The first half went back-and-forth with the teams trading small runs. With Elmhurst leading 17-15 at the 10:30, the Warhawks made their move putting together a 12-2 run to open a 10 point lead, 29-19 with just over five minutes left in the half.
The Bluejays responded with a 12-5 run to pull with three, 34-31, heading into intermission.
Elmhurst outscored UW-Whitewater in the paint 22-12 but the Warhawks had more help from the bench, 19-10. The Warhawks were also more efficient from the floor shooting 48% (14-29) compared to the Bluejays' 37% (14-37).
UW-Whitewater opened the second half with a 15-6 run capped by a jumper from Brooke Trewyn (Whitewater/Whitewater) that made it 49-37 in favor of the Warhawks with 13:44 left.
Elmhurst narrowed the gap to eight, 54-46, when the Warhawks went cold from the field. The Bluejays notched 11 straight over the next five minutes to regain the lead 57-54.
Lisa Palmer (Bartlett, Ill./Bartlett) drove down the right side of lane, spun back to the middle, made the jumper and the ensuing free throw for her first points of the game to end the scoring drought for UW-Whitewater and knot the score 57-57 with 3:37 remaining.
The Bluejays responded with a jumper on their end of the court. Two possessions later for UW-Whitewater, Reilly Stewart (Wheaton, Ill./Wheaton North) found Abbie Reeves (Salem/Westosha Central) near the top of the key for the three, her fifth of the game, to give the lead back to the Warhawks, 60-59 with 1:44 on the clock.
EC's Fiona McMahon was fouled on the Bluejays next possession and made both free throws to put Elmhurst in front 61-60. The Bluejay defense put the pressure on and kept the Warhawks off the board the rest of the way.
McMahon went back to the line with just under 16 seconds remaining for two more free throws to give the Bluejays a three point lead, 63-60.
UW-Whitewater inbounded to Reeves with the length of the court to go. The EC defense was planted near the three-point line keeping the Warhawks from a good look from downtown to seal the game.
The second half came down to the free throw line.UW-Whitewater went 2-3 from the charity stripe while Elmhurst was 13-13 in the final 20 minutes. The Warhawks shot 40% from the field compared to 37% for EC but the Bluejays won the battle on the boards 44-31.
Reeves led all scorers with 19 points including 7-14 from the floor and 5-6 from long range. Stewart and Palmer dished out three assists each for UW-Whitewater. Palmer and Trewyn shared team high honors with seven rebounds.
Elmhurst was led by McMahon's double-double with 14 points and 13 boards.
The Warhawks will head to Milwaukee, Wis. to participate in the Paul F. Knueppel Classic hosted by Wisconsin Lutheran Friday and Saturday. UW-Whitewater will face George Fox Friday at 5 pm. The Warhawks wrap up competition in the tournament against DePauw Saturday at 5 pm.