Second-ranked UW-Whitewater fell from the unbeaten ranks with a 63-60 loss to UW-Eau Claire in Zorn Arena in Eau Claire Saturday night.
box score
The Warhawks led just once, 9-8, in the first half and trailed 29-19 at the break after shooting just 22% from the floor and attempting just two free throws (both made). The Blugolds also had a 24-15 rebound edge in the first half.
Eau Claire's lead stretched to twelve, 33-21 at 18:21 on a layup by Amanda Zenner, the largest lead in the game. The Blugolds' lead was still eleven, 39-28 with 14:32 left, but the Warhawks blitzed EC 14-0 over the next five minutes to take a 42-39 lead with 9:35 left. Eau Claire tied the game at 44-44 at 7:53, but another Whitewater run, this time 8-1, put the Warhawks up 52-45 with 5:28 remaining.
A 55-55 tie with 3:23 left still meant three lead changes, with UW-W's last lead 59-58 at 1:52 on a jumper by Heidi Sonntag (Milwaukee/Wisconsin Lutheran). Michelle Burns put the Blugolds back on top 61-59 at 1:26 with a three point play. UW-W's Tiffany Morton (Beloit/Memorial) was fouled after grabbing an offensive rebound with eight seconds left, and cut the margin to 61-60 by making the first of two. Eau Claire grabbed the rebound, UW-W quickly fouled, and EC missed both free throw attempts. Morton got the rebound for Whitewater but UW-W turned the ball over and a foul with one second left led to the free throws that made the final margin 63-60.
Kelsey Hendrickson (Monroe/Monroe) and Lindsey Buechner (Cross Plains/Middleton) led UW-W with 11 points apiece, with Hendrickson also credited with a game-high four steals. Dana Thompson (Belleville/Belleville) led the Warhawks with seven rebounds. EC's Hannah Messick led all scorers with 16 and Burns chipped in with 13. Heather Witt grabbed eight rebounds to lead the Blugolds to a 43-31 rebound margin. Whitewater improved its shooting eye in the second half, hitting 47%, and made just eleven turnovers to twenty-three for UW-EC. Eau Claire enjoyed a edge at the line, hitting 12-18, while UW-W was 8-10.
The 60 points is Whitewater's lowest offensive output of the season. The previous mark had been 62 in a 62-53 win over the University of Chicago November 28. Whitewater came in to the game the top-scoring team in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and number three in Division III of the NCAA.
UW-W is 14-1 overall and 5-1 in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. The loss ends the longest season-opening win streak in UW-W women's basketball history, topping the previous mark of seven set twenty years ago. UW-Eau Claire, in the "others receiving votes" category of the national poll, is 11-3 overall and 5-0 in the WIAC.
UW-Whitewater will host UW-Stout at 3:00 Saturday, January 19 in Kachel Gym of Williams Center.
