Men's Basketball

December 14, 1999

ROSEVILLE, Minn - With the score tied at 61-61 and five seconds remaining, Northwestern, Minn, College's Chad Nuest stole the ball from UW-Stout and drove in for the winning layup just before the buzzer to hand the Blue Devils a 63-61 non-conference loss Tuesday, Dec. 14, at Roseville, Minn.

Trailing most of the game, Stout (6-4) had an opportunity to take a lead with a minute remaining, but could not complete a three point play. The Blue Devils did create a defensive stop and regained the ball with 25 seconds remaining to set up a last shot before Nuest's game-winning steal.

Nuest led all scorers with 21 points. Stout's Ben Kuepers (Sr, Dickeyville) led Stout with 14 points and 14 rebounds. Jeremy Leibfried (Sr, Dickeyville) added 12 points and Pat Von Feldt (Jr, Stevens Point) 10 points.

The Eagles (8-4) jumped out to an early 13-2 lead but Stout did manage to pull back to with five points, trailing 32-27 at halftime.

The Blue Devils tied the score with about six minutes remaining, and the rest of the game went back and forth.

Northwestern held a decided advantage at the free throw line, hitting 14-of-19, while Stout connected on 4-of-6 opportunities.

Stout is off until Dec. 30 when they return to the Twin Cities to face NCAA Division II Concordia-St. Paul.

Women's Basketball

December 19, 1999

MENOMONIE - Heather Peterson (Sr, Altoona) led UW-Stout with 15 points, but it wasn't nearly enough as Northland College had four players in double digit scoring and ran over the Blue Devils, 75-59, at Johnson Fieldhouse, Sunday, Dec. 19.

The visitors from the north, who brought a small snow storm with them, froze the Blue Devils' (5-4) shooting in the first half, holding Stout to 24 percent and running off to a 35-28 halftime lead.

It wouldn't get much better for the home team in the second half, and Northland (6-4) was aided at the free throw line, hitting 27-of-35 free throws in the game. Stout had only half the free throw opportunities, making 10-of-16.

The Lumberjills' Beth Tanula led all scorers with 20 points, while Diana Rybek chipped in 18. Becky Gray finished with 13 and Jacky Staff, 10.

Stout is off until Wednesday, Dec. 29 when they host their own holiday tournament. Millikin University will play St. Scholastica at 5 p.m. and the Blue Devils will entertain Central College at 7 p.m. The winners will play the following day at 5 p.m., with the consolation game scheduled for 3 p.m.

December 18, 1999

ROSEVILLE, Minn - Poor shooting, especially from 3-point range, was the culprit for UW-Stout as they dropped a 60-51 non-conference decision to Northwestern College in Roseville, Minn., Saturday, Dec. 18.

The Blue Devils shot a paultry 1-for-14 from 3-point range, and finished shooting 35 percent on the night. Northwestern shot only 32 percent, but capitalized at the free throw line, hitting 17-of-20 charity shots. Stout made only 2-of-7 free throws.

Stout (5-3) trailed 32-25 at halftime and committed 27 turnovers in the game. Stout held a 51-40 lead on the boards, but Stout's poor shooting showed up as the Blue Devils pulled down 19 offensive rebounds.

Heather Peterson (Sr, Altoona) was the only Stout player in double figures and finished the evening with 12 points. Stacie Anderson (Jr, Clayton), who hit Stout's only 3-pointer of the evening, added nine points.

Northwestern (8-4), which was rated in the first NAIA national poll, was led by Renee DeMars with 17 points.

Women's Gymnastics

December 15, 1999

RIVER FALLS - UW-Stout gymnasts set eight personal bests and took first in all four events as the Blue Devils downed UW-River Falls, 158.05-150.975, Wednesday, Dec. 15 at River Falls.

Tasha Pasch (Fr, Northfield, Minn) took first in three individual events - the vault (9.00), balance beam (8.40), floor exercise (8.85) - and the all-around (34.05). She marked personal bests in the vault and floor. Fellow freshman Katie Hanson (Duluth, Minn) captured the uneven bars (8.15) with a personal best and was second in the all-around (33.05). Hanson had a personal best on the floor (8.575), placing third.

Also snagging personal bests were Andrea Hassel (Jr, Grand Rapids, Minn) on the vault (8.15), and Erika Opoien (Fr, Superior) on the vault (7.65), on the bars (7.95), where she finished second, and the balance beam (7.55).

Brenna Jones (Jr, St. Paul, Minn) was second on the floor (8.70), where the Blue Devils took the top three spots.

The win was Stout's first dual win since Feb. 22, 1998 when the Blue Devils also knocked off River Falls.

Stout is off until Jan. 8 when they travel to UW-Oshkosh.

UW-Stout 158.05, UW-River Falls 150.975
(first place, all Stout finishers)
Vault: 1. Tasha Pasch (Stout) 9.00; 4. Katie Hanson 8.475; 5. Brenna Jones 8.35; Andrea Hassel 8.15; Erika Opoien 7.65; Scarlett Ramey 7.10; Uneven bars: 1. Katie Hanson (Stout) 8.15; 2. Erika Opoien 7.95; 4. Tasha Pasch 7.80; Brenna Jones 7.00; Andrea Hassel 6.20; Scarlett Ramey 5.80; Balance beam: 1. Tasha Pasch 8.40; 2. Katie Hanson 7.85; Erika Opoien 7.55; Brenna Jones 7.05; Andrea Hassel 6.80; Alissa Martin 4.30; Floor exercise: 1. Tasha Pasch 8.85; 2. Brenna Jones 8.70; 3. Katie Hanson 8.575; Erika Opoien 7.80; Andrea Hassel 7.75; Alissa Martin 6.70; All-around: 1. Tasha Pasch 34.05; 2. Katie Hanson 33.05; 4. Brenna Jones 31.10; 5. Erika Opoien 30.95; Andrea Hassel 28.90.

Volleyball

December 17, 1999

MENOMONIE - UW-Stout sophomores Brooke Palmer (Mantorville, Minn) and Rachel Eidet (North Mankato, Minn) were awarded the offensive and defensive players of the year award, respectively, announced Blue Devil head coach Jill Jolliff at the team's annual awards banquet recently.

Palmer led the team's hitters in hitting percentage, notching a .228 percentage in her first year with the Blue Devils. Palmer transferred from Southwest State University. The 5-foot, 10-inch middle hitter averaged 2.41 kills per game, had 25 service aces, 226 digs, 14 solo blocks and 82 block assists.

Eidet, a 5-10 outside hitter, led the team in digs with 396 total and 3.54 per game. She was second on the team in kills with 2.73, had 20 service aces, eight solo blocks and 33 block assist.

Senior Jenny Kraczek (Blaine, Minn) was given the team's Hustle Award. Kraczek, a four-year starting setter, graduates from the program with a school record 4,461 career assists. She also holds the assist single season record (1343) and single match record (68).

The Blue Devils finished the season at 17-13 overall, 4-4 in the WIAC.

Letterwinners - Fourth year: Jenny Kraczek, Sr, Blaine,Minn; Tori Feit, Sr, Rushmore, Minn; Third year: Heather Cassell, Jr, Lake Geneva; Laura Huntoon, Jr, Byron, Minn; First year: Dyan DePas, Fr, Waunakee; Kandice O'Brien, Fr, Kasson, Minn; Rebecca Deuel, So, Big Lake, Minn; Beth Bailey, Fr, Pine Island, Minn; Erin Walt, Fr, Maplewood, Minn; Brianne Vogel, Fr, New Brighton, Minn; Rachel Eidet, So, North Mankato, Minn; Alison West, So, Cadott; Sara Weflen, So, Jackson, Minn; Holly LaVallie, So, Owatonna, Minn; Brooke Palmer, So, Mantorville, Minn; Nichole Wirtz, Fr, Coon Rapids, Minn.

Women's Cross Country

December 17, 1999

MENOMONIE - Sophomore Amy Arndt (Lakefield, Minn) was named the most valuable runner for the UW-Stout women's cross country team, Blue Devils coach Carlene Hochhalter announced recently.

Arndt was one of Stout's top three finishers in most every race. Her best times of the season were at 19-minute, 8-second finish at UW-Oshkosh and a 19:19 time at the NCAA Division III regionals.

Ellen Everson (So, Blair) was named the most improved, Tanya Miller (Sr, Green Bay) received the Blue Devil spirit award and Lisa Sorvala (Fr, New Brighton, Minn) was named the rookie of the year.

Everson shaved nearly five minutes off her time from the beginning of the season to the regional meet where she ran a career-best 19:49. Sorvala immediately established herself with the Blue Devils, winning the intrasquad meet, then finishing among the top four Stout runners throughout the season.

1999 UW-Stout Cross Country Team Awards
Most Valuable Runner - Amy Arndt, So, Lakefield, Minn; Most Improved Runner - Ellen Everson, So, Blair; Blue Devil Spirit Award - Tanya Miller, Sr, Green Bay; Rookie of the Year - Lisa Sorvala, Fr, New Brighton, Minn.

Updated: December 20, 1999