A dry spell of three minutes and thirty seconds in the second half made the difference Friday as UW-Whitewater fell to the University of Mount Union 69-55 in the first round of the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III championship tournament at Thomas More College in Crestview Hills, Kentucky.  UW-W, making its fourth consecutive NCAA III appearance, ends the season 21-7.  Mount Union will play the winner of Friday's other regional first round game between Piedmont College and host Thomas More Saturday at 7:00. 

box score

photo gallery, courtesy of Leah Thyne (photos available for purchase)

Both teams took a bit to get familiar with the unfamiliar setting and tournament excitement, with Mount Union scoring first at 18:32.  Senior center Dana Thompson (Belleville/Belleville) finally got UW-W on the board with a layup at 16:20, and the game was knotted at 4-4 on a Jamie Swanson (Fox Lake, IL/Grant Community) jumper at 15:18.  Freshman guard Katie Burton (Crystal Lake, IL/Crystal Lake South) put UW-W in front, 10-8, and Thompson followed with the next two baskets to increase the Whitewater lead to 14-8 at 10:15.  Whitewater also led 16-10, the margin being their largest of the half.  Mount came back to lead 19-18 at 7:05, but the Warhawks scored next to take the lead back.  The back and forth affair, tied five times in the half, with three lead changes in the final minute, and the Purple Raiders went into the lockerroom leading 29-27.

Whitewater shot 48% from the floor and Mount Union 35%.  Mount forced 15 Warhawk turnovers, but the Warhawks made that up with a 23-13 rebound advantage.  Mount hit 4-9 threes, Whitewater 1-4.  Thompson led UW-W nine points and five rebounds, while senior guard Katie Crider scored nine points, hitting both of her three point attempts, to lead UMU.

Senior forward Melissa Olsen (Carol Stream, IL/West Chicago Community) scored the first points of the second half to tie the game for UW-W at 29-29.  Still tied at 36-36 at 12:35 on the first of two free throws by junior forward Chantel Burg (Hartford/Hartford Union), and Burg followed with the second free throw to give UW-W a 37-36 lead, the last time the Warhawks would lead in the game.  UW-W was still within four, 55-51 with 5:17 left, but Mount Union held UW-W scoreless over the next 3:30, while scoring ten points on their side of the ledger, to take a 65-51 lead and seal the victory.

The Purple Raiders completely turned around the rebounding stats in the second half, grabbing 24 caroms in the half to ten for UW-W, giving Mount a 37-33 lead in the game.  UMU also shot 8-17 from three point range in the game, while the Warhawks hit 1-10. 

Thompson, one of two seniors of the roster, finished with 17 points on 7-7 shooting from the floor, raising her career total to 1,157, sixth on the UW-W all-time list.  She also contributed eight rebounds and two blocked shots, leaving her name etched in fifth and eighth place, respectively, in the UW-W career record book.  Junior forward Megan Theune (Whitewater/Whitewater) added ten points,   Freshman guard Kaitlyn Thill (Belgium/Ozaukee) added three more steals to her record-breaking season, moving her total to 112 for the number one spot in the school record book.  Thill also chipped in with four assists.

Sophomore guard Rosa LaMattina led the Raiders with 17 points and four assists.  Junior guard Kori Wiedt scored 13 points, hitting 3-6 from beyond the arc, with three steals.  Senior center Lauren Forquer topped UMU with seven rebounds. 

For additional information:  Keri Carollo, UW-W coach