ABOVE PHOTO: UW-Stout Blue Devil women’s basketball celebrates their win in the NCAA Elite Eight as they advance to the Final Four for the first time in program history. Photo by Jeremy Cwan.
The University of Wisconsin-Stout Blue Devil women’s basketball team’s Cinderella run to the Final Four on March 20, marked the team’s best result in the NCAA Division III National Tournament.
No. 22 UW-Stout faced No. 1-ranked, undefeated defending national champions New York University in their first-ever matchup against the Violets, at the Cregger Center, Roanoke College, in Salem, Virginia.
The Blue Devils started strong, trading baskets early with the Violets, but NYU’s relentless full-court pressure propelled them into a 41-20-point lead at halftime. And although the Blue Devils outscored NYU 16-14 in the third quarter and matched them point for point in the fourth, they couldn’t make up the gap. The final score of 55-74 – one of the smallest winning margins for the Violets this season – proved the Blue Devils’ drive as they put up a tenacious battle for each basket.
The Blue Devils completed their historic season 23-8, 10-4 in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletics Conference. The Violets extended their winning streak to an astounding 61 games – the longest in NCAA basketball.
Despite the loss, senior Raegen Sorensen delivered a stellar farewell performance, scoring 29 points, while grabbing eight rebounds. With her 14th point of the game in the third quarter, Sorensen surpassed Julia Hirssig’s all-time UW-Stout scoring record of 1,738 points, set in 2010. She finishes her career as the Blue Devils’ all-time leading scorer with 1,754 career points.
“These guys just leave it all on the floor. I think it just makes people see their heart, their intensity and want to be a fan. It’s a special thing that’s not everywhere. And it’s something we’re going to hold onto as long as we can,” Head Coach Hannah Iverson said in an interview with D3hoops.com.
A team that inspires emotion with a team-first emphasis
The Blue Devils historic run was led by a veteran group of five starting seniors – five offensive and defensive threats running the boards. The team has eight graduating seniors:
- Allison Letcher: guard; psychology; Windom, Minnesota
- Sam Schaeffer: guard; health, wellness and fitness; DeForest
- Amanda Giesen: forward; business administration; New Prague, Minnesota
- Elissa Lodermeier: guard; psychology; Goodhue, Minnesota
- Raegan Sorensen: guard; environmental science; Centuria
- Anna Mutch: guard; psychology; Apple Valley, Minnesota
- Lexi Wagner: guard; master’s in education; Galesville
- Sophie Moran: student manager; health, wellness and fitness; Shakopee, Minnesota
Their trademark grit and toughness brought on an extremely physical brand of basketball, and with a team culture built on confidence and competitiveness, they were willing to do whatever it took to win.
Balance is what wins UW-Stout games, Iverson said, adding that their team-first emphasis ensures that every night brings about the possibility of someone different stepping into the spotlight.
“Playing really hard for someone more than yourself – that’s what this group does. All these kids, they don’t care who does it; it just matters that it gets done. It’s not just one kid going and putting on a show. It’s a collective effort of 16 individuals, surrounded by a big outer circle who are supporting us and yelling for us,” she said.
The decorated starters were led by Sorensen. A dominant force, she thrived on her athleticism, using her quick first step to slash to the basket and knock down mid-range jumpers. Alongside Sorensen was Mutch, the emotional leader of the team and a clutch performer who embraced physical play and sought contact on the offensive end. Giesen was the team’s strong primary post presence, while Schaeffer orchestrated the offense and led the team in assists. She was often tasked with shutting down the opponent’s top scorer. Wagner was the premier three-point shooter, with one of the top percentages in the country.
To play again at ‘Johnny’
The Blue Devils’ dance began with a homecourt advantage at UW-Stout’s Johnson Fieldhouse – Johnny – in rounds one and two of the national tournament.
They defeated Ripon College in the opener, with a commanding victory of 87-57, led by Sorensen’s 32 points, her third 30-point game over the last four contests. The Blue Devils shot an efficient 55%, with 18 forced turnovers and 18 assists.
The following night, the Blue Devils rallied after an early deficit against No. 6 Whitman College, of Walla Walla, Washington. They took control in the second half. Then, with 1:23 left in the fourth quarter and the score knotted at a nail-biting 67 apiece, the Blue Devils’ composure under pressure ended Whitman’s 19-game winning streak. They claimed a 75-69 victory and a return to the Sweet 16 for the second consecutive season – and the second time in team history.
Mutch delivered a career-high 31-point, 12-rebound double-double. The team hit 23-of-24 free-throws, for a shooting percentage of 95.8, including clutch makes in the final minutes.
More than 3,000 fans rocked The Johnny during the two matchups, with cheers led by an enthusiastic student section, including five in the front row wearing “STOUT” painted in bold blue letters across their chests, and roaring support from the bench.
“It was a privilege to host an event like the NCAAs, and due to all the support and help from our campus community, it was an awesome event. The hard work of everyone involved and all the fans who attended showed people outside of our organization a true Stout Proud experience,” said Athletics Director Duey Naatz.
Dancing in the Sweet 16 to earn a hard-fought spot in the Elite Eight
The Blue Devils’ trip to the Elite Eight started off with a matchup against WIAC conference rival No. 5 UW-Whitewater at John Long Center, in Scranton, Pennsylvania. This was the teams’ fourth matchup of the season – UW-Whitewater had bested UW-Stout 69-63 in the WIAC semifinals just two weeks prior.
In a game driven by defense, the WIAC rivals held each other to a shooting average of just 33.3%. But with a 19-point final period and with 15 forced turnovers, UW-Stout sealed the win, 62-56. The crowd roared in the final minutes, “Let’s Go Blue! Let’s Go Blue!”
Sorensen hit a double-double, scoring 25 points, adding 13 rebounds and four steals. Mutch tallied 19 points, with a perfect 6-for-6 from the free-throw line.
For the first time in team history, the Blue Devils earned a place in the Elite Eight, where they faced No. 5 University of Scranton on the Royals’ homecourt.
After seven lead changes, the game was tied at 77-77 in the final minute. Giesen scored the go-ahead basket with 32 seconds remaining, knocking down a contested jumper as the shot clock expired. Then, following key defensive stops, Sorensen secured the game with a pair of free throws in the closing seconds, capping off a thrilling 81-77 victory.
Sorensen led with a dominant performance, matching a career-high 33-point total. Giesen finished with 22 points, five rebounds and three steals. The Blue Devils made 18 points off turnovers and shot 50% from the field, including 7-of-15 from beyond the arc.
Hitting another historic first, the Blue Devils punched their ticket to the Final Four.
Blue Devils named to All-WIAC, D3hoops.com teams
The Blue Devils were the only WIAC team this season averaging above 70 points per game at 72.3, they shot the league-best 46.8% from the field and averaged 14.5 assists per game. They rank fourth in DIII women’s basketball in attendance.
All five starting seniors were named to the WIAC postseason awards, for their outstanding performances.
Sorensen, Mutch and Giesen were named to the All-WIAC Team:
- Sorensen capped off a historic career by becoming UW-Stout’s all-time leading scorer with 1,754 points, topping the previous record by 16 points. She holds the program record for highest career points per game, averaging 18.3 points this season, and led the WIAC in field goal percentage. Sorensen ranks fifth all-time in program history with 737 career rebounds, pulling down an average of 6.4 rebounds per contest this season. She averaged 25.4 points per game in the NCAA Tournament. She was a D3hoops.com Preseason All-American, earned a spot on the D3hoops.com All-Region 9 First Team, was honored as a D3hoops.com Second-Team All-American and was named a Women’s Basketball Coaches Association NCAA Division III Honorable Mention All-American.
- Mutch made her mark in the record books, finishing fourth all-time with 1,449 career points. She averaged 13.4 points per game this season and climbed to eighth in career rebounds with 660. She was named to the D3hoops.com All-Region 9 Third Team.
- Giesen completed her strong career, ranking sixth in career scoring with 1,330 points. She averaged 12.1 points per game this season and tallied 543 career rebounds, placing her 13th in program history.
Wagner earned a WIAC Honorable Mention as one of the premier three-point shooters in the nation with a 45.7% shooting mark from beyond the arc, leading the WIAC in the regular season. She averaged 12.2 points per game. Wagner topped a 25-year-old school record by knocking down nine three-pointers in a single game and was named WIAC Kwik Trip Women’s Basketball Player of the Week twice this season.
Schaeffer’s defensive prowess earned her a place on the WIAC All-Defensive Team, as well as the All-Sportsmanship Team for her leadership and character. She recorded 37 steals and boasted an impressive 3.4 assist-to-turnover ratio, one of the highest in the nation. She leads the program record with 121 games played, followed by Mutch with 120.
Schaeffer has been selected as one of 80 student athletes nationwide to participate in the “So You Want To Be a Coach” program, hosted by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association, and will participate in a two-day workshop in April during the WBCA Convention in Tampa, Florida.
From Johnson Fieldhouse to Williams Stadium
Letcher, Mutch and Schaeffer will trade in their sneakers for cleats this spring, stepping off the boards at Johnson Fieldhouse and onto the turf at Williams Stadium.
They’ve joined the newly formed Blue Devils women’s flag football team – along with 15 other student athletes – and will be led by Naatz as head coach. Naatz is in his 35th year with the Blue Devils and 15th as director of athletics.
UW-Stout is partnering with the Minnesota Vikings and five NCAA institutions to launch the collegiate league. Teams will compete in two jamborees and a championship tournament this April:
- Saturday, April 5: Jamboree at University of Northwestern, St. Paul
- Saturday, April 12: Jamboree at UW-Stout
- Saturday, April 26: Championship tournament at TCO Stadium, in Minneapolis
