MENOMONIE, Wis. - The University of Dubuque women's basketball team continue to evolve and improve into a team which looks much different from what Spartan fans watched last season. What the Spartans lack in height has been more than balanced with quickness from a strong core of seniors and underclassmen. Competing in the UW-Stout Thanksgiving Turkey Shootout this weekend, Coach Mark Noll and assistant Kelsey Steinhagen returned to their alma mater and ran away with the championship title. The Spartans were held in check at the start of the championship game, but began to open up their lead by 15 points at halftime. UD sprinted out in the second half and led by as many as 27 points en route to cruising to an 87-62 dominating win against the host UW-Stout Blue Devils Sunday afternoon.
UD's Meggie Schmidt, a three sport student-athlete for the Spartans, may have been second guessing her decision to forgo her senior season in volleyball to concentrate on basketball. This weekends' effort may hide those thoughts. Schmidt finished with 22 points on Saturday afternoon and added 17 points on Sunday afternoon to average 19.5 points in the tournament. She sank 11-19 attempts from the field (57.9%), 7-11 from the three point arc (63.6%), and missed just two free throw 10-12 (83.3%) after playing an average of 29 minutes a game.
The Spartans displayed a different starting line-up and it worked. Freshman Abbey Meyer got the nod and quickly scored the first basket of the game and would finish with 16 points, two assists, and two steals in her first collegiate start. Kayla Springer had the hot hand from the outside as she sank all four of three point attempts to lead all scorers with 19 points. After extending their lead, UD was able to work 14 student-athletes into the contest with 10 of them scoring. The Blue Devils played 18 student-athletes trying to find some offense, but they would struggle sinking just 21-61 attempts from the field (34.4%). UD connected on 28-55 attempts from the field (50.9%) and 9-17 from the three point area (52.9%).
The Spartans (4-1 overall) will host the North Park University Vikings (4-1 overall) on Jon Davison Court in Stoltz Sports Center at 7:00 p.m.