MENOMONIE, Wis. - The twelfth-ranked Warhawk women's basketball team topped UW-Stout 81-60 on the road Saturday afternoon for their 19th-consecutive Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference victory dating back to last season. UW-Whitewater improves to 17-3 this season and remains a perfect 11-0 in league play. The Blue Devils fall to 7-13 and 3-8 in the conference.

The score teeter-tottered back-and-forth in the first ten minutes of the opening half. Trailing by three, 11-14, at the 10:03 mark, Abbie Reeves (Salem/Westosha Central) nailed a three-pointer to tie the game and spark a 20-6 Warhawk run to push the lead into double figures 31-20 with 4:50 remaining in the half. The Blue Devils scored the final six points of the half to narrow the gap to five, 31-26, at intermission.

UW-Stout was more efficient in the first half, shooting 41% (12-29) from the floor compared to Whitewater's 31% (11-35). UW-W countered with 7-8 shooting from the free throw line in the first twenty minutes compared to Stout's 1-3. 

The Blue Devils kept the gap below double figures until a 7-0 run, bolstered by  Kaitlyn Thill (Belgium/Ozaukee)'s five points, gave the Warhawks an 11-point lead, 52-41, with 11:30 remaining. Stout pulled to within four nearing the nine minute mark but Whitewater responded with six straight to push the lead back into double digits, 61-51, with 8:20 left. The Blue Devils pulled within six points of the Warhawks, 61-55, at the 7:15 mark but the UW-Whitewater defense stepped up and allowed just one field goal by Stout in the final seven minutes of the contest. UW-W ended the game on a 20-5 run to bring the final margin to 81-60. 

The Warhawks posted a 17-8 advantage in bench points and 16-10 advantage in points off turnovers. For the game, Whitewater shot 40% from the field (27-68) compared to Stout's 41% (24-59). UW-W, ranked 11th in the nation in free throw percentage, made 22-26 from the charity stripe. The Blue Devils made nine of their 13 opportunities.

Kristen Ruchti (Brodhead/Brodhead) came off the bench to lead all players with 17 points for the Warhawks adding six rebounds. Thill posted 16 points, seven steals and two assists. Amy Mandrell (Forsyth, IL/Maroa-Forsyth) notched a double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds while Katie Burton (Crystal Lake, IL/Crystal Lake Sourth) and Mary Merg (Greendale/Greendale) rounded out the double figure scorers for the Warhawks with 11 and 10 respectively. Merg tied Whitewater's season high with eight assists.

UW-W will head to Stevens Point to take on the Pointer's in more WIAC action February 5. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:00.


AK/pmp