UW-Whitewater's run in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III championship tournament ended with a 79-74 loss to Carthage College at Kachel Gym in Williams Center in Whitewater, Wisconsin. Carthage, 24-4, will advance to the round of sixteen and play the winner of the George Fox College and University of Puget Sound game being played late Saturday night. UW-Whitewater, champions of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, ended their third straight appearance in the NCAA tourney with a 21-8 record. See Warhawk Championship Central
box score
Photo gallery (courtasy of Tim Gumz)
The lead changed hands fifteen times in the first half, with the largest lead being five points by Carthage. Carthage scored 20 points in the paint in the half, and those shots close in led to a 59% field goal mark in the first twenty minutes. Senior forward Rosie Dorn scored 16 points in the first half as the Lady Red went in to the locker room with a 35-32 lead.
Carthage began the second half with a 13-4 run. That stretch included three three-pointers, two by sophomore guard Dani Ripkey. Carthage built a 14 point advantage twice, 58-44 at 9:58 and 63-49 at 8:01, but the Warhawks bounced back with a 9-0 run to make it 65-61 with 4:05 left. Senior guard Heidi Sonntag (Milwaukee/Wisconsin Lutheran) had five of the nine points in that span. After two free throws by senior guard Heather Gilmore put Carthage ahead 74-68 with 1:24 left, UW-W senior guard Kelsey Hendrickson (Monroe/Monroe) made a driving layup with 1:03 to cut the lead to 74-70. Hendrickson stole the ensuing inbound pass and was fouled on a layup attempt. Henrickson hit both free throws to close it to 74-72 with 0:57 remaining. Carthage made three free throws on their next two trips after a Whitewater turnover and a Whitewater foul for 77-72 lead with 0:20 left. Senior guard Sarah Moran (Waukesha/South) drove the right baseline and put in a layup with 0:14 left to make it 77-74. Carthage made their final points at the line as Whitewater fouled to stop the clock.
Carthage continued its season long shooting prowess, hitting 55% from the floor, including 5-9 three pointers in the second half. Both teams spent a lot of time at the free throw line, Carthage making 25-37 and Whitewater 20-25. Carthage made the most of their attempts in the second half, hitting 17-26 and Whitewater 12-13.
Senior guard Nicole Bundy (Fredonia/Ozaukee) led UW-W with 22 points. Hendrickson contributed 21 points, 8-9 from the line, dished out six assists and four steals, game high in both categories. Freshman center Cortney Kumerow (Bartlett, IL/South Elgin) scored 14 points, and sophomore forward Chantel Burg (Hartford/Hartford Union) pulled down a game high ten rebounds.
Carthage was led by Dorn's 26 points, coming on 10-14 accuracy from the field. Gilmore had 15 points, 11 of those coming at the line, where she was 11-15, and she shared the team lead with six rebounds. Sophomore forward Diana Jacklin scored 14 points and tied Gilmore's six boards. Ripkey was also in double figures with 11 points, and senior guard Katie Klemke led her team with five assists and three steals.
For additional information: Keri Carollo, UW-W coach
