Senior Allie Nelson is leading the team in assists and is third in scoring in the early going. UW-Superior athletics photo by Jade Jensen

UW-Superior’s move to the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference after 100-plus years in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference was made, in part, for better competitive balance.

The women’s basketball team, for example, had never won a conference title when the school sent an application for membership to the UMAC in 2014.

But this year they’re the defending champions who won’t be defending a championship.

The Yellowjackets went out with a bang, going 19-8 overall and 12-4 in the WIAC last season, continuing a progression that included a school-record 19 wins in 2012-13 and WIAC championship appearances in 2014 and 2015.

“That feeling was indescribable,” senior Hadley Skalmoski said.

That’s in the past now. The new plan is to come in and dominate the UMAC, right?

“There is zero level of, ‘we’re just going to come in and dominate,’ because that’s just not a fact,” coach Don Mulhern said. “People’s perceptions might not be where the UMAC is going to be. We know we’ve got to work as hard and harder. We’re not going to have anything handed to us and that’s OK.”

Particularly noting the talent at defending co-champions Northwestern and Minnesota-Morris as well as the rise of St. Scholastica, Mulhern, who tried studying as much game video on his new opponents this summer as possible, made it clear this transition won’t be easy.

Yet the Yellowjackets are keenly aware of something noteworthy that lies in front of them.

“I told our players that we have a very unique opportunity that very few people ever have in their lives, which is a chance to two years in a row, win two conference championships in two different conferences,” Mulhern said. “You’ve got to grab life and grab the opportunity, so we’re taking this as a real opportunity to do something special that very few people have a chance to do.”

Plus, there is one goal Superior wasn’t able to accomplish in the WIAC: an NCAA Tournament bid. To be in position for one this year, they’ll have to replace second team All-American and career scoring leader Sally Linzmeier, as well as fellow first team all-WIAC recipient Brynn Liljander. Those two accounted for 41.1 percent of Superior’s scoring alone, with Linzmeier the only player in double figures at 17.7.

Luckily there are players in the program who have waited and worked for a shot.

Mulhern raved about senior captains and starters Skalmoski, Allie Nelson, Grace Kennedy and Allyssa Lindberg. For him, that group is a sign the program has built stability.

“My seniors this year have been phenomenal with setting the standard of off-court behavior, on-court expectations and all those sorts of things that seniors need to do, they’re doing it,” Mulhern said. “I’m hyped because they last year saw what it took and they’ve taken it upon themselves to do that and more with this year’s group. It’s exciting.”

Skalmoski is averaging 11.6 points and 6.4 rebounds during Superior’s 3-2 start, while Nelson has made 9 of 21 3-pointers and is averaging 9.4 points per game. Sophomore Hailey Kontny leads the way with a 13.8-point scoring average thus far.

“After losing a lot of our offensive players last year, I’d say this year we’ve really just made it a priority to make it a team offense instead of just relying on certain people,” said Skalmoski, noting last season’s six seniors have had a major influence on how she goes about her leadership role.

After dropping a Friday night game to UW-La Crosse, 66-62, the Yellowjackets picked up an impressive 71-68 win at UW-Eau Claire the following night, guided by Skalmoski’s 16 points.

They may no longer be conference rivals, but there was still plenty of motivation; it was only Superior’s second win there in the last 10 years.

“Those last few minutes playing at Eau Claire were legitimately our last few minutes ever playing there, so I think that sparked our passion to finally win a game on that court,” Skalmoski said of what keyed a 17-8 fourth quarter.

The lasts are becoming fewer, the firsts more prevalent.

UMAC play begins Dec. 5 and 6 at Bethany Lutheran and Martin Luther. While the team has played some league opponents in non-conference play prior, it soon begins its first full run through the Friday-Saturday schedule.

“Our mindset this year is to set the bar high,” Skalmoski said. “Have high standards and ultimately qualify for (the NCAA Tournament).”

Caltech gets SI spread 

Caltech's men's basketball team has been in the national headlines before, but never quite like this. 

The unfathomably long losing streaks might be in the past and Sports Illustrated featured the Beavers in last week's edition of the magazine, seeking "the formula for turning around the most un-turn-around-able program in the history of college basketball." 

Whether you’re familiar with the program’s story or not, I’d encourage you to give the piece a read.

In it, Chris Ballard describes this year's team as, "the new Caltech. No longer is the program about one or two players. No one talks about winning ‘a’ game anymore." 

As noted here last week, Caltech opened the season with an 86-77 win at Occidental. The Beavers followed that with a road trip north, where they lost a competitive 80-58 game at No. 3 Whitworth before being blown out 111-73 by Whitman.

The home opener is Wednesday night against Linfield.

St. John’s makes St. Cloud statement

Pat McKenzie’s coaching career got off to a stellar start Friday as St. John’s beat Division II St. Cloud State 83-80.

The Johnnies outscored the Huskies 16-6 over the last 4 1/2 minutes and have now won back-to-back meetings in the series for the first time since 1983.

Alex Schmitt scored 26 points, hitting 11 of 15 field goals including all four 3-point attempts.

Triple double alert

UC-Santa Cruz’s Adam Marlow notched 13 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds for a triple double Sunday against Lewis and Clark. Marlow made four of six field goals including two 3-pointers in the Banana Slugs’ 73-70 win, their first of the season.

Men’s notes

Coe clinched the all-sports Bremner Cup against rival Cornell with an 80-65 win last Monday, then upset No. 23 UW-Oshkosh 75-70 Friday before a narrow 71-68 loss to NAIA No. 21 Robert Morris-Chicago … No. 15 St. Olaf missed a three at the buzzer that would have forced overtime at No. 9 UW-Stevens Point last Tuesday, one of two top-25 matchups involving West teams … No. 4 St. Thomas had an impressive showing at the Hoopsville Classic, beating No. 18 Emory 82-70 and Southern Vermont 79-67 … Northwestern (Minn.) has followed up a run to the Sweet 16 with a 4-0 start, including three wins over MIAC teams … Wartburg scored 100-plus points in two straight games (wins over Grinnell and Emmaus) for the first time since 1979 … Reigning IIAC MVP Andre Norris put up 37 points in Dubuque’s 79-67 victory over MacMurray.

Women’s notes

No. 22 Bethel struggled in the lone meeting of ranked teams involving a West region squad last week, shooting 21.6 percent in a 65-43 loss to No. 13 Maryville … Paul Brunner, a 2014 North Central (Minn.) grad who took over the women’s team on an interim basis in August, secured his first victory when the Rams beat Hamline 70-64 in overtime … Redlands prevailed over The Master’s College, ranked 14th in NAIA, 74-67 … Willamette’s 89 points in a 24-point win over Multnomah were its most since beating Elms 92-40 in 2002 … Meg Clark’s layup with 2.8 seconds left gave St. Catherine a 54-53 win over Occidental to complete a 2-0 trip to Los Angeles … Coe’s Aleena Hobbs was named to the D3hoops.com team of the week after a 28-point, 10-rebound performance in a 70-59 win over Cornell, head coach Nate Oakland’s debut.