Schmidt Nominated For NCAA Woman Of The Year
UW-Oshkosh has named basketball’s Taylor Schmidt as its NCAA Woman of the Year candidate for 2017.
Schmidt, one of four nominees from the WIAC, 78 from basketball, 197 from Division III and 543 from the entire NCAA membership, was selected for her combination of success in the four pillars of the Woman of the Year Award – academics, athletics, service, and leadership.
Eligible female student-athletes for the NCAA Woman of the Year award are nominated by their member school. Each conference office then reviews the nominations from its core member schools (and sponsored sports) and submits its conference nominee(s) to the NCAA. Then, the NCAA Woman of the Year selection committee selects the Top 30, 10 from each division, and then three finalists from each division. The Committee on Women's Athletics selects the overall winner from the Top 9.
The 2017 NCAA Woman of the Year will be announced at an awards dinner on Oct. 22 in Indianapolis, Ind.
Schmidt, who earned her bachelor’s degree in communication in May, started each of UW-Oshkosh’s 119 games during her four seasons as the Titans compiled a 98-21 record and reached the NCAA Division III postseason each year.
With Schmidt at point guard, the Titans won three consecutive WIAC Tournament titles from 2014-16 before securing the league's regular-season championship in 2017.
Schmidt, a four-time All-WIAC honoree, was selected to the league’s top team the past three years after collecting honorable mention recognition in 2014. Schmidt earned 2017 WIAC Player of the Year and All-Defensive Team honors on the way to being named to All-America honorable mention teams by both D3hoops.com and the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association.
Schmidt’s list of accolades also includes Division III All-Central Region first team laurels in 2017 from D3hoops.com and all-region second team status in both 2015 and 2016.
In her senior year, Schmidt led UW-Oshkosh in scoring at 10.9 points per game, free throw percentage at .750 (90-120) and steals with 49. Her performance helped the Titans compile a 26-4 record en route to winning the WIAC regular-season title by three games.
Schmidt scored in double figures 20 times in 2017, including a season-high 20 points during a 77-65 victory over UW-Eau Claire on Jan. 14. She also recorded 14 points and a career-high nine assists in a season-ending 68-56 loss to Washington University in St. Louis (Mo.) on March 10.
Schmidt concluded her career as the school's leader in both free throws made (401) and attempted (513) while listing fifth on the program's scoring list with 1,281 points. She helped UW-Oshkosh become one of eight programs to win at least one game during each of the past four NCAA postseason tournaments. The Titans advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Championship in 2014 and 2017 as well as making second-round appearances in both 2015 and 2016.
Schmidt helped the Titans to records of 26-4 in 2014, 23-7 in 2015 and 23-6 in 2016. UW-Oshkosh’s 98 wins during Schmidt’s four seasons are its most since the Titans went 98-15 from 1997-2000.
Schmidt's career totals also include 321 assists, 287 rebounds and 124 3-pointers. She averaged 10.2 points per game during her freshman season in 2014 and 11 points per contest in both 2015 and 2016.
In the classroom, Schmidt compiled a 3.43 grade point average. The Algoma High School graduate was named the female winner of the 2017 UW-Oshkosh John Taylor Scholar-Athlete Award.
Schmidt, a member of UW-Oshkosh’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, was active in the Oshkosh and Algoma communities through her involvement with Special Olympics, Feeding America, myTEAM TRIUMPH, and youth sports clinics.
Other nominees from the WIAC were UW-Eau Claire’s Jessica Reineck (track & field), UW-La Crosse’s Elizabeth Frick (cross country and track & field) and UW-Platteville’s Megan Marotz (track & field).