Kaitlyn Thill (Belgium/Ozaukee) led all scorers with 18 points, going 6-7 from the floor and a perfect 5-5 from the free throw line. Kristen Ruchti (Brodhead/Brodhead) came off the bench to score 13 points hitting 4-7 from the field and all five from the charity stripe.
 
Seven Warhawks were perfect from the free throw line, with both Ruchti and Thill going 5-5, while Abbie Reeves (Salem/Westosha Central) and Amy Mandrell (Forsyth, IL/Maroa-Forsyth) both went 4-4. UW-W's defense forced 24 Falcon turnovers and scored 33 points on the ensuing plays while adding 18 second chance points.
 
River Falls (4-13, 3-6 WIAC) was able to keep the score close in the first 10 minutes of the game. The Falcons were able to take an early three-point lead 2:52 into the game before Ruchti hit a pair of free throws and Thill nailed a jumper at the 15:11 mark to take an 8-7 lead. UW-RF never saw the lead again.
 
The teams traded scores and then a free throw brought the game to its second tie, 10-10, with 14:23 left in the half. Amy Mandrell (Forsyth, IL/Maroa-Forsyth) hit a jumper and Reilly Stewart (Wheaton, IL/Wheaton North) made a layup to give UW-W a four-point lead, 14-10.
 
The Falcons were able to pull within one on two occasions but the Warhawks ended the half on a 32-3 run to take a 50-20 lead at the break. During the run, Whitewater missed just two field goals and went 13-14 from the free throw line.
 
UW-W shot 46.7% (14-30) from the field in the first half and 19-24 from the stripe. The Warhawks turned the ball over just three times in the opening half to River Falls' 17. Whitewater capitalized on its six offensive rebounds, scoring 10 second chance points to River Falls' two.
 
Whitewater picked up in the second half where it left off in the first, stretching its lead to 41 with 15:45 left in the game. The Warhawks took their biggest lead when Michele Molini (Mount Prospect, IL/Prospect) stole the ball and Kate Bemis (Mayville/Mayville) added a layup to go up by 48 (96-48) with just over a minute left in the game.
 
UW-W shot 53.8% (14-26) from the field in the second half, hitting 4-6 from behind the arc. The team missed just three free throws, shooting 82.4% (14-17) at the charity stripe.
 
The Warhawks will return to the hardwood when they host to UW-Platteville Wednesday at 7:00 pm.