Noll with Career Win #100, Spartans Move Into Second Place
Feb 19, 2014 | J.Crane
STORM LAKE, IOWA - University of Dubuque Head Women's Basketball Coach Mark Noll earned his 100th Career Victory on Wednesday night at Buena Vista. As a result of the Spartans 85-78 win and losses by Coe and Simpson, UD is now tied for second place in the Iowa Conference with one game remaining in the regular season. Jenna Kotas (Tinley Park, Ill./Andrew) once again paced the Dubuque offense with 19 points, her 12th straight game as the leading scorer. UD is 16-8 overall and 9-4 in the IIAC.
The opening 12 minutes of the game was a back-and-forth battle of wills with five lead changes, six tied game situations, and neither team leading by more than four points. A three-pointer by Kayla Springer (Altoona, Wis./Altoona) provided UD with the momentum swing needed to take control of the game at the 8:28 mark of the first half. The Springer three sparked a 14-3 run over the next three minutes and gave UD the lead for the rest of the game. A three-pointer by Meggie Schmidt (Edgerton, Wis./Edgerton) finally ended the run with the Spartans now leading 30-21 with five minutes left before halftime. Between three-pointers, it was a layup line for the Spartans with Kotas and Brittany Collier (Oswego, Ill./Oswego) each making two layups. A three-pointer by Emily Brinker (Baraboo, Wis./Baraboo) put UD ahead 33-26 as the Spartans made seven of eight shots from the field. A jumper by Kotas with 26 seconds left in the first half gave Dubuque a 41-32 lead going into halftime.
| Conference Standing | ||
| School | IIAC | ALL |
| Loras | 12-1 | 17-7 |
| Dubuque | 9-4 | 16-8 |
| Coe | 9-4 | 14-10 |
| Simpson | 9-4 | 14-10 |
| Buena Vista | 4-9 | 10-14 |
| Wartburg | 4-9 | 10-14 |
| Central | 3-10 | 11-13 |
| Luther | 2-11 | 11-13 |
The Spartans, winners of three straight and five of their last six now find themselves with a chance to earn a bye in the first round of the IIAC Tournament. After entering the day in fourth place, losses by Coe (66-73 to Wartburg) and Simpson (57-71 to Loras) have made the race for second place wide open. A second place finish would be the best regular season finish in the programs history.
Springer tied her career high with 16 points while also making 3-5 from beyond the arc and 3-4 from the free throw line. Collier and Schmidt each scored 12 points as four Spartans scored in double figures. Since entering the starting lineup on January 29th, Schmidt has averaged 7.4 points, 5.1 rebounds, and has recorded 11 steals. She also had a team high nine rebounds (four-offensive/five-defensive) in the game.
Defensively, the Spartans forced 19 BVU turnovers which led to 11 steals and a 14-7 advantage in points off turnovers. IIAC steals leader Jessica Goetz (Sussex, Wis./Arrowhead) had a team high three steals. Goetz has recorded at least one steal in 23 of 24 games this year including 12 games with three of more steals.
Stephany Remakel (Dubuque, Iowa/Hempstead) finished with nine points, six rebounds (three-offensive/three-defensive), two steals, and one block. The block by Remakel was her 45th of the year, becoming just the second UD Women's Basketball player with multiple season with 45 of more blocks. UD all-time blocks leader Jackie Ryan reached the mark in 1988-89 and 1989-90.
Head Coach Mark Noll became the first UD Women's Basketball coach to reach the century mark in career wins. His 55 IIAC wins are more than twice any other coach has won in the programs history.
| Most Career Wins in UD WBB History | ||||
| Coach | Wins | Losses | Win % | Years |
| Mark Noll | 100 | 83 | .546 | 2007-Current |
| Todd Huffman | 53 | 75 | .414 | 2002-2007 |
| Tim Williams | 43 | 46 | .483 | 1980-1984 |
| Tom Barnes | 35 | 43 | .449 | 1986-1989 |
| Jay Schiesl | 34 | 117 | .225 | 1991-1997 |
UP NEXT: The Spartans close out the 2013-14 regular season on Saturday, February 22nd at Luther College (11-13, 2-11 IIAC). Game time in Decorah is 2:00 pm. UD beat the Norse in the first meeting 66-60.
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