Bartlett’s Conniff to UW-Parkside

Kristin Conniff has found a home.

And it’s not far from home.

In the end, that’s what was most important to the Bartlett senior, who verbally committed over the weekend to accept a basketball scholarship from Division II Wisconsin-Parkside. She will sign her National Letter of Intent on April 11.

“I like it because it’s close to home and my parents can come and watch me play,” said Conniff of her decision to become a Ranger. “They have a really strong program and they want to go further in the NCAA Tournament and that’s a positive for me.”

The 6-foot Conniff, a three-time all-area player, averaged 14.7 points per game and had 55 3-pointers for Bartlett this season, helping the Hawks to a 32-2 season and third place in the Class 4A state tournament. She is the fifth leading scorer in Bartlett history with 1,252 career points.

Conniff said she also considered Canisius College in Buffalo, N.Y., Northern Michigan. Florida Gulf Coast and Montavallo in Alabama, where former Burlington Central standout Cindy Hilbrich just completed her first season as the program’s head coach.

At Parkside, which is the former college home of Hampshire alum and former all-area co-captain Nicole Watzlawick, Conniff will join a program under the direction of coach Jenny Knight-Kenesie, who will be entering her 11th season. The Rangers, 24-6 last season, have made four straight NCAA Tournament appearances. They lost in the Midwest Regional final this past season. Parkside plays in the Great Lakes Valley Conference, where it finished 15-3 last season.

Conniff said Knight-Kenesie looks for her to do the same things she did at Bartlett.

“They lost four starters so they want me to be able to play inside-outside,” said Conniff, who will study physical therapy. “They like my outside shot and they like that I’m versatile and can post up. They like my size and rebounding ability.

“It feels great to be able to decide and know where I’m going next year.”