The No. 12 ranked University of Wisconsin-Whitewater women's basketball team clamped down defensively in the first half Wednesday afternoon en route to a 61-42 triumph over Edgewood on the first day of the JustaGame Fieldhouse Tournament in Wisconsin Dells.
 
The Warhawks (10-0 overall) continued their best start since 2007-08, when the team won its first 14 games.
 
UW-Whitewater held the Eagles (2-8) to just 28.9 percent shooting for the game, including a 16.7 percent mark in the first half, when it limited Edgewood to 10 points.
 
Senior guard Abbie Reeves (Salem/Westosha Central) tallied a season- and team-high 15 points, knocking down three 3-pointers. Sophomore guard Malia Smith (Bolingbrook, Ill./Neuqua Valley) contributed eight points to go along with team highs of five rebounds, five assists and three steals, while sophomore forward Andrea Meinert (West Bend/Kettle Moraine Lutheran) added eight points.
 
Twelve different Warhawks played 10 minutes or more and eight other players also appeared in the contest.
 
UW-Whitewater scored 27 points off 22 Edgewood turnovers and held a 46-26 advantage in rebounding, including a 25-10 edge on the offensive glass.
 
The Warhawks never trailed in the affair, taking a 19-4 lead after the first quarter. The team led 31-10 at halftime and increased its advantage to as many as 32 in the second half.
 
UW-Whitewater resumes play in Wisconsin Dells Thursday against No. 25 Luther (Iowa). Tip-off is slated for 11 a.m. at JustaGame Fieldhouse.