Led by a career high 26 points from junior guard Kaitlyn Thill, UW-Whitewater added a fifth game to their win streak and, more important, held on to first place in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference with an 81-62 win at UW-Platteville Wednesday.  The Warhawks improve to 17-5 overall, 11-2 in the WIAC.   Platteville is 5-18, and 1-13 in league play.

The Pioneers scored the first basket of the game, and that was the last time Platteville had the lead.  With Whitewater leading 15-11 at 11:54, a jumper by Thill started an 8-0 run that moved UW-W's lead into double digits, 23-11.  UW-W increased the lead to fourteen, 27-13 at 8:29.  UW-P ended the half by out-scoring UW-W 9-4 to close within five, 36-31.

Thill led all scorers with 16 points in the first half.  Whitewater was 5-6 at the free throw line and Platteville 0-1. 

Platteville chipped away at the lead early in the second half, coming within 38-36 on a three pointer by Claire Poad at 18:34.  The Warhawks responded with a 21-5 run, ending at 10:43 with a 59-41 Whitewater lead.  The lead eventually reached 22 points, 78-56 with 2:49 remaining.

A large part of the final margin came at the free throw line, where the Warhawks were 20-25 and Platteville made 6-9.  UW-W also forced 21 turnovers that resulted in 27 points.  Whitewater committed 13, which resulted in eight Pioneer points.  The Whitewater bench contributed 36 points to the win.

Thill's 26 points, on 9-11 from the floor, 3-5 from beyond the arc, and 5-6 from the line, is also the season high for any UW-W player.  The previous high was 23 points, by Thill November 18 at Monmouth College, and by Cortney Kumerow versus UW-Eau Claire December 8.   Katie Burton added 11 points and Mary Merg 10.  Kumerow grabbed a game high ten rebounds.  Sam Quandt contributed a game high four steals.  Platteville was led by Poad's 15 points and eight rebounds.  Alyssa Krajco, with 12, was also in double figures for the Pioneers.

The Warhawks will host UW-Superior Saturday, February 9 for Alumni Day in the Kachel Gymnasium at the Williams Center in Whitewater. Tipoff is scheduled for 3:00.