The Warhawks took to the big stage Thursday night facing the University of Wisconsin Badgers in an exhibition game at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin with the Badgers winning 70-54. 

The WIAC-Badger matchup marks the seventh time a Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference team has faced the UW women in an exhibition game. Although the Warhawks lost, the 16 point differential is the least of any WIAC team thus far. The next closest was UW-Stevens Point's 19 point loss in 2006, 77-58.

box score

first half photo gallery (courtesy of Pazy Yang, available for purchase) 
second half photo gallery (courtesy of Pazy Yang, available for purchase)

post-game interview with Keri Carollo and Mary Merg

Ashley Thomas got the ball rolling for the Badgers scoring the first five points just 52 seconds into the game. UW-W fought back putting two on the board on a layup from Cortney Kumerow (Bartlett, IL/South Elgin).

Two free throws by Mary Merg (Greendale/Greendale) and a three-pointer from Kaitlyn Thill (Belgium/Ozaukee) tied the game at seven apiece. Thill followed with another three pointer, this one rattling out, but grabbed her own rebound and went in for a layup to give Whitewater the lead 9-7.

With the game knotted at 9-9, UW-W posted a 7-1 run to take a 17-10 lead, their largest of the first half, and the game. A 20-0 Badger run forced a second Warhawk timeout down 30-17. The 13 point margin was the largest of the half as Whitewater used defensive pressure to stay in the game. UW-W headed to the lockerroom down 10, 38-28.

Merg recorded the most points for any player in the first 20 minutes with 12. The Badgers shot 59% from the floor to the Warhawks 36%. Each team put the pressure on defensively forcing 16 turnovers each.

UW-W continued with more aggressive defense in the second half and kept putting points on the board with a 12-10 scoring advantage when the buzzer sounded for the second media timeout at 14:19.

A couple of turnovers out of the timeout showed the shot clock winding down with the ball in Whitewater's possession. Burg brought the Warhawks to within six, 46-40, getting the scoop shot off just before the buzzer.

UW answered with four quick points of their own to widen the deficit back to 10, 50-40 with just under 12 minutes left in the game.

Whitewater finished out the second half playing hard and keeping the game close with the biggest lead allowed the 16 point final deficit, 70-54. 

Thill and Merg led the Warhawks with 15 and 14 points apiece. Thill added five steals and Merg posted four assists. Kumerow grabbed six boards for UW-W. The Badgers had four women in double digits scoring led by Thomas' 17.

The Warhawks will open the 2011-2012 schedule with a home game, hosting Carroll University November 15 at 7:00 in Kachel Gym of Williams C

For additional information: UW-W coach Keri Carollo