Patience is a virtue.  UW-Whitewater, ranked thirteenth in the Division III national poll, prepped for a Saturday matchup with the number one team in the country, Illinois Wesleyan University, with a 67-64 come from behind win at Edgewood College in Madison, Wisconsin Wednesday night.

box score

Three turnovers in the first ninety seconds should have been a warning that this wasn't going to be smooth sailing for the Warhawks.  The Edgewood defense forced nineteen Whitewater turnovers in the first half and limited UW-W to 39% shooting, including 1-9 from three point range, from the floor.  The Eagles took advantage to build a 30-19 lead at 6:35, and again 37-26 at 2:58, for the largest margins of the first half. The Eagles shot 54% in the first twenty minutes on their way to a 42-34 lead at intermission.  The Warhawks' 22-13 rebound bulge kept the game in single digits in the opening half.  Freshman forward Emily Decorah, who came in to the game averaging 7.3 points per game, scored 11 points on 5-9 shooting in the first half for Edgewood.

What may have gone unnoticed among all the numbers at the half was the minutes played column.  While UW-W's key players did not go over 14 minutes, several Eagles went 17-18-19 minutes.  UW-W head coach Keri Carollo used thirteen players in the game, Edgewood nine. 

Whitewater was within five for the first time in the second half at 52-47 on a pair of free throws by sophomore forward Megan Theune (Whitewater/Whitewater) with 11:21 left in the game, then 54-51 with 9:40 left on a Cortney Kumerow (Bartlett, IL/South Elgin) layin, then 56-54 after Nicole Bundy (Fredonia/Ozaukee)'s jumper at 9:16.  Back up to five, but a three by Heidi Sonntag (Milwaukee/Wisconsin Lutheran), her first of the game, cut the margin back to 60-58 with 4:32 left.  Sonntag, a 93% free throw shooter, hit two free throws at 3:32 to finally tie the game. Melissa Olsen (Carol Stream, IL/West Chicago Community)'s jumper at 1:47 gave UW-W its first lead of the second half, 62-61.  Edgewood's Danielle Dixon hit a three at 1:02 to return the lead to the Eagles, 64-62.  Sonntag responded with a three to put UW-W back in front 65-64 with0:43 remaining, and when Edgewood's Hannah Schultz missed a jumper with nine seconds left Kelsey Hendrickson (Monroe/Monroe) was fouled, went to the line and hit both free throws with four seconds left to put UW-W in front 67-64.  Edgewood had a good look at a three at time ran out, but the shot missed.

The minutes played and number of players used may have been a key to Edgewood cooling off to 38% shooting for the game.  UW-W only shot 35%, but the Warhawks had a 50-31 rebound advantage (18 offensive boards) in a game they turned the ball over a season high 28 times.  Edgewood had 24 turnovers. 

Sonntag led UW-W with 13 points, backed by 12 apiece from Bundy and Kelsey Hendrickson (Monroe/Monroe).  Steff Glynn (Eagan, MN/Eastview) led the Warhawks with seven rebounds and Hendrickson had six assists and six steals.  Decorah was the game's leading scorer with 17, with Shae Beckwith adding 13, Dixon 12 and Amber Hemp 10 for Edgewood.  Susan Paskey had six rebounds and Hemp four assists for the Eagles.

UW-W improves to 9-2, while Edgewood is 4-7.

UW-W will return to Kachel Gym in Williams Center to host Illinois Wesleyan Saturday at 7:00.

For additional information:  Keri Carollo, UW-W coach