WIAC Release

Madison, Wis. – University of Wisconsin-La Crosse senior forward Elise DeNoyer of Waukesha (Wisconsin Lutheran) has been selected the 2017-18 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Player of the Year in a vote by the league coaches. DeNoyer was named to the 2017-18 All-WIAC Team while sophomore guard Dani Craig of Coralville, Iowa (Iowa City West) and sophomore guard Delaney Schoenenberger of Janesville (Craig) were selected to the All-WIAC Honorable Mention Team.

UWL senior guard Taylor Nelson of Cottage Grove (Monona Grove) was named to the 2017-18 All-WIAC Sportsmanship Team.

It is the fourth career all-conference honor for DeNoyer after being named to the 2014-15 and 2015-16 All-WIAC Honorable Mention Team and the 2016-17 All-WIAC First Team.

She is the second player in school history to earn four all-conference honors, joining Mackenzie Hunter. Hunter was a three-time All-WIAC First Team choice (2005-06, 2007-08, 2008-09) while earning honorable mention accolades (2006-07). She was voted the 2008-09 WIAC Player of the Year. DeNoyer and Hunter are the only players in UWL history to be named the league's player of the year.  

"Elise is an incredible player and an even better person," said UWL second-year head coach Karen Middleton. "Her aggressiveness and versatility to play inside and out caused many challenges for our opponents. When your best player is also one of your hardest workers, you have something very special. Elise gave her best effort every day in practice and helped set the standard for the culture we are building at UWL. We are all so proud of her."

DeNoyer started all 26 contests in 2017-18, leading the Eagles in scoring (13.1), rebounding (7.2) and assists (2.8). She also led the team in field goals made (133) and attempted (306), free throws made (63) and attempted (86) while ranking third in steals (23) and blocks (10). DeNoyer is second in the WIAC in rebounding, fifth in scoring, sixth in field goal shooting (43.5%), eighth in free throw shooting (73.3%) and 11th in assists (2.8).

She earned a pair of all-tournament team honors in 2017-18, including at the College of Saint Benedict (Minn.) Tournament (Nov. 17-18) after averaging 13.0 points and 10.5 rebounds in two games. DeNoyer was selected to the UWL Holiday Inn Express Thanksgiving Classic All-Tournament Team (Nov. 25-26), averaging 23.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.0 steals in two contests. DeNoyer, named the WIAC Player of the Week after the UWL Holiday Inn Express Thanksgiving Classic, finished with a career-high 27 points in the Eagles' 62-61 win over Luther College (Iowa) November 25. She then had 20 points and eight rebounds in a 62-52 victory over city-rival Viterbo University (Wis.) November 26.

DeNoyer also earned the WIAC Player of the Week honor after the opening two games of the 2017-18 conference season. She averaged 14.0 points and 8.5 rebounds in two games, finishing with with 15 points and nine rebounds against UW-Eau Claire January 3 and 13 points and eight rebounds in a 57-51 win at third-ranked UW-Oshkosh January 6.

DeNoyer scored in double figures in 21 of 26 games this year, including four with at least 20 points. Along with her career-high 27 points against Luther (Iowa), DeNoyer finished with 25 points versus UW-Stout on January 24 and 20 points against Macalester College (Minn.) on November 30 and UW-Oshkosh on February 10. She recorded five double-doubles this year, finishing with a season-high 13 rebounds against the University of Dubuque (Iowa) on December 9. DeNoyer finished with at least three assists in 11 games.

Playing in 101 career games, including 97 starts, DeNoyer ranks 11th in school history in career points with 1,102. Her 97 starts ranks third in UWL history while being sixth in career rebounds (685), free throws made (245) and free throw attempts (358). DeNoyer finished with 18 career double-doubles. 

Craig and Schoenenberger earned their first career all-conference honor Tuesday. Craig started all 26 games this season, finishing second for UWL in scoring (9.4) while leading the team in three-point field goals made (56) and attempted (165). She ranks second in the WIAC in three-point field goals made per game (2.15) and eighth in three-point shooting (33.9%).

Scoring in double figures in 11 games this year, Craig had a career-high 19 points versus UW-Stevens Point January 10 while going five-of-10 from three-point range. She also had five three-point field goals versus Dubuque (Iowa) December 9 and UW-Platteville January 13. Craig recorded at least one three-point field goal made in 22 of 26 games. She finished second on the team in assists (36) and fourth in steals (22). 

A transfer from California State University, Fullerton, Craig finished second for UWL in assists (36) and fourth in steals (22) in 2017-18. She started all 27 games at Fullerton in 2015-16, averaging 9.3 points per game.

Schoenenberger played in all 26 games in 2017-18, including starting the final 14. She was fourth on the team in scoring (8.8) while finishing second in three-point field goals made (43) and attempted (101). Schoenenberger is second in the WIAC in three-point shooting (42.6%), fifth in three-point field goals made per game (1.65) and 11th in field goal shooting (41.8%).
 

She scored in double figures in 12 games, finishing with a season-high 22 points versus Bethany Lutheran College (Minn.) on December 2. Schoenenberger scored in double figures in seven of the final 10 games of the year. Recording at least one three-point field goal in 21 of 26 games, she finished with a season-high five against UW-Stevens Point on January 10.

Playing in all 27 games as a freshman in 2016-17, Schoenenberger had a career-high 24 points versus Simpson College (Iowa) on November 26, 2016. She reached double figures in scoring in 10 games last season.

"Dani and Delaney were game changers for us this season," said Middleton. "They shot the ball with great accuracy, hit critical shots for us in our biggest wins, and contributed in so many other ways that may have gone unnoticed.  Being just sophomores, the sky is the limit for both Dani and Delaney." 

Nelson was named to the 2017-18 All-WIAC Sportsmanship Team, chosen for individuals that displayed exemplary sportsmanship throughout the season.  It includes one member from each school.  She played in all 26 games this year, including 12 starts, while averaging 5.3 points. Nelson was fifth on the team in scoring in 2017-18 while finishing fourth in three-point field goals made (19) and attempted (65). She had a career-high 16 points against Saint Mary's University (Minn.) November 17.

Playing in 44 career games at UWL in two seasons, Nelson finished at least 10 points in nine games for the Eagles. She played two seasons as Madison College (Wis.) prior to transferring to UWL. 

"Taylor Nelson is the epitome of sportsmanship," said Middleton. "She does everything to the best of her ability while always showing respect for her opponent. For us, Taylor was the ultimate teammate that would do anything for her team. She has an amazing future ahead of her."

UWL finished 16-10 overall and 9-5 in the WIAC this season under Middleton. The Eagles advanced to the WIAC Championships Semifinals for the second straight year, earning their highest seed (second) in school history.