UW-Whitewater broke with "tradition", defeating Illinois Wesleyan University 80-72 Wednesday night in Kachel Gym in Williams Center in Whitewater, Wisconsin. Prior to Wednesday night, in three meetings, the visiting team had won all three games by an average of 22 points. This time the home team won and it was the narrowest margin of victory.
The score was tied seven times in the first half. Whitewater's largest lead of the half came out of gate, with senior forward Chantel Burg scoring the first five points of the game. With the game tied 15-15, IWU went on a 7-0 run to lead 22-15 with 4:53 left in the half. The Warhawks whittled that margin to a 28-28 tie at intermission.
Whitewater went 5-10 from three point range in the half and Wheaton countered with six fewer turnovers (9-15).
The second was a different story. Other than a 30-30 tie at 19:13, Whitewater held the lead, by as much as seven points twice, until IWU regained the lead on a Olivia Lett three at 9:09, 52-50. Then it was the Titans' turn to hold the lead, twice by as much as five points, until Cortney Kumerow gave UW-W the lead 67-66 with two free throws at 2:37. Kumerow's free throws were the first of nine straight points by the Warhawks, and it never was closer than six as Whitewater scored its last eight points on free throws while Illinois Wesleyan was forced to foul.
Whitewater's shooters were locked in, hitting 56% (27-48) from the floor, including 53% (10-19) from beyond the arc. IWU shot 42% (22-52) from field and was 25% (6-24) for three point attempts. The Titans made up the difference and kept it close with three fewer turnovers and three more steals.
Whitewater, 3-1, was led in scoring by sophomore guard Kaitlyn Thill and Burg, both with 21 points. Sophomore guard Mary Merg scored 13, her fourth double figure game; Kumerow added 12, and senior forward Jamie Swanson had 11 -- all five starters in double figures. Burg led UW-W with eight rebounds. Illinois Wesleyan's Lett, a senior guard, led all scorers with 26 points. IWU senior center Amy Burton had a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds. Junior guard Melissa Gardner scored 16 points and senior guard Brittany Hasselbring chipped in with 12. Lett and Gardner share game high honors with four steals each.
IWU is 2-1.
UW-W's next action will be a holiday tournament hosted by UW-Stout in Menomonie. The Warhawks will face the University of Dubuque at 1:00 Saturday and the College of Saint Scholastica Sunday at 11:00. Whitewater's next home game will be against UW-Stout, Saturday, December 3 at 4:00.
For additional information: Keri Carollo, UW-W coach, carollok@uww.edu or 262-472-5782