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--From WIAC--

MADISON, Wis.--University of Oshkosh has been selected to the secure the 2017 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) women’s basketball championship, based on a preseason poll conducted by the league’s head coaches and sports information directors.

The Titans won their third consecutive WIAC tournament title a year ago to advance to the NCAA Division III championship for the third straight year and welcome back three starters and 14 letterwinners. Leading the returnees is senior guard Taylor Schmidt, a two-time All-WIAC first team selection, who was first on the team with 11.0 points per game and 109 field goals made, while ranking second with 78 assists and 44 steals. Her .416 three-point field goal percentage (37-of-89) topped the conference. Also back is junior forward Eliza Campbell, an All-WIAC first team choice last season, who was second on the squad with 9.3 points per game, while ranking third with 133 rebounds and 37 steals.

UW-River Falls, the defending WIAC regular-season champion, is slotted for second in this year’s eight-team race. The Falcons claimed their first title since 1989 and made their second NCAA Division III appearance in the last five seasons. UW-River Falls brings back four starters from the squad that matched a program record with 23 wins (also set during the 1988-89 campaign). Senior guard Brynn Liljander, a two-time All-WIAC first team honoree, leads the returnees.

The Falcons are followed in the WIAC predictions by:  UW-Whitewater; UW-Stevens Point; UW-Eau Claire; UW-Stout; UW-Platteville; and UW-La Crosse.

The 2016-17 campaign welcomes a new head coach to the conference as Karen Middleton assumes the lead role at UW-La Crosse. She was the associate head coach at Cal State Fullerton University in 2015-16 and the head coach at Western Carolina University from 2010-15.

In 2015-16, the WIAC sent four teams (UW-Oshkosh, UW-River Falls, UW-Stevens Point, UW-Whitewater) to the NCAA Division III championship for the second time in five years. Four squads also posted 20-plus victories for the first time since the 2011-12 season.

2016-17 Preseason Predictions--Voted on by WIAC Head Coaches and Sports Information Directors 
 
                                                2015-16 Record
1. UW-Oshkosh                23-6 overall, 11-3 WIAC
2. UW-River Falls              23-6, 12-2
3. UW-Whitewater          20-8, 8-6
4. UW-Stevens Point      21-8, 10-4
5. UW-Eau Claire              14-13, 8-6
6. UW-Stout                       10-16, 4-10
7. UW-Platteville              5-20, 2-12
8. UW-La Crosse               7-18, 1-13

Team Nuggets

UW-Eau Claire
Head Coach:  Tonja Englund; 17th season at UWEC; 284-158
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  11/3
Starters Returning/Lost:  2/3
Returning All-WIAC:  Ellen Blacklock, Sr., F (2015-Defensive)

Notable Returning Players:  Arien Brennan (Becker), Sr., G; Maddie Dunathan, So., G; Jenni LaCroix, Jr., G; Kayla Hanley, Sr., F

UW-La Crosse
Head Coach:  Karen Middleton; 7th season (1st at UWL); 63-121 (overall) / 0-0 (at UWL)
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  10/5
Starters Returning/Lost:  3/2
Returning All-WIAC:  Rachel Atchison, Sr., F (2015-Honorable); Elise DeNoyer, Jr., G (2015-Honorable, 2016-Honorable); MaKenzie Miller, Sr., C (2015-Honorable, 2016-Honorable)

Notable Returning Players:  Alyssa Clemment, Sr., G; Kara Selk, Sr., G; Sierra Watrud, Jr., G

UW-Oshkosh
Head Coach:  Brad Fischer; 5th season at UWO; 92-23
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  14/3
Starters Returning/Lost:  3/2
Returning All-WIAC:  Eliza Campbell, Jr., F (2016-First); Alex Richard, Sr., F (2015-Honorable, 2016-Honorable); Taylor Schmidt, Sr., G (2014-Honorable, 2015-First, 2016-First)

Notable Returning Players:  Morgan Kokta, Sr., G; Emma Melotik, Jr., G; Chloe Pustina, So., G; Isabella Samuels, So., F

UW-Platteville
Head Coach:  Megan Wilson; 7th season at UWP; 52-100
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  12/4
Starters Returning/Lost:  4/1
Returning All-WIAC:  None

Notable Returning Players:  Morgan Hartman, Sr., F; Morgan Horstman, So., G; Allison Prestegaard, So., C

UW-River Falls
Head Coach:  Cindy Holbrook; 17th season at UWRF; 226-192
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  10/6
Starters Returning/Lost:  4/1
Returning All-WIAC:  Taylor Karge, Jr., F (2015-Honorable, 2016-First); Brynn Liljander, Sr., G (2015-First, 2016-First); Kate Theisen, Sr., F (2016-Honorable)

Notable Returning Players:  None

UW-Stevens Point
Head Coach:  Shirley Egner; 28th season at UWSP; 509-220
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  11/4
Starters Returning/Lost:  3/2
Returning All-WIAC:  Lauren Anklam, Sr., G (2015-First, 2016-First)

Notable Returning Players:  Taylor Douglas, Sr., G; Autumn Hennes, Sr., G; Lexi Roland, Jr., G; Mickey Roland, Jr., G

UW-Stout
Head Coach:  Mark Thomas; 30th season at UWST; 458-310
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  6/8
Starters Returning/Lost:  2/3
Returning All-WIAC:  Jenna Goldsmith, Sr., F (2015-First, 2016-Honorable)

Notable Returning Players:  Anna Brown, Jr., F; Kyncaide Diedrich, So., G; Bailey Diersen, So., G; Shannan Watkins, So., G

UW-Whitewater
Head Coach:  Keri Carollo; 15th season at UWW; 267-128
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  11/11
Starters Returning/Lost:  2/3
Returning All-WIAC:  Malia Smith, Jr., G (2016-Honorable, 2016-Defensive)

Notable Returning Players:  Andrea Meinert, Jr., F; Andrea Olsen, Sr., G; Reilly Stewart, Sr., G; Brooke Trewyn, Jr., G