Winona State Women's Basketball Gameday Program

WINONA STATE UNIVERSITY WOMEN'S BASKETBALL INTEGRATED WELLNESS COMPLEX - 157 W. MARK ST. WINONA, MN 55987

PETE WATKINS, DIRECTOR OF ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS | PWATKINS@WINONA.EDU | 507.450.0681

2021-22 WBB SCHEDULE

NOVEMBER FRI- 12 SAT - 13 FRI - 19 SAT - 20 TUE - 23 FRI - 26 SAT - 27

@ DAKOTA STATE (EXH)# @ VITERBO UNIVERSITY (EXH) # @ MCKENDREE UNIVERSITY! @ QUINCY UNIVERSITY! @ UPPER IOWA UNIVERSITY* @ WASHBURN UNIVERSITY% @ NORTHWEST MISSOURI STATE%

W, 84-46 W, 78-56 W, 70-46 W, 66-50 W, 73-69 W, 56-45 L, 62-65

DECEMBER THU- 2 @ CONCORDIA - ST. PAUL* SAT - 4 VS MSU - MANKATO* FRI - 10 @ SOUTHWEST MINN. STATE* SAT - 11 @ UNIV. OF SIOUX FALLS * FRI - 17 VS. WAYNE STATE* SAT - 18 VS. AUGUSTANA UNIV.*

L, 83-42 L, 76-67 L, 69-64 L, 74-54 W, 74-69 L, 68-62

Winona State (7-7/4-6) vs. Minnesota Duluth (10-4/8-2) Friday, Jan. 14 | 7:30pm

vs

Winona State (7-7/4-6) vs. St. Cloud State (11-2/9-1) Saturday, Jan. 15 | 5:30pm

vs

JANUARY SUN - 2 VS. UPPER IOWA UNIV.* FRI - 7 @ BEMIDJI STATE* SAT - 8 @ MINNESOTA CROOKSTON* FRI - 14 VS MINNESOTA DULUTH* SAT - 15 VS ST. CLOUD STATE* FRI. - 21 @ MSU- MOORHEAD* SAT- 22 @ NORTHERN STATE * FRI - 28 VS. UMARY * JAN - 29 VS. MINOT STATE*

W, 61-55 L, 75-60 W, 71-59 7:30PM 5:30PM 5:30PM 3:30PM 5:30PM 3:30PM

Queens of the North Winona State will take on the top two teams in the NSIC North standings this weekend. SCSU is atop both the NSIC overall and NSIC North with a 9-1 conference record, and UMD is second in both categories at 8-2 in the NSIC.

Streak busters

FEBRUARY FRI - 4 @ AUGUSTANA UNIV.* SAT- 5 @ WAYNE STATE COLLEGE* FRI - 11 VS. UNIV. OF SIOUX FALLS* SAT - 12 VS. SOUTHWEST MINN. STATE* THU - 17 VS. CONCORDIA - ST. PAUL* SAT - 19 @ MSU-MANKATO* NSIC / SANFORD HEALTH TOURNAMENT WED - 23 NSIC FIRST ROUND CAMPUS SITES SAT - 26 NSIC QUARTERFINALS PENTAGON SUN- 27 NSIC SEMIFINALS PENTAGON

5:30PM 3:30PM 5:30PM 3:30PM 5:30PM 3:30PM

TBD TBD TBD

MARCH TUE - 1

NSIC CHAMPIONSHIP

*- NSIC GAME #- VITERBO CLASSIC ! - QUINCY, ILL. % - TOPEKA, KANS.

MEDIA INFORMATION WATCH: HBC 25 SPORTS / NSIC NETWORK LISTEN: KQAL 89.5 FM *HOME CONTESTS

TBD

WSU is looking to break a current four-game losing skid to UMD. The Warriors last defeated the Bulldogs on Jan. 13th, 2017. Last season, Minnesota Duluth had the upper hand and beat Winona State 68-47.

Defense on display St. Cloud State, Minnesota Duluth, and Winona State have three of the top six defenses in the NSIC. SCSU leads the way, allowing just 54.4 points/game to their opponents. UMD is second and allows 56.7 ppg, while WSU is sixth in the NSIC allowing 64.5 ppg.

National recognition St. Cloud State has earned national attention throughout the season, where they have been ranked in the WBCA Top-25 poll twice and have received votes in each of the other weeks.

Spreading the wealth Winona State has had six different leading-scorers in their 14 games this season. Hustad (4), Fee (3), Riley (3), Kieck (2), Schimenz (1), and Hahn (1) have each led the Warriors in scoring.

Riley's hot hand Caitlin Riley has gone 16-40 (.400) from deep in the last four games and is averaging 14.75 points/game to lead the Warriors during that stretch.

WINONA STATE UNIVERSITY WOMEN'S BASKETBALL WARRIOR BASKETBALL 2021-22 SEASON INDIVIDUAL QUICK GLANCE

LEADING SCORER: TAYLOR HUSTAD, 11 PTS/GAME LEADING REBOUNDER: TAYLOR HUSTAD, 7.3/GAME FIELD-GOAL %: AVA SERGIO, 65.1% ASSISTS/GAME: EMILY KIECK, 3.3/GAME 3-POINT FG %: LINDSEY HAHN, 43.3% BLOCKED SHOTS/GAME: AVA SERGIO, 1/GAME MIN / GAME: LAUREN FECH, 32.4/GAME AST / TO RATIO: KAILTYN SCHRIMPF, 2.2 PTS OFF THE BENCH: AVA SERGIO, 8.6 PTS/GAME FT %: EMMA FEE, 86.7% STEALS/GAME: EMILY KIECK, 1.1/GAME DOUBLE-DOUBLES: TAYLOR HUSTAD (VS UIU, WSC) EMMA FEE (VS SMSU)

Winona State University 2021-22 Women's Basketball Roster # 0 1 3 5 10 11 12 13 14 15 20 21 24 30 31 43

Name Caitlin Riley Lauren Fech Lindsey Hahn Mattie Schimenz Alex Dornfeld Emily Kieck Taylor Hustad Naomi Breunig Taylor Fautsch Ava Sergio Kaitlyn Schrimpf Breanna Ackley Shea Dechant Vanessa Alexander Stephanie Dasbach Emma Fee

Pos. G G G G F G F G F C G G G F C C

Ht. 5-7 5-8 5-8 5-7 5-11 5-6 5-10 5-10 6-1 6-1 5-9 6-2 5-7 5-11 6-1 6-1

Yr. So. Sr. Fr. Fr. So. Sr. Sr. Fr. Fr. So. Fr. Fr. So. Fr. Fr. Sr.

Hometown Cedar Rapids, Iowa Wausau, Wis. Western Springs, Ill. Milwaukee, Wis. Markesan, Wis. Baraboo, Wis. New Prague, Minn.

Sauk City, Wis. Rochester, Minn.

Geneva, Ill. Oregon, Wis. Stratford, Wis. Kimberly, Wis. St. Michael, Minn.

Lombard, Ill. Burnsville, Minn.

Previous School George Washington Newman Catholic Hinsdale Central Brown Deer Markesan Baraboo New Prague Sauk Prairie John Marshall Batavia Oregon Stratford Kimberly St. Michael-Albertville Willowbrook Burnsville

Head Coach: Scott Ballard Associate Head Coach: Ana Wurtz

WARRIOR BASKETBALL 2021-22 NSIC STANDINGS SOUTH DIVISION

INDIVIDUAL SINGLE GAME RECORDS POINTS: 39, ABBY BUSCH, V. AUGUSTANA, FEB. 23,2014

ASSISTS: 22, PAT NEDER, VS. MINNESOTA MORRIS, 1/09/1988

TEAM MINNESOTA STATE

STEALS: 11, NICOLE REISNER, VS. MINN CROOKSTON 1/11/2002 BLOCKED SHOTS: 11, KAYLA TIMMERMAN, VS CSP, 02/13/2016 3-POINT FIELD GOALS: 9, BECCA FRIESTLEBEN, V BSU, 1/18/2013

REBOUNDS: 20, LISA PARSONS, VS. LEWIS, 1989

WARRIOR BASKETBALL PROGRAM HISTORY

STREAK

7-3

7-1

11-3

L3

SIOUX FALLS

6-3

5-3

10-5

W2

CONCORDIA-ST. PAUL

6-4

6-2

10-4

L2

SMSU

5-4

4-4

8-5

W1

WAYNE STATE

4-5

4-4

7-6

L2

WINONA STATE

4-6

3-5

7-7

W1

AUGUSTANA

3-5

3-5

7-5

W4

UPPER IOWA

0-8

0-8

2-11

L3

NCAA DII NATIONAL TOURNAMENT: 3 | 2009, 2011,2016

NORTH DIVISION

NSIC TOURNAMENT TITLES: 1 | 2011 NSIC REGULAR SEASON TITLES: 1 | 2016

NSIC OVERALL NSIC DIVISION SEASON OVERALL

TEAM

NSIC OVERALL NSIC DIVISION SEASON OVERALL

ST. CLOUD STATE

9-1

STREAK

7-1

11-2

W4

MINNESOTA DULUTH BEMIDJI STATE

8-2

6-2

10-4

W2

6-3

5-3

8-5

W3

MSU MOORHEAD

4-4

4-4

5-7

W1

NORTHERN STATE

4-5

3-5

7-7

W1

MINOT STATE

3-4

3-4

5-9

L1

UMARY

3-6

3-4

9-9

L2

MINNESOTA CROOKSTON 0-9

0-8

1-14

L10

WINONA STATE UNIVERSITY WOMEN'S BASKETBALL # 0 1 3 5 10 11 12 13 14 15 20 21 24 30 31 43

Name Pos. Caitlin Riley G Lauren Fech G Lindsey Hahn G Mattie Schimenz G Alex Dornfeld F Emily Kieck G Taylor Hustad F Naomi Breunig G Taylor Fautsch F Ava Sergio C Kaitlyn Schrimpf G Breanna Ackley G Shea Dechant G Vanessa Alexander F Stephanie Dasbach C Emma Fee C

Ht. 5-7 5-8 5-8 5-7 5-11 5-6 5-10 5-10 6-1 6-1 5-9 6-2 5-7 5-11 6-1 6-1

Yr. So. Sr. Fr. Fr. So. Sr. Sr. Fr. Fr. So. Fr. Fr. So. Fr. Fr. Sr.

Hometown Cedar Rapids, Iowa Wausau, Wis. Western Springs, Ill. Milwaukee, Wis. Markesan, Wis. Baraboo, Wis. New Prague, Minn.

Sauk City, Wis. Rochester, Minn.

Geneva, Ill. Oregon, Wis. Stratford, Wis. Kimberly, Wis. St. Michael, Minn.

Lombard, Ill. Burnsville, Minn.

Previous School George Washington HS Newman Catholic HS Hinsdale Central HS Brown Deer HS Markesan HS Baraboo HS New Prague HS Sauk Prairie HS John Marshall HS Batavia HS Oregon HS Stratford HS Kimberly HS St. Michael-Albertville HS Willowbrook HS Burnsville HS

Coaching Staff Head Coach: Scott Ballard Associate Head Coach: Ana Wurtz Winona State Notables

The Warriors are currently 7-7 overall and 4-6 in the NSIC. WSU split the weekend series on the road their last time out, falling to Bemidji State and defeating Minnesota Crookston.

Winona State has the second-best defense in the NSIC South, allowing a scoring average of just 64.5 points/game.

WSU is knocking down shots from the field at a .428 rate and are fourth in the conference with a 76.3% free throw percentage.

Taylor Hustad currently leads the Warriors with 11 points/game and with 7.3 rebounds/game, a mark that is seventh in the NSIC. Emma Fee is coming off her second double-figure rebounding game of the season, where she dominated the glass for 10 boards at Minnesota Crookston. Fee is 13th in the league with 6.6 rebounds/game.

Caitlin Riley has shown her deep range for Winona State this season, averaging 2.2 three-pointers per game, a rate that is fifth in the NSIC. Riley has hit 31 of 87 three-point shots (.356) Emily Kieck is currently 13th in the NSIC in the assist/turnover ratio category; she has 46 assists compared to 40 turnovers, and is 11th in the league in assists (3.3/game).

Winona State will host the top two teams in the NSIC this weekend. Minnesota Duluth is second in the NSIC and the NSIC North with an 8-2 conference record, and St. Cloud State is atop both the league and NSIC North standings at 9-1.

MINNESOTA DULUTH WOMEN'S BASKETBALL # 0 3 4 11 12 20 21 22 23 24 25 31 32 33 34 42 45

Name Taytum Rhoades Taya Hakamaki Shaily Hakamaki Ann Simonet Gus Boyer Ani Tschida Payton Kahl Madelyn Granica Kaylee Nelson Brooke Olson Ella Hronksi Ella Gilbertson Maesyn Thiesen Abby Johnson Haley Hawkinson Sarah Grow Lauren Miller

Pos. Ht. G 5-9 G 5-9 G 5-9 G 5-7 G 5-10 G 5-9 G 6-0 G 5-11 G 5-8 F 6-2 G 5-10 G 6-0 G 6-0 F 6-0 G 5-9 F 6-2 F 6-2

Coaching Staff Head Coach: Mandy Pearson Assistant Coach: Katie Stark

Yr. Jr. So. So. 5th So. Jr. 5th Jr. Jr. Sr. Fr. So. Sr. Jr. Fr. 5th Sr.

Hometown St. Paul, Minn.

Cromwell, Minn.

Cromwell, Minn.

Brooklyn Park, Minn.

Waseca, Minn.

Lakeville, Minn.

Stoughton, Wis. Amery, Wis. Roseville, Minn.

Rice Lake, Wis. Mahtomedi, Minn.

Lake Zurich, Ill. Sauk Centre, Minn.

Eden Prairie, Minn.

Hibbing, Minn.

Circle Pines, Minn.

Zumbrota, Minn.

Previous School Minnehaha Academy HS Cromwell-Wright HS Cromwell-Wright HS Park Center HS Waseca HS Lakeville HS Stoughton HS Amery HS Roseville HS Rice Lake HS Mahtomedi HS Lake Zurich HS Sauk Centre HS Eden Prairie HS Hibbing HS Centennial HS Zumbrota-Mazeppa HS

ST. CLOUD STATE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL # 2 3 4 10 15 21 22 23 25 32 34 35 40 43 45

Name Pos. Tori Wortz G Elizabeth Wortz G Morgan Draheim G Brehna Evans G Jasmine Litt F Tori Peschel G Bridget Froehlke G Cailtyn Peterson G Abigail Goreneweg G Kelsey Peschel G Dru Henning F Courtney Freeberg C Nikki Kilboten F Erin Navratil G Katrina Theis F

Ht. 5-8 5-6 5-6 5-8 6-0 5-9 5-9 5-11 5-8 5-6 5-10 6-2 6-2 6-0 5-11

Yr. 5th So. Fr. Jr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Gr. So. Jr. Fr. So. 5th 5th Jr.

Hometown Hutchinson, Minn.

Hutchinson, Minn.

Hortonville, Wis. De Pere, Wis. Pulaski, Wis. Sauk Centre, Minn.

Greenleaf, Wis. Lakeville, Minn.

Forest Lake, Minn.

Sauk Centre, Minn.

Mukwanago, Wis. Waconia, Minn.

Eau Claire, Wis. Albany, Minn.

Maple Grove, Minn.

Coaching Staff Head Coach: Lori Fish Assistant Coaches: Jessica Hartmann, Cici Kieger

Previous School Hutchinson HS Hutchinson HS Hortonville HS West De Pere HS Pulaski HS Sauk Centre HS Wrightstown HS Lakeville North HS Forest Lake HS Sauk Centre HS Mukwanago HS Waconia HS Eau Claire North HS Albany HS Maple Grove HS

WINONA STATE UNIVERSITY WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: LAST TIME OUT WSU women's basketball drops raod contest at Bemidji State The Winona State University women's basketball team suffered a road loss to Bemidji State Friday evening by a score of 75-60.

The first quarter was a back-and-forth affair between the Warriors and Beavers, and a secondchance layup from Alex Dornfeld tied the game at 14-14 as time expired in the first quarter.

Bemidji State was able to outscore Winona State 20-11 in the second quarter, where BSU knocked down 10 of 15 free throws in the quarter alone. The Warriors found themselves trailing 25-34 heading into the halftime break.

The Beavers were able to build on their lead throughout the third quarter, and the Warriors trailed 41-59 heading into the final frame. Winona State was unable to build together a large enough comeback and eventually lost by a final score of 60-75.

Winona State shot 37% from the field on 21-57 shooting and went just 3-15 from deep. The Beavers shot 43% from the field and scored 17 points off 14 turnovers, while the Warriors were only able to score three points from the 11 turnovers they forced.

Individually, Emma Fee led Winona State with 14 points, and Taylor Hustad added 11 points and a team-high six rebounds. Caitlin Riley added nine points and Dornfeld scored nine as well to lead all nonstarters. Nine different Warriors contributed to Winona State's scoring efforts, while 12 players saw time on the floor.

For Bemidji State, Trinity Yoder led with 22 points on 8-13 shooting. Rachel Heittola added 14 points and a game-high eight rebounds, while Sydney Zerr rounded out the double-figure scoring for the Beavers with 12 points of her own.

WSU women's basketball heats up the gym to defeat UMC The Winona State University women's basketball team used great shooting to earn a conference victory on the road over Minnesota Crookston, by a score of 71-59.

The Warriors jumped out to comfortable lead in the first quarter, sinking four three-pointers on 8-14 shooting from the field en route to a 21-12 lead after the first. WSU extended their lead after outscoring UMC 15-13 in the second quarter to take a 36-25 lead at halftime.

The Golden Eagles were able to cut the score to eight points in the fourth quarter, but the Warriors were able to answer back and close the out game down the stretch with a 12-point victory.

Winona State had one of their best offensive performances of the season, shooting 47.2% from the field, highlighted by 12 of 24 from beyond the arc. The Warriors were able to pass for 16 assists on their 25 field goals made.

WSU had four players in double figures, and Mattie Schimenz led all scorers with 16 points.

Caitlin Riley went 4-9 from downtown and gathered eight rebounds. Lindsey Hahn poured in three 3s of her own and totaled 11 points.

Emily Kieck had another great game distributing the ball for six assists and scoring 10 points, including 5-6 shooting from the charity stripe. Emma Fee corralled a game-high 10 rebounds to go along with her six points.

Minnesota Crookston shot 39% from the floor and 36.8% from deep. Mary Burke led UMC with 15 points and Emma Carpenter contributed with 13 of her own in a game-high 35 minutes.

WINONA STATE UNIVERSITY WOMEN'S BASKETBALL STATISTICS

WINONA STATE UNIVERSITY WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

WINONA STATE UNIVERSITY WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

WINONA STATE UNIVERSITY WOMEN'S BASKETBALL Scott Ballard Seasons as Head Coach: 32nd season Seasons at Winona State: 18th season Record at Winona State: 286-195 (.595) Career Record: 555-327 (.629) Alma Mater: Southwest Missouri State, 1979

A teacher with over 30 years of coaching experience, Scott Ballard has become synonymous with Winona State women's basketball success.

Ballard has surpassed 500 wins overall (555-327 / .629) across three NCAA Division II programs during his collegiate career, and owns a 286-195 Warrior win-loss mark. His teams are 188-148 in NSIC competition. Ballard is currently 11th among active NCAA Division II women's basketball coaches in total career wins.

Entering his 18th season in 2021-22, Ballard has brought winning basketball to Winona State by guiding the Warriors to the NCAA Tournament three times – the first three postseason appearances in program history. He also owns the top Warrior spot in four Winona State coaching categories; Wins (286), Winning Percentage (.595.0%), Years Coached (18) and Games Coached (481).

The Warriors have posted 13 seasons of .500-or-better NSIC marks in Ballard's tenure, including a 12-10 conference record in 2019-20. In terms of NSIC post-season play, Ballard's Warrior teams have reached at least the quarterfinals of the NSIC Tournament in six straight campaigns.

Winona State has won at least 15 games 11 times under Ballard, including reaching the 20 victory mark seven times. He also coached Michelle McDonald, the first NCAA Division II All-American in school history.

Ballard tutored McDonald to All-American and All-Region honors during the 2011-12 season while also helping Ana Wurtz to All-Region accolades after the 2008-09 campaign.

One of the hallmarks of Ballard’s teams is their academic performance. Since taking in the reigns as head coach in 2004-05, he has had 79 academic All-NSIC honorees. Winona State finished fourth nationally in the WBCA Academic Top-25 after the 2010-11 season, posting a 3.578 grade point average for the academic year. WSU has been in the WBCA Academic Top-25 in each of the last ten seasons, including a 15th-place finish nationally most recently.

Ballard became a college coach in 1990, taking over the women’s basketball program at Missouri Southern State. In five seasons at Missouri Southern State he recorded four winning seasons and posted an overall record of 102-42. Ballard moved on to Central Missouri State (now the University of Central Missouri) in 1995. In nine seasons at Central Missouri Ballard had eight winning seasons and posted an overall mark of 167-90.

Prior to his successful career in the collegiate ranks, Ballard was the head coach at Marshfield (Missouri) High School. From 1981-90 he won four district championships and claimed the Class 3A Missouri State Championship in 1988, 1989 and 1990. He was named the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association and Missouri Sports Writers and Broadcasters Coach of the Year in each of those seasons as well. At one point of his high school coaching career, Ballard led Marshfield High to 96 consecutive wins.

Ballard graduated from Southwest Missouri State University in 1979 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education. In 1988 he earned a Master of Science degree in Education from Drury University.

Ballard lives in Winona with his wife, Nita. They have four children - Ryan, Justin, Rory, and Shalee - and eight grandchildren.

WINONA STATE UNIVERSITY WOMEN'S BASKETBALL Associate Head Coach

Ana Wurtz

After a highly successful playing career at Winona State, Ana Wurtz rejoined the Warrior coaching staff as the assistant coach in 2013-14. She was named associate head coach prior to the 2018-19 season, and was named to the Winona State Athletics Hall-of-Fame in the summer of 2020.

In the fall of 2021, Wurtz accepted her Winona State Hall-of-Fame spot on Oct. 4, joining a class of five other impactful Warrior student-athletes who were also honored.

Wurtz has tutored some of the top players in Warrior history, including current Winona State standouts Taylor Hustad and Allie Pickrain, both allNSIC selections following the 2019-20 season. Her recruiting and teaching skills paid off for WSU in the form of 2020-21 D2SIDA Women's Basketball Preseason mention, when the Warriors earned 'Receiving Votes' status among the NCAA Division II Central Region ranks.

Over the course of the 2017-18 and 2018-19 Warrior seasons, Wurtz was a part of WSU teams which went 32-26 overall and 22-22 in NSIC play. They advanced to the NSIC post-season both years, including a memorable 2017-18 post-season streak that ended in the NSIC title game against No. 10 Augustana on the championship court. Wurtz and Winona State won three post-season games, all on the road, en route to their championship appearance.

While at Wisconsin-Oshkosh during the 2012-13 season, Wurtz helped orchestrate an impressive turnaround, leading the team to a 20-6 overall mark after the Titans went just 7-18 in the season before her arrival. The team went 12-4 in conference play to finish second in the WIAC. Both of the Titans’ starting guards earned all-conference honors while the team finished third nationally in free throw percentage.

Wurtz spent two seasons as a graduate assistant with the Winona State program, helping lead the team to a 21-9 record during the 2010-11 season and the 2011 NSIC Tournament Championship. The Warriors also qualified for the NCAA Division II Tournament that year, just its second trip to the NCAA postseason in school history. She also helped WSU post an 18-11 mark during the 2011-12 campaign.

One of the best shooters in Winona State history, Wurtz was a two-time all-conference player while graduating as the school’s all-time leader in 3pointers made with 254. She is fourth on the WSU career scoring charts with 1,355 points. She led the Warriors to a program-record 24 wins during the 2008-09 season and helped the team earn its first-ever spot in the NCAA Division II Tournament. Wurtz was an all-region selection and was named the Winona State Female Athlete of the Year that season.

Wurtz graduated from Winona State in 2010 with a degree in Psychology. She also holds a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership and Sports Management from Winona State. Ana and her husband, Louis, reside in Winona.

WINONA STATE UNIVERSITY WOMEN'S BASKETBALL Hustad named NSIC Player to Watch; WSU voted fifth in NSIC South The Winona State University women’s basketball team heads into the 2021-22 season in the coming weeks and will be led by Taylor Hustad, who was tabbed as WSU’s player to watch heading into the season.

The Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) released their Preseason Coaches’ Poll, and Winona State was voted to finish fifth in the south division and 10th overall. Augustana was voted to finish first in the south division, while Minnesota Duluth was tabbed to finish first in the north and first overall.

The Warriors look forward to competing in a full season with a strong group of returning experience and exciting new talent. Head coach Scott Ballard will head into November with 17 student-athletes, including four seniors.

Hustad, a senior from New Prague, Minn. earned NSIC All-Conference Second Team last year, leading the Warriors in points scored (317), total rebounds (88) and minutes played (317). Hustad hauled in a season-high 15 rebounds against MSU-Mankato in an exciting 95-91 OT win on Feb. 6, 2021.

Emma Fee leads the Warrior way in the paint this winter, as the 6’1” senior from Burnsville, Minn. put together some dominating performances during the COVID-shortened 2021 campaign. Fee had heroics on multiple occasions last year, including a buzzer-beater to down Concordia-St. Paul 68-67 on Feb. 13 and dropped a career-high 30 points on Sioux Falls on Jan. 17 as well.

Veterans Caitlyn Riley and Emily Kieck round out the key leadership core for the Warriors, with Kieck leading the team with 36 assists last year. Riley had 10 starts and appeared in all 12 games.

Taylor Hustad 5'10" Forward Senior New Prague, Minn.

New Prague HS

WINONA STATE UNIVERSITY CAMPUS ADMINISTRATION Dr. Scott R. Olson was appointed the 15th president of Winona State University on May 16, 2012.

Prior to joining Winona State, Dr. Olson served as Provost, Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs, and Professor of Communication Studies at Minnesota State University, Mankato. During his time at Minnesota State Mankato, it saw significant growth in enrollment, diversity, innovation, industry partnerships, international programs, system collaboration, and applied research.

He served as Dean of the College of Communication, Information, and Media at Ball State University and as a faculty member at Central Connecticut State University. He also served for one year as Interim Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs in the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system.

He has published two books, 30 book chapters, and 22 journal articles in publications in the United States, Canada, China, Korea, Poland, Russia, and India. He has delivered over 100 papers at conferences in Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Korea, Poland, Taiwan, and the United States.

Through a $20 million gift from the Lilly Endowment he was able to create the Global Media Network (which won a national award from the American Council on Education) and the Center for Media Design.

Olson has served on 21 different international, national, and local boards, including current service on the Great River Shakespeare Festival Board of Directors, the Higher Learning Commission Institutional Actions Council, the Winona State University Foundation Board, and as Chair of the Executive Alliance of HealthForce Minnesota.

He won an Emmy Award and a Cine Golden Eagle Award in 2004 as Executive Producer of a documentary film about digital learning.

His Ph.D. is from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. He grew up in suburban Minneapolis.

WINONA STATE UNIVERSITY CAMPUS ADMINISTRATION Eric Schoh started with the Warriors on June 11, 2012. He has almost three decades of athletics experience in Division II, 17 as an athletic director in the NSIC, and is in his tenth year as the director of athletics at Winona State.

During his time as an AD, Schoh has served on the Division II Management Council from 2016-2020, serving as Vice Chair of the Council in 2018. Also during that time, he served on the DII Identity Subcommittee, and acted as chairperson in 2019. Other NCAA committee involvement included Championships Committee, Planning and Finance, DII Administrative Committee, DII Membership Committee, and the DII Committee for Legislative Relief. Schoh is the Past President of the Division II Athletic Directors Association and previously served on the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics’ (NACDA) executive committee. He currently serves on the DII Nominating Committee and Women’s Basketball Central Region Advisory Committee. Previously, he served on numerous sport committees, most recently the Central Region Softball Committee. He served on the DII Men's Basketball National Committee from 2010-2014, serving as the national chairperson the final two years. Schoh served on NACDA's Learfield Sports Directors' Cup Committee for several years, and stays involved with the D2ADA through its Mentoring Program, serving both as a mentor and faculty presenter over the past 11 years. Schoh was the recipient of the Under Armor Athletics Director of the Year award in 2015.

With a strong commitment to the student athlete experience, Warrior student athletes have continued to excel in the classroom and give back to the Winona area through community service. During spring 2021, the average student athlete term GPA was 3.43 (compared to 3.28 for the general student body) and the second highest on record. The average student athlete cumulative GPA through spring 2021 was 3.37 (compared to 3.22 for the general student body). There were 101 Warriors with perfect 4.0 GPAs in spring 2021, with 196 making the Dean’s List. The latest NCAA Federal Graduation Rate for the Warriors is 78%, which ranks first in the NSIC and 22nd out of 316 institutions in Division II. During the pandemic, the community service hours for the Warriors decreased dramatically. However, normally the Warriors log more than 3,000 hours of community service each academic year.

Over the past nine years, Warrior Athletic facilities have seen many improvements, including a complete renovation of McCown Gymnasium; installation of new turf and state-of-the-art video board at Altra Federal Credit Union Stadium; construction of a new gymnastics practice facility and locker room; an indoor training facility for men’s and women’s golf; new batting cages and practice mounds at softball; new infield, mound and scoreboard at baseball; complete renovation of Talbot Gymnasium, including a multi-purpose synthetic floor; remodeled W Room for home volleyball and basketball games; and the installation of a film room for all teams. A comprehensive facility master plan for Warrior Athletics was completed in 2017 and the department continues to make strides toward completing the facilities outlined in the master plan.

In the field of play, the Warriors continue to be known as a conference, regional and national contender, winning numerous regular season and conference championships over the past nine years. Several teams have advanced to NCAA post season play during Schoh’s tenure as well, including football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, volleyball, soccer, cross country, track and field, softball, gymnastics, men’s golf, and women’s golf. WSU hosted a football playoff game in 2017 and women’s softball regionals in 2014 and 2017.

Schoh served as athletic director at Wayne State College from 2004-12. At Wayne State, Schoh helped build Wildcat Athletics into a consistent presence on both the regional and national level. Wayne State won 13 NSIC regular season championships and six more conference tournament titles. The WSC women’s basketball team advanced to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight in 2012 and ended the season ranked fourth in the nation. More than 20 teams advanced to NCAA Tournament play under Schoh’s leadership.

A native of La Crescent, Minn., Schoh holds both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Iowa State University. Schoh also has worked as the Associate Athletic Director for Development at California State University, Bakersfield (2002-04); the Associate Athletic Director at the University of South Dakota (1999-2002); and as an Assistant Athletic Director at Montana State University, Billings (1995-97).

Schoh and his wife Stephanie have three children and one grandson: Paige (31) and River (5), Eric (26) and Tyler (25).

WINONA STATE UNIVERSITY CAMPUS ADMINISTRATION

Melanie was named Associate Athletic Director on May 17, 2018 and assumed her new role with the Warriors in July.

Previously, Brunsdon spent the past five years as the Assistant Athletic Director at Bellarmine University in Louisville, Kentucky where she oversaw compliance along with direct supervision over the men's and women's golf programs. At Bellarmine, she was a member and chair of the Staff Council, served on the Strategic Planning Advisory Committee and the Title IX Committee.

Brunsdon is also a member of the National Association for Athletics Compliance (NAAC) Division II Committee.

Prior to her time at Bellarmine, she served as the Associate Athletic Director/Director of Compliance at Lewis University in Romeoville, Illinois from 2012-13.

Brunsdon's connection with the NSIC includes roles as the Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance and Student Life/Senior Woman Administrator at Minot State University from 2009-12 and serving as the Director of Athletic Recruiting at Upper Iowa University from 2008-09.

Her wealth of experience also includes previous positions at Loyola University in Chicago, Illinois and the Horizon League in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Brunsdon earned a pair of bachelor's degrees in sport management (with a coaching endorsement) and psychology at Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa.

The Brandon, Wisconsin native resides in Winona with her husband, Paul, daughter, Madeline, and twin boys, Cade and Graham.

WINONA STATE UNIVERSITY CAMPUS ADMINISTRATION

WINONA STATE UNIVERSITY CAMPUS ADMINISTRATION