Box Score The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater advanced to the sweet sixteen of the NCAA Division III championship tournament with a 71-51 win over Carthage College in Kachel Gym of Williams Center in Whitewater Saturday night.  UW-W, 23-6, will play Simpson College, 28-2, Friday, March 8.  The site and time for that game will be announced Monday.  UW-W's postseason website

photo gallery (courtesy of Crystal Meyer, available for purchase)

Whitewater came out of the gate quickly, going ahead 11-3 on Sam Quandt (Hayward/Hayward)'s three pointer at 14:49.  With 2:09 left in the period Cortney Kumerow (Bartlett, IL/South Elgin) hit two free throws to push Whitewater's margin into double figures, 31-21.  UW-W led 32-25 at the break.

The Lady Reds controlled the boards in the half, with a 24-13, with 11 of those Carthage rebounds coming on the offensive end.  No player, either team, scored in double figures in the half.

UW-W used the same strategy to start the second half, out-scoring the Lady Reds 17-5 over the first six minutes to put the Warhawks up 49-30.  The closest Carthage came in the second half was 51-40 at 10:06. 

The Warhawks closed the gap on the boards in the second half, Carthage still leading, at 41-35.  UW-W's defense forced Carthage 30% shooting from the field, while Whitewater was hitting 45% on its end of the floor. 

UW-W freshman guard Abbie Reeves (Salem/Westosha Central) was the game's leading scorer with 16, including 3-6 from long range and 3-4 from the line.  Junior point Kaitlyn Thill (Belgium/Ozaukee) contributed 15 points, also leading UW-W with five steals and five assists.  Carthage was led by junior center Michelle Wenzel's 14 points and game high five blocked shots. 

Carthage ends the season 24-5.


TF/dw