The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater women's basketball team jumped out to a big lead early and never looked back Friday night in a 69-54 victory over UW-La Crosse in the semifinal round of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championship Presented by Culver's at Kachel Gymnasium.
With the win, the Warhawks (21-5 overall) advance to Sunday's tournament title game at top-seeded and 10th-ranked UW-Oshkosh. UW-Whitewater seeks its first-ever WIAC Tournament championship in its fifth appearance in the title contest.
UW-Whitewater, seeded second in the tournament, held the Eagles (16-11), who were the No. 4 seed, to 28.6 percent shooting in the contest. The Warhawks shot 59.1 percent in the second half and 44.3 percent for the game.
Junior guard Brooke Trewyn scored a team-high 18 points and added eight rebounds, six assists and two steals, while sophomore center Becky Deichl posted 17 points, six rebounds and three blocks.
Senior guard Reilly Stewart and junior guard Malia Smith chipped in with 11 points apiece, and sophomore forward Olivia Freckmann tallied four points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals.
UW-Whitewater committed only seven turnovers in the game, including none in the first half, and held a 36-14 advantage on points in the paint.
Despite a slow start by both teams offensively, the Warhawks jumped out to a 10-2 lead seven minutes, 47 seconds into the game. Trewyn drove for a layup in the final moments in the quarter to put the team ahead 12-5.
UW-La Crosse narrowed its deficit to five by the 8:08 mark of the second quarter, but UW-Whitewater scored 15 of the final 20 points in the period, including seven by Deichl, to take a 34-16 advantage into the locker room.
The Eagles drew to within 38-24 with 2:52 on the clock in the third quarter, but the Warhawks registered the next eight points, including four by Deichl, to take a 22-point lead with 49 seconds left and a 46-26 advantage to the fourth quarter.
UW-La Crosse never drew to with fewer than 12 in the fourth as UW-Whitewater shot 7-of-10 from the floor and 7-of-10 from the free-throw line in the period.
Sunday's championship game is the third meeting between UW-Whitewater and UW-Oshkosh this season. The Warhawks earned a 55-50 triumph at home on Jan. 18 before the Titans took the return game 59-58 on Feb. 15.