The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater women's basketball team will prepare for two Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference match-ups this week. The Warhawks open the week at home against UW-Stevens Point Wednesday at 7 p.m. and will travel to River Falls to take on the Falcons Saturday at 3 p.m.

UW-Whitewater, 9-12 overall and 4-8 in the league, comes into the week after a 64-49 loss to UW-Eau Claire on the road last week. The Warhawks shot just 24 percent from the field in the first half and faced a 33-21 deficit at the half. UW-Whitewater improved to 36 percent in the second 20 minutes but the Blugolds' height gave UW-EC a 32-12 advantage in points in the paint in the game.

Junior shooting guard Abbie Reeves (Salem/Westosha Central) led the Warhawks offensively and on the glass with 11 points and five rebounds adding two steals in the contest. Freshman point guard Malia Smith (Bolingbrook, Ill./Neuqua Valley) registered a game-high six assists with just one turnover. Junior center Emily Jensen (Wauwatosa/Wauwatosa East) added six points on 3-for-4 shooting from the field. 

UW-Whitewater ranks in the top half of the league in multiple categories including scoring offense (65.3 points per game), free-throw percentage (73.1), field goal percentage (39.2), three-point field goal percentage (31.6), three-point field goal defense (26.8) and offensive rebounds (13.86 per contest). 

Individually, Reeves remains on top of the conference statistics averaging 2.19 three-pointers per game. She makes 38 percent of her shots from behind the arc, fourth-best in the WIAC. The junior's 10.1 points per game is fifteenth-best in the league. Freshman guard Brooke Trewyn (Whitewater/Whitewater) is right behind Reeves in sixteenth averaging 9.8 points per game this season. 

This Week

UW-Whitewater vs. UW-Stevens Point Wednesday, Feb. 11 at 7 p.m. in Kachel Gym
Last time the Warhawks and Pointers met (Jan. 21), UW-SP used free-throws to top the Warhawks 67-48. The Pointers were 27-34 from the charity stripe compared the UW-Whitewater's 5-7. 

Reeves led the Warhawks with 14 points on 4-for-6 from long range in the last meeting. Jensen posted a team-high six boards. For the Pointers, Lauren Anklam dropped in 19 points (5-7 FG, 2-3 3-point FG, 7-7 FT) and added four assists. Kaitlyn Jacobs recorded a double-double with 17 points and 13 boards adding three blocked shots. 

UW-Stevens Point (11-11, 6-7 WIAC), average just 57.6 points per game, the lowest in the league. The Pointers balance their low offensive output with good defense allowing just 54.7 points and a shooting percentage of 34.1 for their opponents per game, the second-best marks in the conference. UW-SP leads the WIAC in rebounding with nearly 42 per game and a margin of +7.7. 

Anklam is matched with Reeves scoring 10.1 points per contest. Jacobs, the league's second-best rebounder, averages 8.0 boards and 9.8 points per game. Allie Miceli's 7.1 rebounds per outing ranks sixth-best in the conference. 

UW-SP comes into the game after a close 72-69 loss to UW-Platteville from the weekend. The Pointers stand fifth in the WIAC rankings, one spot ahead of the Warhawks. 

UW-Whitewater at UW-River Falls Saturday, Feb. 14 at 3 p.m.
The Warhawks used an efficient three-point attack to defeat the Falcons earlier this season (Jan. 3) in Whitewater. UW-Whitewater was 7-for-11 from long range compared UW-RF's 2-10 and boasted a 48-23 advantage in bench points. 

Trewyn led UW-Whitewater with 16 points (6-8 FG, 2-3 3-point FG, 2-2 FT) and five rebounds in the last meeting. Reilly Stewart (Wheaton, Ill./Wheaton North) was a perfect 4-for-4 from behind the arc for 12 points. Maddie Bare (Fort Atkinson/Fort Atkinson) added 11 points and a team-high four assists and Andrea Meinert (West Bend/Kettle Moraine Lutheran) dropped in 10 points. 

For the Falcons, Taylor Karge posted 12 points. Richell Mehus added 10 points, seven rebounds and three steals. 

UW-RF has lost their last three games and will host UW-Stout Wednesday at 7 p.m.

UW-River Falls stands second in the conference with a rebounding margin of +6.6. Kate Theisen leads the Falcons with 11.8 points per game, fifth best in the conference. Karge's 11.2 points per contest is ninth best in the league. 

With four WIAC games left on the schedule, the Warhawks are sixth in the league standings. The top six teams in the conference will compete in the WIAC Championship, seeded according to league record, set to begin the Wednesday, Feb. 25.