WHITEWATER – The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater women's basketball team used a frantic, up-and-down pace and clutch shooting Saturday to defeat UW-La Crosse 70-57 in a Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference contest at Kachel Gymnasium.

The Warhawks (8-8 overall, 3-4 WIAC) forced 19 turnovers and finished the game on a 12-0 run over the last 4:05 to seal their fifth home win of the season.

UW-Whitewater shot 40.7 percent from the field and held the Eagles (7-9, 2-5) to just 34.5 percent shooting.

Sophomore forward Lisa Palmer led the Warhawks with 15 points on 7-of-12 shooting to go along with six rebounds. Junior guard Abbie Reeves tallied 12 points, while freshman guard Malia Smith registered seven points and a team-high eight rebounds.

UW-Whitewater's bench outscored UW-La Crosse's reserves 30-9. Junior guard Jaya Perkins and sophomore guard Reilly Stewart led the bench with seven points apiece.

The Eagles held an 11-6 lead through the first four-plus minutes of the contest, but the Warhawks ran off 11 straight points, highlighted by five from Stewart, to take an 18-11 advantage with 12:02 remaining in the first half.

UW-Whitewater led by as many as eight in the period and entered the locker room with a 35-31 edge.

In the second, UW-La Crosse tied the game at 37-37 with 16:44 to play, and the two teams continued to exchange hoops. The Warhawks led by five with 11:34 on the clock following a lay-up by Palmer.

The Eagles rallied to tie the game at 48-48, but UW-Whitewater answered with a 7-0 run, including 3-pointers by Reeves and Perkins, to take a 55-48 advantage with 7:51 left.

UW-La Crosse whittled its deficit to 58-57 by the 4:05 mark before consecutive jumpers by freshman forward Andrea Meinert, a lay-up by Palmer and free throws by Reeves put the game out of reach.

The Warhawks scored 21 points off turnovers and held an 8-2 advantage in fast break points.

UW-Whitewater resumes WIAC play Wednesday at UW-Stevens Point. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m.