The UW-Whitewater women's basketball team lost to Whitman 85-70 in a semifinal contest in the NCAA Division III final four hosted by UW-Stevens Point Friday. UW-W (26-5) will face Tufts (30-2) in the third place game Saturday at 4:00.

The Warhawks jumped out to a five point lead after a Mary Merg (Greendale/Greendale) three made it 7-2 with 17:10 on the clock. UW-W hit the five point margin four times in the next seven minutes of the first half, the last time at the 10:48 mark, 17-12. Whitman went on a 15-3 run to take a seven point lead, 27-20, with 5:42 left in the half. Another run before the half, 9-2, gave Whitman a 41-30 advantage heading into the lockerrooms.

UW-W made 12-34 shots (35.3%) in the first half compared to Whitman's 16-36 (44.4%). The Missionaries also held a 28-15 advantage on the glass. 

Merg led all scorers in the first 20 minutes with 16 points on 5-9 from the floor and 3-3 from downtown. Amy Mandrell (Forsyth, IL/Maroa-Forsyth) made 5-7 from the field for ten points in the first half. Heather Johns posted 12 points to lead the Missionaries in the first half. 

Whitman seemed to have an answer for everything Whitewater tried in the second half. The Warhawks pulled to within seven and the Missionaries responded, pushing the gap to double figures. The see-saw effect went on until the 7:58 mark when Mandrell's jumper made it 62-55 Whitman. WC scored the next four and never looked back. 

Whitman continues to have the hot hand, shooting 49.2% Friday night and 51.6% in the NCAA Tournament. UW-W outscored the Missionaries 22-14 on second chance points and 14-5 in points off turnovers but Whitman posted a 20 point advantage on points in the paint.

Mandrell had a career high 30 points on 12-17 from the field and 6-7 from the free throw line. She notched a double-double, her fifth of the season, with 12 rebounds. Merg added 21 points including 4-7 from behind the arc and seven boards. 

Johns ended with 33 to take scoring honors, with 21 coming in the second half. 

Tufts fell to FDU-Florham 42-39 in the early semifinal Friday evening.