Related Links:
D3hoops.com Women's Top 25, Week 6
WBCA USA TODAY Division III Coaches' Top 25
2015-16 Schedule (includes live coverage links)
UW-Oshkosh Women's Basketball Web Page
UW-Eau Claire Women's Basketball Web Page
 
The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater women's basketball team hosts a ranked opponent this week before hitting the road this weekend as it continues Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play.
 
The No. 12 Warhawks (13-2 overall, 2-2 WIAC) welcome No. 13 UW-Oshkosh to Kachel Gymnasium Wednesday for a 7 p.m. tipoff.
 
UW-Whitewater continues the week Saturday at UW-Eau Claire. Game time is slated for 7 p.m.
 
In the Rankings
 
The Warhawks moved down four spots to No. 12 in the latest D3hoops.com Women's Top 25 after spending the last two weeks among the Web site's top 10. The team earned 302 points, just 11 shy of 11th-ranked Ohio Northern and 42 in front of No. 13 UW-Oshkosh. UW-Whitewater is one of four WIAC teams ranked among the Top 25 – No. 18 UW-River Falls and No. 19 UW-Stevens Point are the others.
 
The Women's Basketball Coaches Association slotted the Warhawks 11th in its latest USA TODAY Division III Coaches Poll, which was released Tuesday.
 
Last Week
 
UW-Whitewater started last week with its second consecutive loss, suffering a 78-65 setback last Wednesday at UW-River Falls, which was receiving votes in the D3hoops.com poll at the time. Senior guard Abbie Reeves (Salem/Westosha Central) scored 14 points to lead the Warhawks, who fell behind 23-13 after the first quarter and were held to 36.1 percent shooting. Senior guard Jaya Perkins (Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville) and sophomore guard Malia Smith (Bolingbrook, Ill./Neuqua Valley) added 13 points apiece.
 
On Saturday, UW-Whitewater outscored UW-La Crosse 46-23 in the second half en route to a convincing 79-47 victory on Parents' Day at Kachel Gymnasium. The Warhawks tallied 43 points off 29 UW-La Crosse turnovers and held the Eagles to 27.9 percent shooting. Perkins recorded 15 points, five rebounds and three steals, while sophomore guard Reilly Stewart (Wheaton, Ill./Wheaton North) posted 14 points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals.
 
This Week
 
UW-Oshkosh (12-3, 3-1) has won its last three games, including a 60-46 triumph over then-No. 14 UW-Stevens Point Saturday in Oshkosh.
 
The Titans enter the week ranked No. 1 in the nation in turnovers per game (11.7). They also lead the WIAC rank among NCAA Division III leaders in assist-to-turnover ratio (sixth, 1.24), scoring defense (11th, 49.1 ppg) and scoring margin (14th, plus-18.4 ppg).
 
Taylor Schmidt leads UW-Oshkosh's balance scoring with 10.3 points per game. She is the league's No. 1 three-point shooter in terms of percentage, making 48.7 percent of her attempts. Ashley Neustifter ranks second in the conference in assists (54) and is sixth in the nation in assist-to-turnover ratio (3.18).
 
UW-Eau Claire (7-8, 2-2), which hosts UW-Platteville Wednesday before welcoming the Warhawks Saturday, enters the week off a 71-62 setback at UW-River Falls. The Blugolds have played three of their first four conference games on the road.
 
UW-Eau Claire boasts three of the WIAC's top four scorers – Erin O'Toole (16.6 ppg), Teenie Lichtfuss (14.6) and Madison Johnson (14.1). O'Toole also ranks third in the conference in rebounding (8.1 rpg), field goal percentage (51.5) and blocked shots (2.08 bpg). Lichtfuss is one of the league's top shooters, ranking among the top five in free-throw percentage (80.8), 3-point field goal percentage (38.3) and 3-pointers made (23).