Twenty-fourth ranked UW-Whitewater defeated UW-Stout 86-47 Saturday in Kachel Gym of Williams Center.  Senior center Cortney Kumerow (Bartlett, IL/South Elgin) became the sixth player in school history to accumulate 1,000 points and 500 rebounds in her career, and junior guard Kaitlyn Thill (Belgium/Ozaukee) broke the school record for career steals.
 
Whitewater jumped ahead early and didn't look back. Thill became the all time steals leader after she stole her way into the record books within the first twenty seconds of the game. Thill notched her 270th career steal, surpassing her sister, Trisha Thill, who played for the Warhawks from 2004-2008. It was also a record setting night for senior center Courtney Kumerow, who didnt waste any time either, recording her 500th rebound only a minute and twenty seconds into the game. Kumerow later knocked down a pair of free throws placing her in an elite group of six Warhawks who hit the 1000 point, 500 rebound marks in their careers.

As for the play by play, Whitewater's lead hit 35 two times in the first half.

In the first half UW-W took advantage of their size and strength with 18 points in the paint compared to UW-Stout's 6. Whitewater's defense turned the Blue Devils over 21 times in the first half and capitalized with 24 points off those turnovers.  The Warhawks shot 20-35 (57%) from the floor and hit 6 of 7 (86%) three pointers. Stout shot 8-30 (27%) and 1 of 10 from beyond the arc. Whitewater was led by junior guard Mary Merg (Greendale/Greendale) with 13 points and Thill already compiled a full game worth of stats in the first half with twelve points, five assists, three steals, and four rebounds. 

The second half played out just like the first, as Whitewater's pressure defense didn't let up and Stout continued to turn the ball over. UW-W's lead hit 40 points for the first time on a layup by freshman guard Abbie Reeves (Salem/Westosha Central) with 13:06 left to play. Whitewater's largest lead game at the 4:49 mark on a Reeves free throw, making it a 45 point margin at 80-35. 

UW-W finished 33-60 (55%) from the field and UW-S finished 18-59 (31%). Whitewater forced 32 turnovers and ended with ten blocks. Kumerow ended up with ten points and five rebounds, giving her career totals of 504 rebounds and 1004 career points. Thill finished with twelve points, six assists, five rebounds and three steals, with the career steals mark sitting at 271. Both Kumerow and Thill saw limited playing time in the second half. Merg added 13 points, and senior guard Megan Theune (Whitewater/Whitewater) had twelve. Reeves rounded out five Warhawk players in double figures with eleven. 

The five Warhawk women that accomplished the 1,000/500 feat before Kumerow include:
    Tiffany Morton, 2006-2009, 1,215 points, 740 rebounds
    Lindsey Buechner, 2004-2008, 1,205 points, 665 rebounds
    Dana Thompson, 2006-2011, 1,157 points, 675 rebounds
    DeAnn Lehman, 1984-88, 1,050 points, 505 rebounds
    Diane Morales, 1975-79, 1,038 points, 752 rebounds

Stout's Katelynne Folkers led her team with ten points and a game high five steals.  Shelby Sterba contributed five rebounds.

UW-W is 13-5 overall and 7-2 in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.  UW-Stout is 8-10 and 2-7 in league play.  The Warhawks will host UW-Stevens Point Wednesday, January 23 at 7:00.