UW-Platteville's Liz Tesch earned first team all-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference basketball honors and was one of three finalists for the league player of the year award.
Tesch, a senior center from Dorchester (Colby High School), scored 393 points, the 10th-highest point total in Pioneer history. Her 14.6 points per game ranked fourth in the WIAC, while her 50.7 shooting percentage was second.
By making 70.9 percent from the line throughout her four years, Tesch broke the Pioneer all-time free-throw percentage record. In addition, her 46.7 percent from the floor constitute the second-best shooting in the Pioneer record books.
With 36 points in a win against UW-La Crosse Feb. 7, Tesch scored the third-most points in UWP history. That began a span of where she averaged better than 22 points per game to end her year. Tesch helped the Pioneers to their first WIAC playoff game since 2001, as the Pioneers defeated second-seeded UW-Whitewater 75-74, advancing to the league semifinals.
"It's a tremendous honor for Liz,' said Pioneer Coach Tina Kuhle. "The last five or six games of the season she really demonstrated her dominance."
Tesch earned two WIAC Player of the Week awards this season. She was an honorable mention all-league pick last year who finished her career with 884 points and 365 rebounds.
She was one of two seniors on this year's squad, which was 11-16 overall.
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First Team
Name, School, Year, Position, Height, Hometown (High School)
Heidi Arciszewski, Eau Claire, Sophomore, Guard, 5-9, Thorp
Lindsey Buechner, Whitewater, Junior, Center, 5-11, Cross Plains (Middleton)
Michelle Burns, Eau Claire, Junior, Forward, 5-11, Eau Claire (North)
Kelsey Duoss, Stout, Senior, Forward, 6-2, Janesville (Clinton)
Becky Knapp, Oshkosh, Senior, Guard, 5-6, West Allis (Hale)
Katie Moench, Superior, Senior, Guard, 5-7, Carlton, Minn.
Laura Neuenfeldt, Stevens Point, Junior, Guard, 5-11, Two Rivers
Savanah Oeltjen, Stout, Senior, Guard, 5-8, Spring Valley, Minn. (Kingsland)
Traci Reimann, River Falls, Senior, Center, 6-0, North Branch, Minn.
Katy Searing, La Crosse, Senior, Forward, 5-11, Mukwonago
Liz Tesch, Platteville, Senior, Center, 6-0, Dorchester (Dolby)
Whitney Tyriver, Oshkosh, Junior, Guard, 6-0, Oshkosh (West)
Honorable Mention
Mackenzie Hunter, La Crosse, Sophomore, Forward, 6-0, Eau Claire (Regis)
Chelsea Kranz, Stevens Point, Junior, Forward, 6-0, Columbus
Melanie Preiner, River Falls, Senior, Guard, 5-6, Stillwater, Minn.
Trisha Thill, Whitewater, Junior, Guard, 5-9, Belgium (Ozaukee)
All-Defensive Team
Michelle Burns, Eau Claire, Junior, Forward, 5-11, Eau Claire (North)
Kelsey Duoss, Stout, Senior, Forward, 6-2, Janesville (Clinton)
Melanie Preiner, River Falls, Senior, Guard, 5-6, Stillwater, Minn.
Traci Reimann, River Falls, Senior, Center, 6-0, North Branch, Minn.
Trisha Thill, Whitewater, Junior, Guard, 5-9, Belgium (Ozaukee)
Player of the Year: Kelsey Duoss of UW-Stout
Judy Kruckman Scholar-Athlete: Nathalie Lechault of Stevens Point
Coach of the Year: Mark Thomas of Stout