#CUWStatsInfo: Winter teams gear up for final regular season run

MEQUON, Wis. – The winter sports season is winding down and several Concordia University Wisconsin athletic teams are gearing up for a deep conference tournament run. As the standings sit right now Men's and Women's Basketball, and Men's and Women's Hockey would be in their league tournaments. On the other hand, Wrestling and Men's and Women's Track & Field have their Championships set for February, with both teams expected to finish strong at each event.

Below we will take a look at some numbers for each winter sport and how they have contributed to each team's success, or how they could impact each team moving forward.

Women's Basketball – The Falcons are off to an impressive 16-3 start and currently sit in second place in the NACC with a 12-2 record. They have already clinched a spot in the conference tournament, scheduled to begin on February 22.

40+ – The Falcons are 9-0 when grabbing at least 40 rebounds. During those nine games they are recording 46.1 rebounds, including 18.2 offensive rebounds.

14 – CUW is defeating NACC opponents by an average of 14 points per contest, which has resulted in its 12-2 league record. They have nine victories by double-figures, including six by 20 or more points against conference foes.

Men's Basketball – CUW has been on a bit of a slide recently, falling in three of its past four games. The Falcons remain in seventh place in the NACC standings, with the top eight teams qualifying for the conference tournament.

38.8 – The Falcons are living and dying outside the 3-point line this season. As of Jan. 26, they rank 70th nationally with a 37.5 3-point field goal percentage. CUW has shot 40 percent or better in eight games this season from downtown.

5 – The remaining five games on CUW's schedule aren't going to be easy, as each team is above them in the NACC standings. They are 2-3 against those five teams and will need a major collapse in order to not clinch a berth in the NACC Tournament.

Men's Hockey – The Men's Hockey team enters the weekend on a four-game winless streak but sits in fifth place in the NCHA standings (top eight qualify). CUW has a big series against Marian University this weekend, beginning with a home game Friday at 7 p.m.

4 – CUW has already set four major single-season team records this season. The Falcons have scored 69 goals, recorded 119 assists and 188 points, all school records. CUW has also won eight games, which surpassed last year's seven wins.

.957 – The Falcons penalty kill has been strong as of late. Over its past six games, CUW has killed off 22-of-23 opponent power play opportunities. The only goal allowed in that time was a 5-on-3 score by Amherst College last Friday.

Women's Hockey – Women's Hockey has also been on a bit of a slide as of late. CUW hasn't won since January 3, but still plays everyone in the NCHA at least once the rest of the season. The Falcons are fifth in the league, with the top six teams qualifying for the Slaats Cup Playoffs.

136 – CUW has been one of the more disciplined teams in the NCHA this season, accounting for 136 penalty minutes. The 136 minutes in the box ranks second in terms of fewest in the conference, behind Lake Forest who has 122 penalty minutes, but have also played two fewer games than the Falcons to this point.

44 – Last season the Falcons offense struggled, finishing the season with just 34 goals in 25 games. CUW passed that mark several weeks ago and now have 44 goals through 18 contests, 2.44 per game. While the team is still searching for more consistent production, a big reason for the increased output has been a freshmen class that has combined for 40 points this season, including 21 goals.

Wrestling – Wrestling is gearing up for championship portion of their schedule with an invitational this weekend and two dual meets before the Northern Wrestling Association Tournament on February 15. The Falcons are 1-0 in conference dual meets this season, defeating MSOE 24-15 on January 9.

6 – It took junior Sean Ambrocio (San Antonio, Tex.) awhile to get fully healthy this season, but since the year hit 2014, he has been on a roll. The 125-pounder has won six in a row and is 8-1 on the season. Last weekend at the UW-Whitewater Border Brawl, he picked up a major decision, technical fall and won by forfeit.

22 – Junior Casey Kenealy (Hartford, Wis.) has been one of the top wrestlers for CUW this winter. Kenealy owns a 22-9 record, the 22 wins being most by a Falcons. He has won five in a row and 10 of his last 11 matches. Kenealy took third at the North Central College Invitational and UW-Stevens Point Open this season.

Women's Track & Field – CUW has had just one indoor meet this season, competing at the Private College Invitational two weeks ago. The Falcons are back in action Friday at the Tadd Metzger Invitational, hosted by Carthage College.

2 – Junior Emily Mauermann (Janesville, Wis.) was the top competitor for CUW at the season-opening meet, as she recorded a pair of top-five finishes. Mauermann placed third in the 200-meter dash, running a 27:36 before running a 1:02.13 in the 400-meter, good for a fifth-place finish.

1.5 – Sophomore Karli Tatum (Milwaukee, Wis.) started her season strong by throwing a personal record in the weight throw. Tatum had a toss of 12 meters and broke her previous record by 1.5 meters, setting the stage for a strong sophomore season.

Men's Track & Field – The Men's team also started its season a couple weeks ago. CUW earned a fourth place finish at the meet, gaining 88 points led by several strong individual performances.

4:23.7 – Senior Martin Hinze (Bourbonnais, Ill.) ran a 4:23.7 in the mile run, finishing first in the event. He was the only individual winner for both the Men's and Women's team at the event as he looks for a strong final season of competition.

2 – Sophomore Bathong Pham (Milwaukee, Wis.) recorded two PRs at the opening meet of the season. Pham posted his personal-best vault of 3.22 meters in the pole vault, good for a seventh-place finish. He then ran a 24.33 in the 200-meter dash, which was also a personal-best. Pham also competed in the long jump at the opening meet and finished eighth in the event.