For about 33 minutes of their game Saturday afternoon, the UW-Superior women's basketball team had the No. 17 team in the country on the ropes.

Unfortunately for the Yellowjackets, the other seven minutes proved to be the difference however.  And that was all it took for the UW-Whitewater Warhawks to escape with a victory at Mertz Mortorelli Gymnasium.

Trailing 70-61 with 6:50 left on the clock, the Warhawks scored the next 18 points to take a 79-70 lead in the final minute before holding on for an 84-79 win.

The loss was a heart-breaking one for the Yellowjackets, who lead by as many as 19 in the first half before dropping to 9-6 overall and 3-4 in WIAC play.  UW-Whitewater meanwhile improved to 13-3 overall and 7-0 in league action with the victory.

UW-Superior wasted no time in taking the lead early against the Warhawks, who entered the contest ranked No. 17 in the latest D3hoops.com top-25 poll.

After falling behind 2-0 on the game's opening possession, the Yellowjackets rattled off the next eight points to take an 8-2 lead following a Deandra Vavra (Cambridge, Minn./Cambridge-Isanti) layup with 18:02 left in the first half.

The Yellowjackets continued to expand their lead from there, getting two free throws from Sally Linzmeier (Valders, Wis./Valders) for an 18-10 cushion before a driving layup by Linzmeier gave UW-Superior their first double-digit lead at 26-16 with 9:31 showing on the clock.

A layup by Kristen Ruchti on the next UW-Whitewater possession cut the deficit to 26-18 at the 8:45 mark.

UW-Superior came right back however, getting a three-pointer from Bryann Liljander, an inside score from Hadley Skalmoski (Neenah, Wis./Neenah) and two free throws from Vavra for a 33-18 bulge with 5:50 showing on the clock.

The Yellowjackets went on to take their largest lead of the half at 42-23 after a layup from Vanessa Lebens (Roseville, Minn./Roseville Area) at the 3:46 mark and a three-point shot from Vavra with 2:52 left before heading into the intermission holding a 45-32 lead.

UW-Whitewater made an early push in the second half, cutting the deficit to 56-50 following a jumper by Reilly Stewart with 13:25 left in regulation.

A three-pointer by Britnee Blake (Superior, Wis./Superior Senior) eventually restored the Yellowjackets' lead to double-figures at 63-52 before a jumper by Linzmeier made it a 70-61 UW-Superior advantage with 6:50 remaining in the game.

The Warhawks took command from there however, getting four points each from Amy Mandrell, Ruchti, Mary Merg and Kaitlyn Thill during their 18-0 burst for a 79-70 lead with just 58 seconds left on the clock.

UW-Superior never got closer than four points from there as UW-Whitewater connected on six straight free throws down the stretch to pull out the win.

The Yellowjackets were paced by Linzmeier with 22 points. Liljander added 12 points while Vavra had 11 and Skalmoski posted a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds.

Mandrell led all scorers with 26 points and 11 rebounds for UW-Whitewater. Merg finished with 11 points while Ruchti and Thill each had 10 points as well.

UW-Superior hosts UW-River Falls at Mertz Mortorelli Gymnasium on Wednesday.  Opening tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.