MENOMONIE (February 1, 2014) - Despite the lopsided final score, the Blue Devils were in the game right up until the last seven minutes, hanging tough in an 81-60 loss at the hands of UW-Whitewater.

Sami Schoeder (Sr, Durand) led three Blue Devils in double figures with 16 points on 5-11 shooting, including 3-4 from beyond the arc. Katelynne Folkers (Jr, Fall Creek) added 15 points, 10 rebounds and 6 steals while Kyleigh Hebert (So, Spencer) had 10 points for Stout.

Stout (7-13, 3-7 WIAC) jumped out to a 6-0 lead right off the bat, hitting three of their first four shots. Meanwhile, the Warhawks (16-3, 11-0 WIAC) missed their first five shots and committed two offensive fouls that negated baskets.

The Warhawks shot just 31.4 percent (11-35) in the first half compared to 41.4 percent (12-29) for the Blue Devils.

Whitewater quickly found their groove however, with a jumper, a three and a three-point play on three consecutive trips down the floor to take a 9-6 lead at the 15:40 mark.

Stout would regain the lead with another 6-0 run, highlighted by a coast-to-coast layup by Hebert and a Schoeder three-pointer.

Leading 12-9 with 13:30 left in the half, the Blue Devils would cling to their slim lead briefly, as the two teams traded baskets before a Whitewater three-pointer knotted the game up at 14 midway through the half.

The Warhawks would go ahead for good the next time down the floor. Leading 22-18 with 7:28 remaining in the half, Whitewater reeled off a 9-2 run for a 31-20 lead.

Stout would close the half with a 6-0 run, holding Whitewater scoreless over the last four minutes of the half, going into the break trailing 31-26.

At the beginning of the second, Whitewater's attempts to pull away were answered with Stout baskets as the Blue Devils kept things interesting. The teams would go back-and-forth for the first six minutes of the period, with Whitewater's lead wavering between 4 and 9 points the whole time.

A Schoeder three-pointer clipped the Warhawks lead to 45-41 with 14:05 left in the game, before a 7-0 Whitewater run pushed the lead back to 11.

A steal by Hebert leading to a Hailey Froehlich (Jr, Mondovi) layup got the Blue Devils rolling again. Stout ripped off an 8-2 run capped off by another Schoeder three-pointer to draw within four again, 55-51 with just over nine minutes to go.

Whitewater would push the lead back to nine before a three-point play by Jenna Goldsmith (Fr, St. Anthony, Minn.) cut it back to six, 61-55 with 7:15 left.

The Blue Devils would not hit another field goal until Sara Bedford (Fr, Chippewa Falls) connected from the wing with a minute to go.

A missed layup and a Blue Devil turnover led to the daggers that would seal the game, as three-pointers on consecutive trips by Whitewater pushed the lead to 12.

Whitewater closed the game on a 14-2 run as the lead would fall below 10 just once the rest of the way.

Brea Boomer (Jr, Grand Portage, Minn.) had 9 points on 4-6 shooting while Goldsmith had 6 rebounds and 3 blocks for the Blue Devils.

The Warhawks had five players with 10+ points. Kristen Ruchti led the way with 17 on 6-12 shooting while going 5-5 at the line. Kaitlyn Thill added 16 and 7 steals while Amy Mandrell had 12 points and 13 rebounds. Katie Burton (11 points) and Mary Merg (10) also had five rebounds apiece.  

The Blue Devils had a higher shooting percentage than Whitewater, making 40.7 percent (24-59) of their shots compared to 39.7 percent (27-68) for the Warhawks. Whitewater won the rebounding battle, 46-32.

Up next, the Blue Devils travel to UW-Oshkosh for a clash against the Titans on Saturday, Feb. 8.