UW-Whitewater used balanced scoring to offset 31 points by UW-Eau Claire senior center Hannah Mesick to win 85-75 in the Kachel Gym in Williams Center in Whitewater, Wisconsin Saturday evening.

Box Score

Photo Gallery (courtesy of Brittany Domaszek; all photos for sale)

Eau Claire led 10-6 at 15:54, and Whitewater took the lead with an 8-0 run that included threes by freshman guard Kaitlyn Thill (Belgium/Ozaukee) and junior guard Emily Bestor (North Fond du Lac/Horace Mann). Whitewater led 14-10 with 14:30 in the half, and UW-W never gave that lead back. UW-W led 42-38 at the intermission.

Junior guard Jamie Swanson (Fox Lake, IL/Grant Community) scored 11 for UW-W in the half, going 4-4 with three of those from behind the arc. Senior center Hannah Mesick poured in 20 points on 8-11 shooting for the Blugolds.

Whitewater out-scored EC 15-6 in the first five minutes of the second half to lead 59-44 at 14:50. The Blugolds got within seven, 66-59 with 9:25 left, but that was as close as they would get.

UW-W's margin resulted from more three pointers, 9-17 for the Warhawks to 6-13 for EC, and free throws, where Whitewater made 20-26 to 17-22 for the Blugolds.

Swanson led Whitewater with 15 points, followed by freshman guard Mary Merg (Greendale/Greendale)'s 14, and 13 from senior center Dana Thompson (Belleville/Belleville). Thompson topped UW-W with eight rebounds. Junior forward Chantel Burg (Hartford/Hartford Union) had four steals, and Swanson dished out four assists. Mesick totaled 31 points to lead all scorers, and sophomore forward Sarah Bingea scored 17 and led both teams with nine rebounds. Mesick also contributed three steals. Junior center Ellen Plendl blocked five shots for UW-EC.

UW-W, 18-5 overall and 10-4 in league play, is alone in third place in the WIAC, one game behind UW-La Crosse. UW-EC is 13-10, 7-7 in the WIAC.

UW-Whitewater will travel to UW-Oshkosh Wednesday, February 16 and then close the regular season and WIAC play Saturday the 19th at 3:00 hosting UW-Superior in Kachel Gym of Williams Center.

For additional information: Keri Carollo, UW-W coach