WIAC Women's Basketball Preview
Madison, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse women's basketball team is predicted to finish fifth in the 2017-18 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) standings in a preseason poll conducted by the league's head coaches and sports information directors. The preseason poll was announced by the conference office Wednesday.
UW-Whitewater is the preseason favorite in the WIAC after winning the league's tournament title for the first time in school history in 2016-17. The Warhawks return all five starters and 16 letter winners from last year.
UW-Oshkosh is projected to place second in the conference race in 2017-18 followed by UW-Stevens Point, UW-Eau Claire, UW-La Crosse, UW-River Falls, UW-Stout and UW-Platteville.
Karen Middleton starts her second year as the Eagles' head coach in 2017-18 after finishing 16-11 overall and 9-5 in the WIAC a year ago. UW-La Crosse recorded its most overall (16) and conference (9) wins since finishing 16-10 overall and 9-7 in the WIAC in 2011-12.
The Eagles advanced to the WIAC Championships Semifinals for the third time in school history, including its first appearance since 2011, with a 69-57 first round victory over UW-Eau Claire. UW-La Crosse also played in the tournament semifinals in 2006.
UWL returns 12 letter winners and three starters in 2017-18. Senior guard
Elise DeNoyer of
Waukesha (Wisconsin Lutheran) returns as a three-time all-conference selection. After being named to the 2014-15 and 2015-16 All-WIAC Honorable Mention Teams, DeNoyer was selected to the 2016-17 All-WIAC First Team.
DeNoyer started all 27 contests in 2016-17, leading the Eagles in assists (2.5), tied for first in steals (1.2) and free throws attempted (102). She was second on the team in scoring (12.1), rebounding (7.8) and free throws made (71) while ranking third in three-point field goals made (27) and attempted (70). DeNoyer finished second in the WIAC in rebounding, fourth in assists and three-point shooting (38.6%) and 10th in scoring and field goal shooting (40.8%).
Named to the UW-La Crosse Holiday Inn Express Thanksgiving Classic and Wartburg College (Iowa) AmericInn Holiday All-Tournament Teams last season, DeNoyer scored in double figures in 18 games in 2016-17. She finished a season-high 23 versus Aurora University (Ill.). DeNoyer was second on the team with eight double-doubles last year, finishing with a career-high 14 rebounds against Ripon College (Wis.) while adding 19 points. Playing in 75 career games (71 starts) in her first three seasons at UW-La Crosse, DeNoyer has 761 career points and 499 rebounds.
Seven other players return in 2017-1 after seeing action in at least 16 games a year ago. Senior guard
Sierra Watrud of
New Glarus (Monticello) played in 22 games last season with seven starts while averaging 1.8 points per game. Senior guard
Sydney Kannel of
New Richmond (H.S.) appeared in all 27 contests in 2016-17, including eight starts. She averaged 4.3 points and was third on the team with 41 assists. Senior guard
Taylor Nelson of
Cottage Grove (Monona Grove) played in 18 games last season, averaging 5.5 points per game. She shot 22-of-26 (84.6%) at the free throw line.
Junior forward
Kylee Marks of
Cedarburg (H.S.) played in 25 games with six starts while averaging 2.6 points and 3.5 rebounds per game. Junior center
Kimmy Johnson of
Galesville (Galesville-Ettrick-Trempealeau) appeared in 16 contests last season with one start.
Sophomore guards
Delaney Schoenenberger of
Janesville (Craig) and
Annie Schumacher of
Janesville (Craig) both played in all 27 games last year. Schoenenberger was third on the team in scoring with 6.4 points per game while also averaging 2.5 rebounds. She was second on the team in three-point field goals made (26) and second in attempts (76). Schumacher started 10 games a year ago, averaging 3.0 points.
UWL opens its 2017-18 season in an exhibition game at NCAA Division I Iowa State University Sunday, November 5 at noon. The Eagles start their regular-season Friday, November 17 versus Saint Mary's University (Minn.) at 6 p.m. in the College of St. Benedict (Minn.) Tournament.
