Titans To Play Exhibition Game Against Division I Phoenix

For the second time in three seasons, UW-Oshkosh will begin its women's basketball schedule with an exhibition contest against perennial NCAA Division I postseason contender UW-Green Bay.

UW-Oshkosh and UW-Green Bay will play at noon on Saturday (Oct. 29) at the Kress Events Center in Green Bay.

The Titans and the Phoenix also met in an exhibition game at the Kress Events Center to commence the 2014-15 campaign. UW-Green Bay won that matchup, 61-34, as the Phoenix owned a 41-28 rebounding advantage and recorded 15 steals.

UW-Oshkosh is one of just eight programs to advance past the first round at each of the past three NCAA Division III Championships while UW-Green Bay has produced 39 consecutive winning seasons and made its 19th straight NCAA postseason appearance a year ago.

"Regardless of the final score, we know that we gain tremendous experience that we can use throughout the season," said UW-Oshkosh head coach Brad Fischer. "My hope is that we are also able to help UW-Green Bay get ready for what I'm sure will be another great season for their team."

Fischer, who enters his fifth season at UW-Oshkosh with a 92-23 coaching record, welcomes back 14 letter winners, including seven players who saw action against UW-Green Bay in 2014.

Last year, UW-Oshkosh compiled a 23-6 record and ranked third in the Division III with 12.1 turnovers per game and 15th by allowing just 51.1 points per contest.

The Titans rank seventh nationally this preseason by Women's D III News and are predicted to capture this year's WIAC championship after finishing second in the league's title chase the past four seasons.

UW-Oshkosh returns nearly 80 percent of its points scored from last season and more than 70 percent of its rebounds from a squad that won its third straight WIAC tournament title and concluded the year ranked 13th in the country by D3hoops.com. The Titans defeated UW-Superior, 63-53, before losing 66-56 to Wartburg College (Iowa) in the second round of the NCAA Division III Championship.

Headlining the UW-Oshkosh returners are junior forward Eliza Campbell, senior forward Alex Richard and senior guard Taylor Schmidt, who each scored a team-high six points against the Phoenix in 2014 and earned All-WIAC honors a year ago.

Schmidt, a two-time All-WIAC first team selection, was also recognized as a 2016-17 preseason "Top 24 Selection" by Women's D III News. Last season, Schmidt paced the team with 11 points per game while averaging 2.7 assists, 2.1 rebounds and 1.5 steals per contest.

Campbell was second on last year's squad with 9.3 points per contest while Richard was third with 8.7.

Also back from UW-Oshkosh's 2014 contest at UW-Green Bay are junior forward Taylor Dagon, senior guard Morgan Kokta, junior guard Emma Melotik and senior forward Madeline Staples. Staples scored five points against the Phoenix while Kokta added two points and Dagon one.

Kevin Borseth, who enters the fifth season of his second stint at the helm of the Phoenix, owns a 323-85 coaching record at UW-Green Bay. He has guided the Phoenix to a 107-23 record over the past four seasons.

UW-Green Bay, which has won 18 consecutive Horizon League championships, plays its second and final exhibition game of the 2016-17 preseason against NCAA Division II Northern Michigan University on Nov. 3. UW-Green Bay will host Elon University (N.C.) in its regular season opener on Nov. 11.

UW-Green Bay returns its top three scorers from last year's team that compiled a 28-5 record and lost to the University of Tennessee in the first round of the NCAA Division I Championship. Allie LeClaire paced the Phoenix with 12.5 points per contest last season, followed by Mehryn Kraker with 12.6 and Jessica Lindstrom with 10.0.

"We are very appreciative of the relationship we have with Coach Borseth and his program," said Fischer. "There are many friendships among both the players and coaches (of the two teams) and we are grateful for the opportunity to prepare for our season in this manner."

LeClaire and UW-Oshkosh's Eliza and Olivia Campbell were high school teammates at Notre Dame Academy in Green Bay when the Tritons won a pair of WIAA Division 2 state championships (2013 & 2014). The Titans' Schmidt and UW-Green Bay's Anna Dier helped Algoma High School to the 2013 WIAA Division 4 state title.

UW-Green Bay's recent exhibition contests have included Division III programs St. Norbert College in both 2009 and 2015 and UW-Stevens Point in 2010. The Titans also played an exhibition game against the University of Wisconsin on Nov. 8, 2009. The Division I Badgers downed UW-Oshkosh, 106-39.

"It is no accident that UW-Green Bay competes at the highest level every season," Fischer said. "We are striving to do at our level what they have been able to do at theirs. Coach Borseth established the 'Green Bay Way', and we're working on developing the 'Oshkosh Way' for ourselves."

UW-Oshkosh begins its regular season at Edgewood College on Nov. 15. The Titans' home opener is Nov. 29 against St. Norbert College.