The Warhawks went into the game Saturday averaging over 90 points per game with nearly 33 of those coming off of turnovers. The Thunder took care of the ball with only 16 turnovers compared to the usual 27 Whitewater forces per game allowing the Warhawks just seven points off takeaways.

UW-W nailed their first four shots from beyond the arc to take a 14-7 lead with 13:33 left in the first half. Another three pointer at 8:39 gave the Warhawks an eight point lead, 21-13, but the Thunder would not be hushed. Wheaton scored the next seven to pull to within one, 21-20 at the 4:45 mark but Whitewater held the advantage until the final seconds of the first half. Ellie Zeller dropped in a three bucket with seven ticks left on the clock to give Wheaton the 31-28 lead heading into intermission. 

The 28 first half points are the fewest Whitewater has scored in a half this season and the first time the Warhawks have trailed going into the locker rooms in six games. UW-W shot just 29% from the floor. The Warhawks put up 16 three-pointers in the first twenty minutes making six to keep them within reach. The Thunder shot 36% in the first half including 2-5 from long range. 

The fans must have had a feeling of Deja vu in the second half as the Warhawks came out with hot hands. A 13-1 run, including 3-3 from downtown, put the lead back in Whitewater's favor and extended the gap to seven, 45-38 with 14:04 remaining. The Warhawks held on to the lead but Wheaton slowly worked to whittle the deficit down and eventually tied it up 53-53 with 4:31 left in the game. 

The Thunder put together seven in a row to go up 60-53 with just under three minutes remaining in the game. A Katie Burton three brought the score to 60-56 with 2:31 left but two WC free throws pushed the lead to six, 62-56 with 54 seconds on the clock. Mary Merg brought UW-W to within three, 62-59, draining a long range shot from the top of the key with 45 seconds left. 

Forced to foul, Chantel Meacham made the second of the double bonus to put Wheaton ahead four with 0:33 showing on the scoreboard. UW-W came up empty on a couple of opportunities on their end of the court and Maris Hovee came down with the rebound, the biggest of her 22 boards in the game. UW-W fouled immediately but Hovee sealed the deal with two free throws with eight seconds remaining. Burton put in a last second three pointer for the final margin. 

Whitewater shot 42% recording 31 shots from long range in the game, tied for third most in UW-W history, making 13. Wheaton made up for the deficit from the free throw line knocking down 15-24 compared to 5-8 for the Warhawks.

Merg led UW-W with 21 points. Burton added 18 including 6-8 from three-point land. The Thunder's Zeller led all players with 22 and Meacham finished the game with 13. The boards were dominated by two players. Whitewater's Amy Mandrell grabbed a career high 16 rebounds and Wheaton's Hovee tallied 22 in the game. 

The Warhawks will look to bounce back with their second home game of the season December 4. UW-W will host Elmhurst College for a 7:00 tipoff.