UW-Whitewater is at its Whits end.  After surviving an 87-85 win over Whitman College Monday night the third-ranked Warhawks lost their first game of the year, 94-84 to Whitworth University Tuesday night in Spokane, Washington.  

box score

Whitworth scored the last six points of the first half, the final two coming on an end-to-end layin by guard Eric Beal with just four seconds left, to lead 44-37, the largest lead by either team, at the intermission.  

UW-W had a 17-7 rebound margin in the first twenty minutes, but shot itself in the foot by committing 12 turnovers to just one for Whitworth.  Whatever either team shot in the first half seemed to go in.  Whitworth hitt 53% from the floor, 6-11 from the arc and 6-6 from the line.  Whitewater hit 60%, 5-9 threes, and 8-10 free throws.  

Although the shooting cooled in the second half the scoring margin didn't change much for the first ten minutes.  Whitworth bumped the difference up to double figures, 63-53 with 11:00 left.  The Warhawks scored the next seven points to cut the margin and the teams went back to trading baskets.  Then, after two free throws following a technical foul, it was back to double figures at 76-66 for the Pirates.  Twice, in the late going, it inched up to eleven points and then, as UW-W gambled to come back, the margin increased to as many as fourteen.   

The most telling statistic, Whitworth had just three turnovers in the game.  UW-W, after a dozen in the first half, turned it over just three times in the second half.   The Pirates wound up shooting 54%, including 11-21 threes.  The three point shooting offset Whitewater's eleven point margin (30-38 vs. 19-25) at the free throw line.  UW-W had a 36-23 rebound advantage.

Whitworth sophomore center Felix Friedt equaled his career high with 18 points, just one of five Pirates in double figures.  Beal also scored 18, with nine assists and no turnovers from the point.  Junior forward Jack Loofburrow scored 17, going 4-6 from three point range.  

Dustin Mitchell (Lac Du Flambeau/Lakeland) led the Warhawks with 17 points and grabbed a game high eight rebounds.  Guard DJ Dantzler (Joliet, IL/Joilet Township West) added 16 points, with point Phil Negri (Minocgua/Lakeland) and forward Mike Bendall (Oconomowoc/Oconomowoc) 12 apiece.  Negri led the Warhawks with four assists.  Bendall scored 26 in the win over Whitman Monday night. 

Whitworth, 7-2, ran its win streak to six.  Whitewater is now 12-1.

UW-Whitewater will return to Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play Saturday, January 9, hosting UW-River Falls at 7:00 in Kachel Gym in Williams Center.

For additional information:  Pat Miller, UW-W coach