A close first half saw seven ties and six lead changes with the largest lead by either team just four points. The Warhawks had a four-point advantage five times in the half with the first coming off a senior guard Sam Quandt jumper that made the score 20-16 at 10:42. Whitewater held a lead from 11:07 until a last second three-pointer by Eau Claire's freshman point guard Cady Roedl banked in to give the Blugolds a 39-38 lead heading into the lockerrooms.
The Blugolds shot 55% from the floor compared to 44% for the Warhawks.
Senior center Cortney Kumerow posted 14 points and five rebounds in the first twenty minutes. Senior guard Leah Rempert led UW-EC with 14 points in the half going 6-6 from the field.
Eau Claire captured a 43-40 lead, their largest of the game, with 19 minutes remaining on a Roedl layup. Kumerow's layin at 17:22 gave the Warhawks their first lead of the half, 45-43. Later in the half, Whitewater used a 12-2 run capped by a layup by freshman forward Lisa Palmer at 10:43 to extend the lead to 62-51 and the Warhawks never looked back. Eau Claire came to within four, 76-72, with 1:50 remaining but the Whitewater defense held strong, not allowing a basket the rest of the way. A jumper by junior guard Katie Burton and two free throws by freshman guard Abbie Reeves finalized the score 80-72.
The Warhawks shot 92% from the free throw line making 11-12 in the second half compared to 60% (9-15) for the Blugolds.
Reeves had 13 of her 15 total points in the second half going 3-5 from beyond the arc and 4-4 from the free throw line. Sophomore forward Courtney Lewis matched Reeves' 13 points in the second half for Eau Claire.
The Warhawk defense forced 28 turnovers and posted 18 steals in the game. UW-W missed just two free throws in the contest shooting 91% (19-21). UW-EC had the same number of tries from the free stripe but made only 14.
Kumerow led all players with 23 points and added 12 boards for the double-double. Reeves added 15 points off the bench for the Warhawks. Junior guard Kaitlyn Thill had eight points, nine steals and five assists. Rempert and Lewis tied for team high honors for the Blugolds with 19 points apiece. Roedl added eleven points and seven steals.
UW-Whitewater will travel to Stevens Point Wednesday, December 12 for a 7:00 pm tip-off against twelfth ranked UW-Stevens Point.