By: Christian van Helden, Athletic Communications Intern
 
The No. 17 ranked University of Wisconsin-Whitewater women's basketball team held off a late run Saturday afternoon to defeat 18th-ranked UW-River Falls 62-59 in Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference action at Kachel Gymnasium.
 
The Warhawks created 17 points off 19 UW-River Falls turnovers. They also outrebounded the Falcons 20-10 on the offensive glass to create 24 second-chance points. With the victory, UW-Whitewater improves its record to 16-3, 5-3 in the WIAC.
 
Sophomore guard Malia Smith (Bolingbrook, Ill./Neuqua Valley) lead the Warhawks in scoring with a career high 20 points on 8-of-12 shooting and 4-of-4 from the free-throw line. Smith also recorded five rebounds and three steals.
 
The Falcons (15-4, 3-2 WIAC) started off the first quarter on a 7-0 run. The Warhawks got their first points of the game on a layup by senior guard Jaya Perkins (Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville). UW-River Falls took a 9-4 lead into the media timeout. A three-pointer by senior guard Maddie Bare (Fort Atkinson/Fort Atkinson) tied the game at 10. The Falcons remained ahead 16-12 at the end of first quarter.
 
Senior guard Abbie Reeves (Salem/Westosha Central) hit a three-pointer to give UW-Whitewater its first lead of the game 19-18. The Warhawks held the Falcons to four points in the second quarter as they went on a 17-4 run to take a 29-20 lead into halftime.
 
The third quarter found both teams trading baskets. Senior center Emily Jensen (Wauwatosa/Wauwatosa East) scored five of her six points in the third quarter to help UW-Whitewater remain ahead 49-37 after three quarters.
 
UW-River Falls went on a 19-6 run in the fourth quarter to cut the Warhawk lead down to 55-53 heading into the final media break. Sophomore forward Andrea Meinert (West Bend/Kettle Moraine Lutheran) stretched the UW-Whitewater lead to 58-53 with a layup.
 
Smith made two free throws with 14 seconds remaining, and junior guard Reilly Stewart (Wheaton, Ill./Wheaton North) hit 1-of-2 with one second left to give the Warhawks a three-point lead.
 
The Warhawks continue conference play Wednesday against No. 14 UW-Stevens Point at 7 p.m. at Kachel Gymnasium on Women's All-America Night.