Maybe it speaks about the balance in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, but you would not have thought that these teams were on opposite ends of the spectrum in the WIAC. Oshkosh was looking for its first win in league play but UW-Whitewater, ranked fifteenth in the D3hoops.com poll, wasn't willing to give up first place as the Warhawks left Kolf Sports Center Wednesday night with a 76-64 victory. UW-W improved to 12-3 overall and, possibly more important, 5-1 in league play.
box score
Oshkosh led 5-4 on a layup by Michelle Boeder at 17:30, and although that was the last time that the Titans were on top it wasn't a walk in the park (gym) for the Warhawks. Chantel Burg (Hartford/Hartford Union)'s layin at 16:08 put UW-W in front 6-5, but Whitewater had to look over its shoulder more than once. Trailing 18-10 the Titans went on a 10-2 run to tie the game at 20-20, followed quickly by 22-22. The fist twenty minutes closed with Whitewater leading 37-33. UW-W senior point guard Kelsey Hendrickson (Monroe/Monroe) led the both teams with 15 points in the half.
After flirting with a double digit lead several times, four nine point margins, UW-W finally broke through on a layup by Nicole Bundy (Fredonia/Ozaukee) at 10:12 to put the Warhawks in front 54-44. Although it dipped back below ten, UW-W eventually led by as many as fifteen, 76-61 with just 0:15 left, as the Titans had to gamble and foul late in the game, with the final score giving a false impression.
UW-W had a season low ten turnovers, forcing 17 by the Titans. The Warhawks had narrow margins in three point shooting (9-21 to 6-11), free throws (15-24 to 12-20) and rebounds (37-35).
Henrickson ended up with 23 points, second this season only to the 24 she scored in a win at UW-Superior December 12. She hit 4-7 threes and 5-6 free throws and had just one turnover as the primary ball-handler for UW-W. Burg, a sophomore forward, recorded her first double-double, with 17 points and 10 boards. Freshman center Cortney Kumerow (Bartlett, IL/South Elgin) added 13 points and senior guard Nicole Bundy (Fredonia/Ozaukee) 10 for Whitewater.
Oshkosh had five players score in double figures, led by guard Michelle Boeder's 16. Megan Wenig score 11 and Laura Ebbens 10, and they shared game high honors with four assists apiece. Forward Heidi Baerenwald went double decimal with ten points and ten rebounds.
Whitewater is 12-3 overall. UW-Oshkosh is 5-10 on the season and 0-6 in the WIAC.
UW-Whitewater will play at UW-Eau Claire Saturday. The Warhawks will host UW-Platteville Wednesday, January 20 at 7:00 in Kachel Gym in Williams Center.
For additional information: Keri Carollo, UW-W coach
