We found this Falcon fan watching their favorite team. 2009-2010 season expected to have many fans of all ages.

Come watch them play November 17 at 7:00 pm for their home opener.

Little Falcon fan

UWRF Players working hard

This was taken from the UWRF Student newspaper.

By Renee Thony

Published November 12, 2009

After finishing sixth in the WIAC last season, the Falcon women are looking forward to the 2009-10 season to make an impression in a competitive conference.

“We need to be the best team we can become throughout the season,” tenth-year head coach Cindy Holbrook said about the team’s goals for the upcoming season. “We have the potential to be very good, maybe top three in the WIAC.”

Holbrook is returning every member of last year’s squad. In addition, five freshmen are looking to make a mark at UWRF.

“[The freshmen] bring a lot of talent,” sophomore guard Tiffany Gregorich said. “They can all come in and help, depending how they adjust to everything.”

Gregorich also said the freshmen add quite a bit of height to the roster.

Brittany Gregorich is a 5’9” forward, hailing from Altoona, Wis. Nikki Guhr, 5’7” guard, joins the Falcons from Muskego, Wis., and Tracie Gillund is a 6’0” forward from Blaine, Minn. Lindsey Olson is a 6’0” forward from Plainview, Minn. Each player will add depth to the team.

Melissa Carmody is a 5’7” guard from Barneveld, Wis., and she said one of the biggest differences between high school ball and Division III basketball is the level of intensity on the court.

“I’ve had to work on getting a lot quicker on defense,” Carmody said, “and much more physical.”

Holbrook said she expects the freshmen group to make an impact in the women’s basketball program at UWRF.

“We have a very good freshmen class that will help our depth this year,” she said.

With all five starters returning as well as every member off the bench from the 2008-09 season, Tiffany Gregorich said she’s looking forward to a better season this year.

Gregorich, who averaged 12.3 points per game, was named to the 2008-09 All-Conference Team as an Honorable Mention as a freshman. She finished in the conference’s top ten lists in assists (2.50/game), field goal percentage (.485), three-point field goal percentage (.350), steals (2.42/game) and three-point field goals made per game (1.38).

“My goal for our team this year is to do better than last year,” the Altoona, Wis., native said. “We have everyone returning, so I would hope we do better and grow as a team.”

Gregorich said that during the off-season she, personally, worked on getting a quicker release on her shot.

Amongst the full list of returners are sophomore forwards Taylor House and Alise Holst. Holst placed in the conference’s top ten rebounders, averaging 7.2 per game; she also finished the season with 45 assists. House was part of the conference’s top five shot blockers with a total of 41 on the season, giving her an average of 1.58 per game.

Also returning are guards Katie Theisen, Tess Lardie, Lauren Pellowski, Jenna Hanson, Kelli Hilt and forward Maranda Dohrn. Lardie and Hanson averaged 6.0 and 7.1 points per game, respectively, for the Falcons last season. Pellowski averaged 2.4 rebounds and 3.3 points per game. Hilt was named to the 2008-09 All-Conference Sportsmanship Team, and Dohrn finished in the top-three for rebounds in the WIAC, with 200 on the season, an average of 7.7 per game.

The Falcons will have a total of 14 names on its roster for the 2009-10 season.

Tiffany said the team conducted its usual routine in the summer and fall.

“We had lifting and running three times a week,” she said. “We also had open gym four times a week. We all had to work on getting in good shape.”

Holbrook said it’s equally important for the players to work independently in the off-season as it is for them to work together as a team.

“Our players work individually to become better players during the off-season,” she said. “They lift and run and play as much as they can. That’s really the time the best players separate themselves by working hard independently while others might be slacking off. That’s how you pass people from season-to-season.”

Having told her players they could potentially see a top-three conference finish this year, the team seems to have its sights set high.

“I think it would be cool to be one of the top three teams in the conference,” Carmody said. Olson, too, said she hopes the team can finish in the top-three.

“We’re athletic, versatile and hardworking. I like our team a lot,” Holbrook said. “Everything depends on how driven our players will be to play to our strengths, trust the system and do the little things right on a daily basis.”

“Our goals are simple,” Pellowski said. “We want to do things right, play hard and be the best we can be.”

The Falcons open their season at home agaisnt Crown College at 7 p.m. on Nov. 17.

The Falcon women’s basketball team is thinking the final four….. the final four practices before there first game Tuesday November 17 at  7:00 at the Karges Center. They will be hosting Crown College.

“We have a host of things we want to get done before our first game,” said head Coach Cindy Holbrook, ” but we are excited to be counting down to the final four pratices and get into the real games.”

“We hope to be successful and entertaining for our fans this year.” said Holbrook. “The players worked hard and are ready for tip off after these final four practices.”

Freshmen waiting to get in

Coach Traci Reimann, Coach Kathy Holbrook, Coach Mike Babler and Head Coach Cindy Holbrook

The UWRF women’s basketball team took the court for the first time on Monday night for their only scrimmage of the preseason. Three 20 minute sessions were played with no score being kept. Impressive and still got work to do can describe this outing.

“I was very pleased with what went on today.  I think we learned a lot and it was a good chance to evaluate our whole team because everyone got a good amount of time out on the floor,” said Head Coach Cindy Holbrook. “The timing for this scrimmage was excellent.  We were ready to get out and play a little bit against somebody else and in a game-like atmosphere,” added  Holbrook  ”I thought we fought hard, shared the ball well and were really sharp at times.”

“I thought we had some excellent leadership.  I liked the way we rebounded as well as the way we attack on the offensive and defensive ends of the court.” Holbrook said. “I really thought we got better today. It was a fun day, close to a game like environment without the score being kept.”

The Falcon’s were the aggressive team

“I think one of our best attributes this year can be our pursuit of the ball, whether it is on offense or defense. If we make the hustle plays and get after it consistently we can be very effective,” Holbrook said.

Falcon’s set to get it and go.

The Falcon fans got a dash of the past along with a glimpse at the future during Monday night’s action. The returning guards and wings were turned loose in the open court and played up-tempo style that they are accustomed to.

“It’s fun.” said Holbrook “We don’t like to slow it down unless we have to. With the athletes that we have and the posts that can run up and down the floor, up tempo is the best situation for us. We have opportunities to get easy shots, and we have players that can stretch the defense by hitting some threes off the break.”

“The difference from this year and last year is that we have more depth now,” Holbrook said. “We can do different things with the group of players we have. I saw good things out of each of our returners and our freshmen.”

Are there things that needed to be worked on?

“This is a scrimmage for a reason, we need to work on out execution in running our offense,” said Holbrook, “Our posts played very well, we need to do a better job of seeing and getting them the ball. I feel like our pressure defense has a ways to go, we need everyone to rotate quicker.”

“Our returning players and our freshmen can do better, and they will, they are a talented group. We got to see some good things tonight that make us excited to get the season going. I know I am excited and my staff is excited and the players had an excellent off season so they are excited. Coaches always like to have a lot of practices and preparation time, but I’m pretty sure our players are ready to get going with the games.” Said Holbrook.

The Falcon’s will kick off the official season on Tuesday, Nov. 17, playing host to Crown College for a 7:00 tip off at the Kargas Center.

Falcon's looking forward to the season

MADISON, Wis.–University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, the defending league champion, is the preseason favorite to win the 2010 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) women’s basketball crown, according to the league’s sports information directors.

UW-Stevens Point claimed five first-place votes in the WIAC survey and enters the season ranked No. 23 nationally by D3hoops.com.  The Pointers are coming off back-to-back NCAA championship appearances for the first time in program history and have earned four conference titles.  UW-Stevens Point has compiled 20-plus victories eight times in the past nine years and reached double-digits in WIAC wins all nine seasons.  A year ago, the Pointers ranked fifth in the NCAA Division III in turnovers per game (14.0) and sixth in field goal percentage (.453).

UW-Whitewater, ranked No. 8 by D3hoops.com, claimed two first-place tallies in the league predictions and is slotted for second in the nine-team derby.  The Warhawks own four WIAC crowns and have made consecutive NCAA championship showings, including a third-place finish in 2008.  UW-Whitewater’s 52 wins compiled in the last two seasons is the highest two-year total in program chronicles and this year’s squad will feature 21 players – its largest roster ever.

UW-Eau Claire and UW-Stout picked up the remaining first-place votes in the conference poll and are projected to place third and fourth, respectively.  The Blugolds have captured nine conference titles and own a league-high 15 NCAA championship appearances.  UW-Eau Claire will play six of its first seven games at Zorn Arena where they have posted a 36-3 overall and 23-1 WIAC record over the last three seasons.  Head coach Tonja Englund is 10 wins shy of 200 in her career and would become the seventh coach in WIAC history, and second in Blugold archives, to reach the mark.

UW-Stout has claimed five WIAC trophies and is ranked No. 25 by D3hoops.com.  The Blue Devils have finished no lower than fourth place in the league standings 10 of the last 11 years.  UW-Stout returns 66 percent of its scoring from a year ago and has been either the first or second-leading scoring team in the conference nine of the last 10 seasons.  The Blue Devils open the year with nine of 13 games away from Johnson Fieldhouse where they have amassed a 97-17 record since the 2000-01 season.  Head coach Mark Thomas in the longest tenured and winningest coach in the conference as he enters his 23rd season and is 12 wins away from 400 in his career.

UW-La Crosse is coming off its third winning season in the last four years with its 17 victories being the most since the 2005-06 campaign and third-most in the last 25 seasons.  The Eagles have 14 home contests this year and compiled an 8-3 record at Mitchell Hall a season ago.  UW-La Crosse set single-season school records in free throw shooting the last two years, shooting 74.9 percent in 2007-08 and 74.8 percent in 2008-09.

UW-River Falls returns all five starters from last year’s squad that increased its overall win total by six and WIAC sum by five from the previous season.  The Falcons will play seven of their first 11 contests away from home to start the 2009-10 campaign. 

UW-Oshkosh doesn’t have a senior on its 13-player roster for the second consecutive season.  Junior Dannielle Bauer, a transfer from Black Hills State University (S.D.), is one of the tallest players in the WIAC at six-foot-three.  The Titans have finished third or higher in the WIAC standings 17 times in the past 20 years.  UW-Oshkosh has compiled a 330-110 record the past 16 seasons, with a minimum of 19 victories in 13 of those campaigns.

UW-Platteville will be playing its home games on a newly remodeled Bo Ryan Court, where they finish the WIAC slate with five of their last seven contests.  Nine different people started games for the Pioneers last year with four of them returning.  The Pioneers have made at least one three-point basket in 175 straight games dating back to December 13, 2002.

UW-Superior looks to improve on back-to-back five-win seasons with the return of all five starters.   The Yellowjackets, who dropped five games by six points or less a year ago, will open their season at home for just the third time in the last 11 years.

2009-10 Preseason Predictions–Voted on by WIAC Sports Information Directors                   
                                         2008-09 Record
1. UW-Stevens Point (5)      14-2, 26-4
2. UW-Whitewater (2)          13-3, 23-5
3. UW-Eau Claire (1)           12-4, 24-6
4. UW-Stout (1)                  10-6, 16-11
5. UW-La Crosse                9-7, 17-9
6. UW-River Falls                7-9, 14-12
7. UW-Oshkosh                  2-14, 7-18
8. UW-Platteville                 5-11, 8-16
9. UW-Superior                   0-16, 5-20
(  )–First-Place Votes

Team Tidbits

UW-Eau Claire
Head Coach:  Tonja Englund; 10th season at UWEC; 190-67
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  8/8
Starters Returning/Lost:  2/3
Returning All-WIAC:  None

UW-La Crosse
Head Coach:  Lois Heeren; 17th season (11th at UWL); 169-241 (overall) / 117-139 (UWL)
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  12/6
Starters Returning/Lost:  1/4
Returning All-WIAC:  None

UW-Oshkosh
Head Coach:  Terri Schumacher; 5th season at UWO; 44-58
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  5/8
Starters Returning/Lost:  3/2
Returning All-WIAC:  Shelby Churchill, Jr., F (2009-Honorable)

UW-Platteville
Head Coach:  Tina Kuhle; 12th season (6th at UWP); 137-134 (overall) / 53-75 (UWP)
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  7/10
Starters Returning/Lost:  2/3
Returning All-WIAC:  None

UW-River Falls
Head Coach:  Cindy Holbrook; 10th season at UWRF; 119-114
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  9/1
Starters Returning/Lost:  5/0
Returning All-WIAC:  Tiffany Gregorich, So., G (2009-Honorable)

UW-Stevens Point
Head Coach:  Shirley Egner; 21st season at UWSP; 358-168
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  7/5
Starters Returning/Lost:  1/4
Returning All-WIAC:  Britta Petersen, Jr., P (2009-First)

UW-Stout
Head Coach:  Mark Thomas; 23rd season at UWS; 388-201
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  9/6
Starters Returning/Lost:  3/2
Returning All-WIAC:  Julia Hirssig, Sr., F (2008-First, 2008-Def., 2009-First, 2009-Def.)

UW-Superior
Head Coach:  Donald Mulhern; 18th season (4th at UWS); 193-266 (overall) / 18-57 (UWS)
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  9/3
Starters Returning/Lost:  5/0
Returning All-WIAC:  Hailey Hart, So., F (2009-Honorable)

UW-Whitewater
Head Coach:  Keri Carollo; 8th season at UWW; 117-73
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  12/6
Starters Returning/Lost:  2/3
Returning All-WIAC:  Kelsey Hendrickson, Sr., G (2008-First, 2009-First)

Four WIAC Women’s basketball teams are ranked in the USA Today preseason poll. Whitewater is ranked #13 and Stevens point is ranked #18. Two other teams receiving votes are Stout, #33 and Eau Claire #35.

With four teams in the top 35 teams in the country; this is why many say the WIAC is the top, or one of the top, D3 conferences in the nation.

Here is the poll.

USA TODAY ESPN DIVISION III TOP 25 COACHES’ POLL

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Preseason Poll: November 4, 2009

USA TODAY ESPN Top 25 women’s basketball poll, with first-place votes noted on the right, total points based on 25 points for first place through one point for 25th.

Others Receiving Votes: The College of New Jersey – 23; Randolph-Macon College (Va.) – 21; DeSales University (Pa.) – 18; University of Puget Sound (Wash.) – 16; William Paterson University (N.J.) – 16; Thomas More College (Ky.) – 15; Keene State College (N.H.) – 14; University of Wisconsin, Stout – 13; Tufts University (Mass.) – 12; University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire – 9; Baldwin-Wallace College (Ohio) – 8; University of Mary Washington (Va.) – 8; University of Rochester (N.Y.) – 7; Calvin College (Mich.) – 6; Whitman College (Wash.) – 6; Christopher Newport University (Va.) – 3; University of Pittsburgh Greensburg (Pa.) – 2; Messiah College (Pa.) – 1; State University of New York at Cortland – 1; Washington & Jefferson College (Pa.) – 1.

Getting ready to play some defense

 UW River Falls Falcon Women’s Basketball is ready to test themselves in a
 scrimmage Monday November 9 at Carleton College in Northfield MN at 6:00
 pm. This scrimmage will last about 90 minutes.

 With the screech of a whistle, the familiar sounds of bouncing basketballs
 and squeaking sneakers returned to the floor of the Karges Center three
 weeks ago. Coming off a 14-12 winning season a year ago, the Falcons enter
 the 2009-10 campaign with a squad that has a high energy level.

 According to head women’s basketball coach Cindy Holbrook, the energy is
 contagious as a young, but experienced and promising team sets its sites
 on playing someone else.

 ”For the past three weeks our focus has been on getting back to our
 up-tempo styles of offense and defense,” Holbrook said. “We’re also
 concentrating on passing and rebounding fundamentals along with breakdowns
 of our primary offenses and defenses. We have come along way in three
 weeks. However, we struggle sometimes in putting the drills, that they do
 so well, into our five on five sessions. That’s why we get a month of practice
to prepare for our first game. We need to use every one of those days.”

 ”These preseason five-on-five practices are a great opportunity to lay a
 foundation,” Holbrook said. ” Our returning players have seen most of this
 before, so it’s important they pick things up quickly. Everything we do
right now is invaluable to our freshmen.”

 ”Our freshmen are eager to learn,” Holbrook said. “Their work ethic and
 willingness to contribute in any way they can has been apparent. We need
 the team to work hard but also to work smart. After the first few weeks, I
 feel like we’re accomplishing the working hard part, and I also feel like
 we’re seeing progress toward working smart.”

 While Holbrook is patient with the gradual development of the team, she
 also sees the hunger of a team that is ready to compete.

 ”I’m excited, the coaches are excited, and the players are very
 excited,” Holbrook said. “We’ve been looking forward to playing someone
else to see how we measure up and see how much our players are catching
on to our system. I have to admit it’ll be nice to play and then have
another week to prepare before we play a real game.”

 Our focus will be defense and rebounding,” Holbrook said. “This started
 three weeks ago and that will be our focus the rest of the season. To win
 games, we have to be a strong defensive team and a strong rebounding
 team. We have to get stops and finish our defense, then we’ll worry about
getting the best scoring opportunity.”

 “I think we will learn some good things and some things we need to work on
 in our scrimmage,” Holbrook said. “Then let’s take that information and get
 ready for the season.”

How does Coach expect this season to go?

 “The WIAC is an outstanding conference, but if we do not make an upward
 move, I will be disappointed,” Holbrook said. “We’re going to be much
 deeper, which will make us more competitive. The players just need to work
 hard and smart and we should be better. I’m a big believer that if we take care
of the things we can control, the numbers in the W/L column will be where we
deserve them to be.”

Protecting the paint

This defense is hard work