The 'Hawks beat the 'Hawks, barely.  The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Warhawks defeated the Coe College Kohawks 69-63 in overtime Wednesday night in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

box score

Seniors Kelsey Hendrickson (Monroe/Monroe), Heidi Sonntag (Milwaukee/Wisconsin Lutheran) and Dana Thompson (Belleville/Belleville) each had moments in the spotlight and didn't shy away from the light.

The game began with the teams trading leads and was tied 14-14 with 9:22 left in the first half.  UW-W went on a 14-3 run to take a 28-17 lead that stood up for a double digit margin, 32-22 at halftime.

Whitewater led 34-24 with 18:27 left in the second period, but the Kohawks reeled off 15 straight to take a 39-34 lead at the 11:13 mark.  Coe still led 54-47 with 1:12 left, and that's when things got interesting.

Sonntag hit a three-pointer to make it 54-50 Coe with 0:57 left.  Whitewater took a timeout, and Coe turned the ball over on the ensuing possession.  It was Hendrickson's turn, as she hit a three with 0:47 remaining to make it a one point lead, 54-53 Coe.  Again, UW-W took a timeout.  Coe turned the ball over again and then fouled Hendrickson with one second left.  She missed the first free throw.  Coe took a timeout.  Hendrickson came out of the huddle and hit the second free throw to send the game into overtime.

UW-W went in front, leading 63-57 with 1:16 in the extra session.  Coe came back within two, 65-63 with 0:14 left.  Sonntag was fouled and made both free throws to make it 67-63 Whitewater with 0:13 left.  When the teams came down the floor Sonntag blocked a Coe shot, Thompson retrieved it and was fouled.  Thompson made both free throws with five seconds left to end the scoring, 69-63.  Coe quickly shot a three but Sonntag rebounded the miss as time ran out.

Sonntag led UW-W with 24 points, going 5-5 from the line.  Thompson added 22 points and a game high 13 rebounds. Hendrickson was also in double figures with 11.  UW-W shot 35% from the floor, 32% from the arc, and 67% from the line -- but made up for it by forcing Coe into 33 turnovers.  Hendrickson had a game high five steals.

Coe junior guard Sarah Anciaux, who did not start the game, came off the bench to lead all scorers with 28 points, hitting 10-17 from the field and 3-6 from three point range.  She also led the Kohawks with 11 rebounds and four steals.  Forward Kayla Waskow contributed 13 points and center Devvin Rolston 10.

UW-W will remain on their Wheels Through Iowa (or something Springsteen-ish) Friday and Saturday at a tournament hosted by Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa.  UW-W will play Buena Vista University Friday and host Simpson Saturday.  It will be the end of four consecutive games (UW-W opened the season at Loras College in Dubuque November 17.  

Whitewater, ranked ninth in the USA Today/ESPN Division III poll this week, will open the home schedule, and Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference schedule, December 2 at 7:00 with UW-La Crosse visiting Kachel Gym in Williams Center.

For additional information:  Keri Carollo, UW-W coach