The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater women's basketball team got off to a blazing start Tuesday night and didn't look back, defeating Elmhurst (Ill.) 111-51 in a non-conference affair at Kachel Gymnasium.
The Warhawks (5-1 overall), who are receiving votes in the latest D3hoops.com Top 25, broke a 30-year-old school scoring record by shooting 54.5 percent (42-of-77) from the floor, including an 11-for-21 clip (52.4 percent) from 3-point range, and 84.2 percent (16-of-19) from the free-throw line. The previous record of 108 points was established Dec. 9, 1989, against UW-Superior.
Defensively, UW-Whitewater held Elmhurst (3-3) to 41.1 percent from the floor and forced 24 turnovers.
Freshman forward Aleah Grundahl led the balanced Warhawks with 17 points, five rebounds and three steals. Junior guard Emily Schumacher tallied 15 points and two steals, and sophomore guard Yssa Sto. Domingo registered 14 points.
Freshman forward Erika Simmons posted nine points and four rebounds, and freshman forward Kenni Czarnecki totaled eight points.
UW-Whitewater shot 60 percent (21-of-35) offensively, forced 14 turnovers and held the Bluejays to 33.3 percent from the floor in the first half.
UW-Whitewater scored the first 14 points of the contest and didn't allow Elmhurst (3-3) to score until the 3:37 mark of the first quarter. The Warhawks continued to expand their lead and held a 30-7 advantage by the end of the period, their largest lead to that point.
UW-Whitewater's advantage grew to 30 points by the 6:25 mark of the second quarter. The Bluejays cut the Warhawks' lead down to 26, but UW-W continued its strong offensive performance and built it back up to a game-high 38 points in the final minute of the first half.
The Warhawks continued their strong offensive performance in the third quarter, leading by as many as 51 points.
Freshman guard Kailey Ketz made baskets to put UW-Whitewater into triple figures with 2:54 remaining in the fourth quarter and to give the team the school record on a 3-pointer in the final minute of action.
The Warhawks return to action Dec. 10, when they host Carroll at 7 p.m. at Kachel Gymnasium.