach of the Year

RELEASED: Monday, March 31, 2003

Atlanta, Ga.--University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire women's basketball head coach Tonja Englund has been named the 2003 Russell Athletic/Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) NCAA Division III National Coach of the Year. She becomes the 21st coach in history to receive this accolade, which has been selected by the WBCA since 1983.

Englund guided the Blugolds to a 32-2 record and a third-place finish at the NCAA Division III Tournament. The Blugolds captured the 2003 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference regular season championship with a 16-0 record and also won the league tournament for the third time in the last four seasons. Englund also received the WIAC Coach of the Year honor earlier this year and has compiled a 74-15 record (.831 winning percentage) in her three seasons at UW-Eau Claire.

Englund is one of six WBCA National Coaches of the Year selected by the Association, which also names winners for each of the other four WBCA collegiate divisions (NCAA Divisions I, II, NAIA and JC/CC) plus the High School division. Each collegiate winner is selected through a two-level process. The first level is by region, in which coaches from each WBCA geographical region vote for their respective top coach. Englund, having received the most votes in WBCA Region 7, advanced as a finalist to the National level of the selection process along with the other six Region Coaches of the Year in NCAA Division III.

The WBCA NCAA Division III Coach of the Year Committee, chaired by Geraldine Seidle, Carnagie Mellon University, convened via conference call and selected Englund as its 2003 winner. The committee includes one representative from each of the eight NCAA Division III Regions: Karen Tessmer, Worchester State College (Region 1); Cheryl Cole, Plasttsburg State University (Region 2); William Finney, Marymount University (Region 3); Amy Buxbaum, Juniata College (Region 4); Joy Scruggs, Emory & Henry College (Region 5); Brian Morehouse, Hope College (Region 6); April Arvan, Lakeland College (Region 7); and Jon Herbrechtsmeye, Bethel College (Region 8).

Englund and the national winners from the other five divisions will be presented to the WBCA membership at the Russell Athletic/WBCA Coach of the Year Banquet on Monday, April 7, at 1 p.m., at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis Ballroom. The banquet is part of the 2003 WBCA National Convention, held in conjunction with the NCAA Division I Women's Final Four in Atlanta.

Founded in 1981, the WBCA promotes women's basketball by unifying coaches at all levels to develop a reputable identity for the sport and to foster and promote the development of the game in all of its aspects as an amateur sport for women and girls.

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UW-Eau Claire's Channing and UW-Stevens Point's Nechuta Earn Women's Basketball All-America Honors

RELEASED: Monday, March 31, 2003

Madison, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire's Kristi Channing was named to the 2003 Kodak/Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) NCAA Division III All-America First Team and the D3hoops.com All-America Second Team, while UW-Stevens Point's Amanda Nechuta was named to the D3hoops.com fourth team.

Channing, a senior forward from Fall Creek, Wis., helped the Blugolds to a 32-2 record and a third-place finish at the NCAA Division III Tournament. The Blugolds captured the 2003 WIAC regular season title with a 16-0 record and also won the league tournament for the third time in the last four seasons. Channing was named the 2003 WIAC Player of the Year after ranking second in the conference in scoring (15.7), third in field goal percentage (.522) and ninth in free throw percentage (.780).

Channing was a finalist for the Jostens Trophy, an award given to the Division III women's basketball player of the year, for the second straight season. She finished her career eighth on school's all-time scoring list with 1,195 points and 18th with 468 rebounds.

Joining Channing on the WBCA first team were Kendra Anderson of Hardin-Simmons (Texas), Amy Campion of Salisbury (Md.), Allison Coleman of Eastern Connecticut State, Amanda Kerkstra of Hope (Mich.), Amy Meggers of Buena Vista (Iowa), Erika Smith of Rochester (N.Y.), Sarah Walsh of Colby (Me.), Megan Woodruff of Wilmington (Ohio) and Christina Vouriotis of Messiah (Pa.).

Nechuta, a sophomore forward from Mosinee, Wis., was one of three underclassmen among the 20 players on the first four teams. Other sophomores honored were third team selections Alyssa Antolick of DeSales (Pa.) and Tiffany Speer of Whitworth (Wash.).

Nechuta led the league in scoring (16.3) and ranked second in steals (2.59), sixth in rebounding (7.2) and eighth in field goal percentage (.470). She became the third Pointer to win a WIAC scoring title, joining Sonja Sorenson and Jessica Ott.

Nechuta established the league's highest scoring effort of the season with a 34-point outburst on February 12 at UW-Whitewater and also recorded six double-doubles (points-rebounds).

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Six Named To D3hoops.com All-Central Region Women's Basketball Team

RELEASED: Tuesday, March 25, 2003

Madison, Wis.--Six Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) women's basketball players have been named to the 2003 D3hoops.com All-Central Region Team. UW-Eau Claire's Kristi Channing, UW-Oshkosh's Kay Mikolajczak and UW-Stevens Point's Amanda Nechuta were named to the first team. UW-Eau Claire's Janel Soppeland captured second team honors, while UW-Eau Claire's Becca Spaeth and UW-Stout's Laura Verdegan earned third team accolades. Five individuals were recognized on each of the three teams.

The six selections by the league on the all-region team were the most by any conference in the country. Additionally, the six picks were the most by the association in the two-year history of the squad.

Channing, a senior forward from Fall Creek, Wis., earned all-region first team honors for the second straight year. Earlier this year, she was named the WIAC Player of the Year and a finalist for the Jostens Trophy, an award given to the Division III women's basketball player of the year. Channing ranked second in the conference in scoring (15.7), third in field goal percentage (.522) and ninth in free throw percentage (.780). She scored in double figures in 28 of 34 contests this year and finished her career with 1,195 points.

Mikolajczak, a junior center from Franklin, Wis., led the league in steals (2.74) and placed third in blocked shots (1.41), fifth in rebounding (7.6), field goal percentage (.516) and free throw percentage (.828) and sixth in scoring (13.4). She recorded the highest rebounding total in the league this year with a 20-rebound effort at UW-Stout on February 1.

Soppeland, a senior guard from Cadott, Wis., ranked second in the WIAC in three-point field goals made (1.76), sixth in free throw percentage (.826) and seventh in assists (2.85) and three-point field goal percentage (.341).

Nechuta, a sophomore forward from Mosinee, Wis., led the conference in scoring (16.3) and ranked second in steals (2.59), sixth in rebounding (7.2) and eighth in field goal percentage (.470). She established the league's highest scoring effort of the season with a 34-point outburst on February 12 at UW-Whitewater and also recorded six double-doubles.

Spaeth, a junior center from Chippewa Falls, Wis. (Chi-Hi H.S.), ranked sixth in the league in field goal percentage (.514) and blocked shots (1.09) and ninth in rebounding (6.5).

Verdegan, a junior forward from Tony, Wis. (Flambeau H.S.), led the conference in field goal percentage (.567), while placing third in blocked shots (1.41), fourth in steals (2.41) and 10th in rebounding (6.3). She set a school single season record for blocked shots with 38 and set a new school mark for career blocked shots, holding at 90 blocked shots in her three-year career.

The D3hoops.com all-region teams were voted on by sports information directors throughout the country.

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UW-Eau Claire Finishes Third At Women's Basketball Championship

Terre Haute, Ind.--The UW-Eau Claire women's basketball team came back from their semifinal loss to Eastern Connecticut State to defeat the University of Rochester 82-77 in double overtime in the third place game held here tonight at Hulbert Arena.

With 32 seconds remaining in regulation the Yellowjackets held their biggest lead of the second half at 60-57 following a Megan Fish layup. On the ensuing possession Kristi Channing found Janel Soppeland and she hit a three-pointer with 15 seconds remaining to send the game into overtime.

In the first overtime both teams struggled to score but Rochester's Kelly Wescott made a layup with 2:09 remaining to give the Yellowjackets a two point lead. Emilee Planert tied the game up at 64 with a pair of free throws with 1:35 left. Channing got off a three-point attempt off at the buzzer but missed to send the game into a second overtime.

After Eau Claire and Rochester exchanged threes to start the second overtime, Katie Murphy gave the Blugolds a three point lead on her second three of the game. The Yellowjackets answered right back again with another three to give the game its 11th tie. Murphy wasn't to be denied though as she came back with her second three in a row to give Eau Claire a lead they wouldn't relinquish.

Rochester held the lead for the majority of the first half but the Blugolds ended the half on a 15-8 run to take a 32-28 lead into halftime.

Channing led Eau Claire in scoring with 25 points on 9 of 18 shooting while Murphy poured in 15 to go along with five assists. Becca Spaeth added 11 points and a team-high 15 boards.

Wescott and Erika Smith led Rochester in scoring with 26 points each. Wescott added a game-high 16 rebounds.

In the championship game Trinity University of Texas defeated Eastern Connecticut State University 60-58 to win the NCAA Division III National Championship.

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Eau Claire, Wis.--Kristi Channing (Sr-Fall Creek) and Janel Soppeland (Sr-Cadott) combined for 44 points as the W-Eau Claire women's basketball team triumphed over undefeated Hope University 74-56 in the NCAA Division III Sectional Final here tonight at W.L. Zorn Arena.

Eau Claire improves its season record to 31-1 while handing Hope its only loss of the season. The Flying Dutch end the season also with a mark of 31-1.

The Blugolds used hot shooting to topple Hope, hitting 52.1 percent from the floor while allowing the Flying Dutch to sink just 36.5 percent. Eau Claire also took advantage of free-throw opportunities as they converted on 19-of-26 from the charity stripe.

The entire first half was played in a back-and-forth duel with no team leading by more than five points. The scoreboard saw each team knotted up on seven separate occasions in the half. Eau Claire owned a five point advantage twice in the half but was unable to pull away. With just six seconds left, Kat Neinhuis made a two-point shot for the Flying Dutch to send the game into halftime knotted up at 32.

The opening five minutes of the second half picked up exactly where the first half left off. With 15:05 left to play, the scoreboard again showed a tie, this time at 38. Eau Claire, fresh off a 43-41 hard-fought victory against Pacific Lutheran University in the Sectional Semifinal, was determined not to engage in another last second duel. The Blugolds went on a 24-7 run, highlighted by eight points from Kristi Channing. Eau Claire pulled Channing and Soppeland with under a minute to go as the capacity crowd at Zorn Arena gave the seniors a standing ovation.

Channing finished with a game-best 22 points and three assists while Soppeland added 20 points and two assists. Each of the seniors grabbed five rebounds in the Blugold win. At the conclusion of the game Soppeland landed a spot on the All-Tournament Team while Channing was named Tournament Most Valuable Player. Channing totaled 33 points during the two-game tourney, including draining the winning shot against Pacific Lutheran University with just 3.2 seconds remaining in the contest. The 5-10 forward also grabbed 11 rebounds in the two games. Soppeland scored 31 points and grabbed 12 rebounds on the tourney earning her a seat on All-Tournament Team.

Rachel Becker (Fr-Gilmanton) provided a huge spark off the bench for Eau Claire as she totaled 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting. Becca Spaeth (Jr-Chippewa Falls/Chi-Hi) also scored in double digits as she totaled 10 points to go along with five rebounds.

Amanda Kerkstra finished with a team-high 15 points for Hope while also pulling down 10 rebounds. Amy Baltmanis added 14 points in the Flying Dutch effort. Both players were named to the All-Tournament Team.

Rounding out the five player All-Tournament Team was Courtney Johnson of Pacific Lutheran University. In other NCAA Division III Sectional Final action, Eastern Connecticut topped Bowdoin 64-47 to advance to the Final Four held in Terre Haute, Indiana. Eastern Connecticut will meet up with Eau Claire on March 21 at either 6 or 8 p.m. In the other Eastern match up, Rochester topped Messiah 71-60 to advance to the Final Four where it will meet Trinity University of Texas, who upended Washington University 76-57.

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UW-Eau Claire Selected To Host NCAA Women's Basketball Sectional

RELEASED: Monday, March 10, 2003

Eau Claire, Wis.--The UW-Eau Claire women's basketball team has been selected to host one of four NCAA sectionals this Friday and Saturday at W.L. Zorn Arena.

On Friday Wilmington (OH) College will face Hope (MI) College at 5:00 P.M followed by UW-Eau Claire versus Pacific Lutheran (WA) at 7:15 P.M. The winner of both games will face each other Saturday night at 7:00 P.M. with the winner advancing to the NCAA Division III Final Four hosted by Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute, Indiana March 21-22.

Eau Claire previously hosted a sectional final in 1992 in addition to being the home of the 1994 Final Four. Since that time Eau Claire has hosted several first and second round NCAA tournament games.

The Lutes of Pacific Lutheran are located in Tacoma, Washington and will bring a 21-7 record to Zorn Arena. Pacific Lutheran automatically qualified for the NCAA tournament after defeating Whitworth (WA) 68-58 in the Northwest Conference Tournament Championship. The Lutes received a first round bye before defeating Gustavus Adolphus (MN) 68-54 on March 8.

The Flying Dutch of Hope College are located in Holland, Michigan and bring a perfect 30-0 mark to Eau Claire. Hope automatically qualified for the NCAA tournament by defeating Alma 63-49 in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) Tournament Championship. The Dutch advanced to this weekend by defeating Mount St. Joseph of Ohio 75-63 and Washington and Jefferson of Pennsylvania 71-60.

The Lady Quakers of Wilmington College are located in Wilmington, Ohio and bring a 26-2 mark to this weekend's sectional. Wilmington automatically qualified for the NCAA tournament by defeating Baldwin-Wallace 79-72 in the Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament Championship. The Lady Quakers would defeat Baldwin-Wallace one week later 74-63 to advance to the round of 16.

Tickets go on sale at 12:00 PM (noon) Monday at the UW-Eau Claire Service Center. There will be a tournament ticket as well as single day tickets available. Tickets for Friday night will include both games. Single day tickets are all general admission and will be $6 for adults, $5 for seniors and $4 for youths and students. Tournament passes are $10 for adults and $8 for all others.

There will be a limited number (150) of tournament reserved section tickets for $12. In addition there will be no single day reserved tickets available.

Only half of Zorn Arena will be available for advanced sale until the three visiting teams get a chance at their allocation of 350 tickets each. If they do not utilize their allotment then the tickets will be released to the general public 24 hours prior to game time.

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UW-Eau Claire's Channing Leads All-WIAC Women's Basketball Selections

RELEASED: Thursday, March 6, 2003

Madison, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire senior forward Kristi Channing was voted the Player of the Year, topping the 10 individuals selected to the 2002-03 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Women's Basketball Team.

Channing has led UW-Eau Claire to a 27-1 overall record and a 16-0 conference mark en route to their eighth conference title since the 1990 season. The Blugolds are just the third team in league history to finish the 16-game conference slate with an umblemished record. UW-Eau Claire (1999-2000) and UW-Oshkosh (1997-98) were the other squads to go undefeated in league action. This year, the Blugolds have also captured the WIAC Tournament title, an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament and the No. 1 national ranking in the latest D3hoops.com poll.

Channing, a two-time All-WIAC First Team selection, ranks second in the league in scoring (15.2), fourth in field goal percentage (.531) and ninth in free throw percentage (.792). She surpassed the 1,000-career point plateau against UW-Oshkosh on February 12 and currently has 1,085 career points. For the second consecutive year, she is a finalist for the Jostens Trophy, an award given to the Division III women's basketball player of the year.

Channing becomes the fifth Blugold to win the conference player of the year honor, joining Vanessa Schley (2001), Jayme Anderson (2000), Erika Schmidt (1997) and Arlene Meinholz (1995).

Channing was joined on the first team by teammates Janel Soppeland and Becca Spaeth. Soppeland ranks second in the league in three-point field goals made (1.78), sixth in assists (2.96) and seventh in free throw percentage (.800) and three-point field goal percentage (.340).

Spaeth ranks second in the conference in field goal percentage (.543), seventh in blocked shots (.96) and ninth in rebounding (6.4).

UW-Oshkosh's Kay Mikolajczak and Libby Sievert garnered first team accolades after leading the Titans to their 10th 20-win season in the last 11 years. Mikolajczak leads the league in steals (2.74), while ranking third in blocked shots (1.41), fifth in rebounding (7.6) and free throw percentage (.828) and sixth in scoring (13.4) and field goal percentage (.516). She recorded the highest rebounding total in the league this year with a 20-rebound effort at UW-Stout on February 1. Mikolajczak was named to the all-defensive squad during the 2001-02 campaign.

Sievert leads the association in three-point field goals made (2.25), while ranking fourth in three-point field goal percentage (.404), fifth in scoring (13.6), ninth in field goal percentage (.452) and 10th in assists (2.64).

UW-Stevens Point's Cassandra Heuer and Amanda Nechuta captured first team honors after helping the squad to its third straight season with 20 or more victories. Heuer ranks fourth in the league in free throw percentage (.829) and three-point field goals made (1.54), fifth in steals (2.38) and three-point field goal percentage (.377) and ninth in scoring (12.6) and blocked shots (.85).

Nechuta leads the conference in scoring (16.3), while ranking second in steals (2.59), sixth in rebounding (7.2) and eighth in field goal percentage (.470). She established the league's highest scoring effort of the season with a 34-point outburst on February 12 at UW-Whitewater and also recorded six double-doubles (points-rebounds). Nechuta was also selected to the all-defensive squad.

UW-La Crosse's Karen Berg ranks second in the league in free throw percentage (.850), third in rebounding (8.7), fifth in blocked shots (1.23) and seventh in scoring (13.3). She also has a conference-high eight double-doubles (points-rebounds) to her credit this year and led the club in scoring in 12 games.

UW-Platteville's Tiff Flesch led the squad in scoring (13.3), rebounding (8.6) and blocks (26) before suffering a season-ending knee injury in the 19th game of the season. She earned honorable mention honors last year.

UW-Stout's Laura Verdegan leads the conference in field goal percentage (.567), while ranking third in blocked shots (1.41), fourth in steals (2.41) and 10th in rebounding (6.3). She was also named to the league's all-defensive team for the second straight year. Verdegan claimed honorable mention status to the all-league team last season.

Named to the honorable mention team were: UW-La Crosse's Amy Greil, UW-Oshkosh's Melissa Schweitzer, UW-Platteville's Katie Freis and Angie Sisson, UW-River Falls' Erin Effle and Darcy Olsen, UW-Stevens Point's Andrea Kraemer, UW-Stout's Lindsey Erichsen, UW-Superior's Lindsey Anderson and UW-Whitewater's Cathy Rossi.

In addition to Nechuta and Verdegan, individuals named to this year's all-defensive team included: UW-Eau Claire's Brooke Wozniak, UW-Oshkosh's Brenda Utech and UW-Stevens Point's Andrea Kraemer.

UW-Eau Claire head coach Tonja Englund was voted the 2002-03 Coach of the Year by the league coaches. She guided the Blugolds to the 2003 league title and has compiled an overall record of 69-14 in her three seasons with UW-Eau Claire.

2002-03 All-WIAC Women's Basketball Team

First Team
Name, School, Year, Position, Height, Hometown (High School)
Karen Berg, La Crosse, Senior, Center, 5-11, Edgar
Kristi Channing, Eau Claire, Senior, Forward, 5-10, Fall Creek
Tiff Flesch, Platteville, Junior, Forward, 6-0, Potosi
Cassandra Heuer, Stevens Point, Junior, Forward, 5-11, Two Rivers (Washington)
Kay Mikolajczak, Oshkosh, Junior, Forward, 6-0, Franklin
Amanda Nechuta, Stevens Point, Sophomore, Forward, 5-10, Mosinee
Libby Sievert, Oshkosh, Senior, Guard, 5-7, Suamico (Green Bay Southwest)
Janel Soppeland, Eau Claire, Senior, Guard, 5-9, Cadott
Becca Spaeth, Eau Claire, Junior, Center, 6-1, Chippewa Falls (Chi-Hi)
Laura Verdegan, Stout, Junior, Forward, 5-10, Tony (Flambeau)

Honorable Mention
Lindsey Anderson, Superior, Sophomore, Guard, 5-7, Superior (Senior)
Erin Effle, River Falls, Sophomore, Center, 5-10, Rochester, Minn. (John Marshall)
Lindsey Erichsen, Stout, Sophomore, Forward, 6-0, Spring Valley, Minn. (Kingsland)
Katie Freis, Platteville, Junior, Guard, 5-8, Oregon
Amy Greil, La Crosse, Sophomore, Center, 6-3, Waterford (Waterford-Union)
Andrea Kraemer, Stevens Point, Junior, Guard, 5-10, Waukesha (North)
Darcy Olsen, River Falls, Sophomore, Guard, 5-3, Rosemount, Minn. (Eastview)
Cathy Rossi, Whitewater, Senior, Forward, 5-10, Bristol (Westosha)
Melissa Schweitzer, Oshkosh, Senior, Guard, 6-0, Amherst
Angie Sisson, Platteville, Junior, Guard, 5-7, Watertown (Rochester, Minn./Mayo)

All-Defensive Team
Andrea Kraemer, Stevens Point, Junior, Guard, 5-10, Waukesha (North)
Amanda Nechuta, Stevens Point, Sophomore, Forward, 5-10, Mosinee
Brenda Utech, Oshkosh, Senior, Guard, 5-9, Howard (Bay Port)
Laura Verdegan, Stout, Junior, Forward, 5-10, Tony (Flambeau)
Brooke Wozniak, Eau Claire, Junior, Center, 6-0, Stanley (Stanley-Boyd)

Player of the Year: Kristi Channing of Eau Claire

Judy Kruckman Scholar-Athlete: Kristi Channing of Eau Claire

Coach of the Year: Tonja Englund of Eau Claire

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UW-Eau Claire's Channing Named Women's Basketball Scholar-Athlete

RELEASED: Thursday, March 6, 2003

Madison, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire's Kristi Channing has been named the 2003 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Judy Kruckman Women's Basketball Scholar-Athlete, it was announced recently by WIAC Commissioner Gary Karner.

Channing, a senior forward from Fall Creek, Wis., is majoring in psychology and carries a 3.43 grade point average. She was named to the 2003 Verizon/CoSIDA academic all-district five women's basketball third team and has received recognition on the UW-Eau Claire Dean's List seven semesters.

Channing has led the Blugolds to a 28-1 overall record and the WIAC regular season and tournament titles this season. For the second straight year, she is a finalist for the Jostens Trophy, an award given to the Division III women's basketball player of the year. Channing was recently voted the league's player of the year after earning All-WIAC First Team and D3hoops.com All-Central Region First Team accolades last season.

Channing is a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and leads a FCA weekly character study on the UW-Eau Claire campus. She has volunteered her time to read to elementary school children, serve as a Sunday school teacher and assist with church missions to give out food and clothing.

Channing is the fourth women's basketball player from UW-Eau Claire to capture the league's scholar-athlete award, joining Megan Murphy (2001), Erika Schmidt (1997) and Arlene Meinholz (1995).

Also nominated for the scholar-athlete award were: UW-Eau Claire's Janel Soppeland, UW-Oshkosh's Melissa Schweitzer, UW-River Falls' Lisa Bartsch and Nicole Harberts, UW-Stout's Tiffani Calmes and UW-Whitewater's Cathy Rossi.

The WIAC Scholar-Athlete Award is sponsored by Culver's. In order to be nominated for the scholar-athlete award, a student-athlete must have a minimum 3.25 grade point average, be in their last year of competition, or on schedule to graduate this academic year, and have competed for a minimum of two years.

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UW-Eau Claire To Host First Round NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament Game

RELEASED: Sunday, March 2, 2003

Madison, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire will host Wisconsin Lutheran at W.L. Zorn Arena at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 5 in a NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Tournament First Round game.

UW-Eau Claire (27-1) advanced to the national tournament by winning the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) tournament title with a 64-50 victory over UW-Oshkosh on March 1. The Blugolds also marched through the regular season with a 16-0 mark against league foes, claiming their eighth conference crown since the 1990 season. UW-Eau Claire was ranked No. 1 nationally in the latest D3hoops.com poll.

Wisconsin Lutheran (18-8) won the Lake Michigan Conference tournament title to receive an automatic ticket to the national tournament.

The Warriors are making their second NCAA tournament appearance in school history after participating in 2000.

The winner of the UW-Eau Claire/Wisconsin Lutheran matchup will face the winner of La Verne (Calif.)/Chapman (Calif.) in a second round contest on Saturday, March 8. La Verne enters the tournament with a 17-8 record, while Chapman owns a 16-9 mark.

UW-Eau Claire is making the 13th postseason appearance in school history. The Blugolds participated in the national tournament in 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996, 1995, 1994, 1993, 1992, 1990 and 1989.

UW-Oshkosh and UW-Stevens Point did not receive an at-large bid into the national tournament, despite 22-6 and 22-5 records, respectively.

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UW-Eau Claire's Channing Named Jostens Trophy Finalist

RELEASED: Monday, February 24, 2003

Salem, Va.--For the second consecutive season, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire senior forward Kristi Channing has been named one of 10 finalists for the 2003 Jostens Trophy Division III Women's Basketball Player of the Year Award.

Channing, a native of Fall Creek, Wis., ranks second in the WIAC with 15.5 points per game, while placing fourth with a .539 field goal percentage, seventh with a .806 free throw percentage and 12th with 6.1 rebounds per contest. She was an All-WIAC First Team selection last season, as well as a D3hoops.com All-Region First Team pick.

Channing was recently selected to the Verizon/CoSIDA Academic All-District Five Third Team, carrying a 3.43 grade point average with a major in psychology.

Channing was a finalist for the award last season along with UW-Stevens Point's Kari Groshek.

The Jostens Trophy seeks to honor the true Division III student-athlete: excellence in the classroom, on the playing court and in the community. The finalists are voted on by a national selection committee that consists of college coaches, former athletes, college administrators and selected members of the media. The members of the national selection committee cast their votes based on three criteria: basketball ability, academic ability and community service.

Additional finalists for the award include: Kendra Anderson of Hardin-Simmons (Texas), Michelle Barlau of St. Benedict (Minn.), Whitney Bull of Wilkes (Pa.), Amy Campion of Salisbury (Md.), Julie Christensen of Wisconsin Lutheran, Tanasha Ellis of East Texas Baptist, Heather Francoeur of Oglethorpe (Ga.), Cheryl Kulesa of Rutgers-Camden (NJ) and Becki Tower of Savannah Art and Design (Ga.).

The Jostens Trophy winner will be announced on March 20.

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Six Earn Women's Basketball Academic All-District Accolades

RELEASED: Monday, February 24, 2003

Madison, Wis.--Six Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) women's basketball players have been named to the 2003 Verizon/CoSIDA Academic All-District Five Team. UW-Oshkosh's Kay Mikolajczak was named to the first team, while UW-Eau Claire's Becca Spaeth and UW-Stout's Laura Verdegan were second team picks. UW-Eau Claire's Kristi Channing, UW-Stevens Point's Cassandra Heuer and UW-Stout's Tiffany Calmes earned third team recognition.

The team is comprised of all NCAA Division II, Division III and NAIA players from Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana and Minnesota and voted on by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). UW-Eau Claire and UW-Stout were the only schools with more than one selection to the 17-member squad.

Mikolajczak, a junior forward from Franklin, Wis., is majoring in pre-physical therapy with a minor in biology and maintains a 3.895 grade point average. She leads the squad with 7.8 rebounds per contest, a .512 field goal percentage and 36 blocked shots, while ranking second on the team with 13.0 points per game. Mikolajczak is now eligible for the All-America squad, which will be announced on March 7.

Spaeth, a junior forward/center from Chippewa Falls, Wis. (Chi-Hi H.S.), is majoring in biology education with a 3.90 grade point average. She leads the Blugolds with a .549 field goal percentage and 26 blocked shots, while ranking second with 12.7 points per game and a .806 free throw percentage.

Verdegan, a junior forward from Tony, Wis. (Flambeau H.S.), is majoring in dietetics and carries a 3.98 grade point average. She is the leading rebounder for the Blue Devils, averaging 6.3 rebounds per contest and contributes 9.8 points per game.

Channing, a senior forward from Fall Creek, Wis., is majoring in psychology with a 3.43 grade point average. She leads the team with 15.5 points per game and a .806 free throw percentage, while ranking third with a .539 field goal percentage, 6.1 rebounds per game and 31 steals.

Calmes, a senior guard from Colby, Wis., is majoring in K-12 family and consumer sciences education and maintains a 4.00 grade point average. She has participated in every game for the Blue Devils this season and averages 1.3 points per contest.

Heuer, a junior forward from Two Rivers, Wis. (Washington H.S.), is majoring in biology with a minor in chemistry and carries a 3.78 grade point average. She has started all 24 games for the Pointers this season, ranking second on the squad with 12.8 points per game and 58 steals. Heuer also ranks third on the team with 5.6 rebounds per game and 61 assists.

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Eau Claire, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire captured the 2003 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) women's basketball title with a 62-58 victory over UW-Oshkosh at W.L. Zorn Arena on February 12. The victory improved the Blugolds' overall record to 22-1 and 14-0 against WIAC adversaries and ensured them the league title. UW-Oshkosh fell to 18-4 overall and 9-4 in league play.

UW-Eau Claire has won the league crown eight times since the 1990 season, with four of the titles coming outright. The three outright titles prior to this season came in 2000, 1993 and 1990, while they shared the title with UW-Oshkosh in 2001, 1995 and 1993. UW-Stout split the title with the Blugolds in 1997.

UW-Eau Claire, ranked fourth nationally in the latest D3hoops.com poll, jumped out to a 6-0 lead and extended their advantage to eight with 13:12 remaining in the first half before No. 16-ranked UW-Oshkosh responded with an 8-2 run to pull within two. The Titans grabbed their first lead of the game with 6:02 remaining in the half before UW-Eau Claire took a one-point lead into halftime at 28-27.

The second half picked up where the first left off with both teams exchanging the lead on multiple occasions. The Titans used a 5-0 run midway through the half to turn a one point lead into a 45-39 advantage. With the score tied at 57 with 2:35 left to play, Blugold junior Becca Spaeth nailed a field goal to put the Blugolds up for good. UW-Eau Claire forced a key turnover in the final seconds and the Titans immediately fouled sending senior Janel Soppeland to the line. She made the first free throw for the winning margin of 62-58.

Blugold senior Kristi Channing scored a game-high 22 points and tallied her 1,000th career point in the contest. She also grabbed seven rebounds in 37 minutes of action. Spaeth added 12 points for the Blugolds and Brooke Wozniak hauled in a game-high 13 rebounds. Wozniak had reached double figures in rebounds in four of the last five games.

Libby Sievert led UW-Oshkosh with 14 points, while Brenda Utech contributed 11 and Melissa Schweitzer grabbed a team-high seven rebounds.

The Blugolds also earned the top seed for the WIAC Tournament which begins on Monday, February 24 and will play at home for the duration of the event. The winner of the WIAC Tournament receives the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament.

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Carollo Named Whitewater Women's Basketball Head Coach

RELEASED: As Desired

Keri L. Carollo has been named head women’s basketball coach at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

Carollo, a member of the athletics staff at the University of Wisconsin-Stout since 1999, will be leaving positions as the assistant head women’s basketball coach and athletics compliance officer.

Carollo helped the Blue Devils win the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference regular season title and postseason tournament this year, earning a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III championship tournament berth in the process. UW-S went 23-5 overall and 15-1 in the WIAC.

For the 2000-01 season Stout was 18-7 overall, and tied for third in the WIAC with an 11-5 mark. In her first year on the staff, 1999-2000, UW-S went 15-11 and 10-6, again tied for third in the league.

Before joining Marc Thomas’ staff at Stout, Carollo was a graduate assistant coach at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse for two years (1997-99), and the freshman girl’s basketball coach at Arcata (CA) High School for the 1996-97 school year.

Carollo was a four-year letterwinner in basketball for Humboldt State University (CA), a NCAA Division II school, earning all-conference honors her senior year. She received her bachelor’s degree in Recreation and Sports Administration from Humboldt in 1997. She added a master’s in Athletic Administration from
UW-La Crosse in 1999.

Carollo’s assignment at UW-W will include teaching responsibilities in the Department of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Coaching. She has experience teaching on the college level, having similar responsibilities at UW-La Crosse and UW-Stout.

Carollo succeeds Nichole Bendt, who served as interim coach for the 2001-2002 school year when Julia Yeater resigned last July.

Carollo will have two all-conference players returning from a squad that went 9-16 overall and 5-11 in the WIAC. Forwards Cathy Rossi (8.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, 72% FT) and Nya Geschke (11.0, 4.0 , 82% FT) are among the thirteen players with playing experience that are expected to provide a starting point for Carollo.

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