Box Score GREENCASTLE, Ind. - The UW-Whitewater women's basketball team used a second half surge to top WIAC foe UW-Oshkosh 69-57 in the NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Championship hosted by DePauw University to advance to the Elite 8 for the sixth time in school history and third under head coach Keri Carollo. The Warhawks will face DePauw, who defeated Carthage 73-54 Friday, Saturday, March 15 at 7:00 ET in a rematch of the national championship game last season. A year ago, DePauw won 69-51 to solidify a perfect season as UW-W finished national runner-up.

Post Game Press Conferences: UW-W || UW-Oshkosh || Carthage || DePauw
Photo Gallery courtesy of Eric Kelley, D3photography.com

Mary Merg (Greendale/Greendale) lifted the Warhawks in the first half scoring the final eight points for UW-W and totaling 16 of the team's 24 in the half. Neither team shot well the in the first half with Whitewater making just 28.6% of their opportunities in the first half compared to Oshkosh's 38.5%. The teams combined to go 2-16 from long range, both three's made by Merg. The Warhawks were perfect from the charity stripe, 6-6 compared to the Titans' 0-1 to head into intermission with a 24-20 lead.

UW-W turned things around in the second half putting the pressure on with full court pressure. The Warhawks scored six of the first eight points to go ahead 28-22 at the 17:53 mark. Oshkosh responded by whittling the lead back down to one, 28-27 with 16:21 left. The Titans eventually knotted the score 33-33 with 12:34 remaining in the game but Whitewater took over from that point. UW-W went on a 9-1 run to go up 42-34 with 9:28 on the clock and didn't allow the gap to drop below five the rest of the way. The Warhawk advantage hit double digits the first time after a Kristen Ruchti (Brodhead/Brodhead) jumper made the score 60-49 with 2:50 left. UW-W closed out the game from the free throw line with Kaitlyn Thill (Belgium/Ozaukee) adding a three to seal the win for Whitewater.

The Warhawks ended the game shooting 32.8% (20-61) and the Titans made 20-50 (40%) from the field. UW-W went 22-28 from the free throw line compared to Oshkosh's 16-21 and had a 10-20 advantage in turnovers. The Warhawks scored 15 points of Titan miscues and allowed just eight going the other way.

Merg led all players with 23 points on 7-18 from the field, 3-5 from long range and 6-7 from the charity stripe. She added five rebounds and three assists in the contest. Ruchti recorded 12 points and a team high eight boards. Reilly Stewart (Wheaton, IL/Wheaton North) added 11 points including 6-9 from the free throw line.

Oshkosh was led by Morgan Kokta's 12 points and Marissa Selner's 10 rebounds.

UW-Whitewater is the lone school to have both men's and women's basketball advance to the Elite Eight this season.

Graphic photo courtesy of Eric Kelley


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