UW-Whitewater came in Saturday's game ranked third in the D3hoops.com poll and alone in first place in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.  A 64-62 loss at UW-Stevens Point left Whitewater sharing the league lead and wondering what the loss to their number one ranking in the NCAA III regional poll, the poll that determines bids and hosts when the WIAC is finished with its postseason tournament.

box score

Stevens Point controlled the first half, with Whitewater's lone lead 18-17 on two free throws by sophomore forward Nicole Bundy (Fredonia/Ozaukee) at 4:50.  The Warhawks trailed by as many as eight, twice in the first twenty minutes.  Point led 27-25 at the half.

UW-W tied the game with the first basket of the second half, but the Pointers used a 13-4 run to go up 40-31 at 14:29.  Point enjoyed the only double figure lead of the game, 43-32 at 13:03.  Whitewater responded with its own run, 13-3, to cut the Pointers' margin to one, 46-45, with junior guard  Rachel Woolever (Colfax/Colfax) hitting a three-pointer at 7:52.

The margin stayed tight the rest of the way, with junior center Tiffany Morton (Beloit/Memorial) hitting a jumper to make it 60-59 Point with 2:02 remaining.  Woolever hit another three, this time at 1:27 to tie the game, 62-62.  Point senior guard Haley Houghton hit a jumper at 1:08 to make it 64-62.  Whitewater had two more possessions, but was unable to convert.

Morton led UW-W with a double-double, 13 points and 11 rebounds.  Woolever was the other Warhawk in double figures, with 11.  UW-SP had three players score in double figures, with junior forward Jessi Sporle's 16 points and 11 boards.  Also contributing double figures were freshman forward Britta Petersen, with 15, and Houghton's 14.

Whitewater shot a season low 33% from the field.

UW-W (21-2 overall) and UW-Eau Claire (18-5) are tied for first place in the WIAC with 12-2 records.  Point (19-4) is in third with a 10-4 mark.  Stout is another notch back with a 9-5 record (15-8).  The Warhawks and Blugolds are assured of hosting a WIAC Tournament first round game Tuesday, February 25.  Whitewater and Eau Claire are the only teams assured of hosting a first round game, with Stevens Point, Stout and La Crosse battling for the other two home courts in the first round.

UW-Whitewater will conclude the WIAC season with a pair of games this week.  The Warhawks will travel to UW-Oshkosh Wednesday, and close the regular season hosting UW-River Falls Saturday, February 23 at 1:00 in Kachel Gymnasium.

For additional information:
Keri Carollo, UW-W coach
WIAC women's basketball site