The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater women's basketball team clinched its third straight appearance in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championship title game Friday with a thrilling 53-51 victory over No. 25 UW-La Crosse in a semifinal at Kachel Gymnasium.
With the win, the Warhawks (18-8 overall) earned a chance for their third consecutive conference tournament championship. They'll travel to No. 14 UW-Oshkosh Sunday for a 2 p.m. tipoff. The Titans defeated UW-Stout 61-58 on Friday night.
With the game tied at 51-51 in the waning moments, junior guard Camri Conley drove right from the left wing, pump faked and scored off glass from the right block to put the Warhawks ahead with 3.8 seconds left.
UW-La Crosse (22-5) called a timeout to advance the ball past half court, but an errant pass was batted around inside the 3-point line before Conley grabbed the loose ball just as time expired.
Junior guard Becky Raeder drilled five 3-pointers on her way to a game-high 15 points to go along with seven rebounds and two steals. Sophomore guard Emily Schumacher tallied 13 points, four rebounds and two steals, and senior forward Sarah Schumacher posted nine points and five rebounds. Senior forward Olivia Freckmann grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds to go with her four points and three assists.
UW-Whitewater started strong, building a 13-4 lead seven minutes into the first quarter. Emily Schumacher knocked down back-to-back 3-pointers to make it a 19-6 advantage at the 1:05 mark, but the Eagles scored the final four points of the period.
Senior center Becky Deichl hit a jumper, and Raeder put in a 3-pointer to make it 24-10 two minutes into the second quarter. UW-La Crosse drew to within eight by the 2:57 mark, but Raeder hit a 3-pointer and Conley converted a 3-point play for a 33-19 lead. The two teams traded buckets to close the half.
The Warhawks let their 14-point halftime lead slip away as the Eagles outscored them 23-5 in the third quarter, and UW-La Crosse led by four heading to the fourth quarter.
Neither team was able to gain separation in the fourth quarter. Raeder's 3-pointer with 8:05 remaining made it a one-possession game, and the contest remained within one basket the rest of the way.
The Eagles held a 51-49 advantage after a basket with 3:16 left, but UW-Whitewater tied the game for the fourth time in the period on a pair of free throws by Emily Schumacher with 1:42 on the clock.
Schmacher continued her momentum on the defensive end, forcing a turnover and calling timeout with 22 seconds remaining to set up Conley's late-game heroics.