Photograph by Jodi Krautkramer


Senior Stacia Nemitz brings the ball to the net during practice. The women’s basketball season opener will take place at home at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17.

After scrimmaging during the summer, the UW-Platteville women’s basketball team is ready to start the 2009-2010 season. Official practice began Oct. 18 to gear up for the home opener Tuesday Nov. 17.

“We would scrimmage twice a week in summer, and when we got to school we would work out four days a week in the morning as a team,” senior Charity Stotmeister said. “So we got ourselves in good shape before practice even started.”

Head coach Tina Kuhle said the team has been conditioning for the season since September.

“They condition as a team with agility drills, stadium stairs, a timed mile and other basic conditioning drills,” Kuhle said.

“We have worked harder in our summer and in the pre-season this year than ever before,” Stotmeister said.

Of the 15 women who made the team, 11 are freshman or sophomores.

“We have more depth this year,” Stacia Nemitz said.

Even though the team is fairly young, they have set high goals for the season.

“We want to finish first in the WIAC Conference Championship,” said Kuhle. “We would also like to win all of our home games and non-conference games and also host the first round in the WIAC tournament.”

“Everyone’s main goal is to win conference, but realistically we want top three,” Stotmeister said. “We also want to host a tournament game, and just build our presence at home by winning at home.”

This year’s captains include the three seniors on the team: Stotmeister, Nemitz and Dru Schneider. Stotmeister and Schneider are three-year letter winners for the UW-P womens basketball squad.

The team only lost one senior, Lisa Grantman, at the end of the last year.

“[Grantman] was a great player who did a lot for the basketball program at UW-P but we have gotten some great freshmen this year, and the returners have really worked hard this summer,” Nemitz said. “She will be missed but we have almost gained as a team with our newer players and returners.”

The women’s basketball team will host their first game at home against Millikin University, at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17.