The No. 20 ranked University of Wisconsin-Whitewater women's basketball team used a decisive fourth-quarter run Wednesday night to earn its seventh straight win, a 55-50 triumph over No. 10 UW-Oshkosh in a Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference showdown in front of a large crowd at Kachel Gymnasium.
 
The Warhawks (15-1 overall, 5-0 WIAC), who now own sole possession of first place in the conference standings, posted a 10-0 run midway through the fourth quarter to turn a one-point deficit into a 47-38 advantage with 4:31 remaining in the contest.
 
UW-Whitewater, which made 12-of-14 free throws in the second half and 15-of-17 for the game, held off the Titans (14-2, 4-1), who drew to within three at the 1:55 mark.
 
Sophomore forward Becky Deichl (Libertyville, Ill./Libertyville) converted on a spin move in the paint to increase the Warhawk lead back to two possessions with 1:38 on the clock.
 
UW-Oshkosh never got closer than four points as UW-Whitewater hit 5-of-6 at the free-throw line over the final 1:04 of regulation.
 
Junior guards Malia Smith (Bolingbrook, Ill./Neuqua Valley) and Brooke Trewyn (Whitewater/Whitewater) led the Warhawks with double doubles. Smith registered a game-high 20 points, including a 10-of-10 performance at the free-throw line, to go along with a career-high 12 rebounds, five assists and four steals.
 
Trewyn tallied 17 points, 10 rebounds and two assists. Deichl, senior guard Reilly Stewart (Wheaton, Ill./Wheaton North) and sophomore forward Olivia Freckmann (Milwaukee, Wis./Pius XI) contributed six points apiece. Freckmann added six rebounds.
 
The Titans led 12-8 through one quarter and started the second on a 6-2 run to extend their lead to eight points.
 
UW-Whitewater countered with an 11-0 run, highlighted by a nifty, driving Euro step by Stewart and two 3-pointers by Trewyn, to take a 21-18 advantage with 4:14 on the clock.
 
Trewyn closed the half with a driving runner from the left block to give the Warhawks a 26-23 lead heading into the locker room.
 
The two teams twice exchanged the lead in the third quarter and were tied two different times, and UW-Whitewater took a 35-33 advantage heading into the fourth.
 
UW-Oshkosh scored five straight points early in the fourth to take its final lead before the Warhawks' game-altering run.
 
UW-Whitewater held a 43-36 advantage in rebounding and a 9-4 edge in second-chance points.
 
The Warhawks continue WIAC play Saturday against UW-Stout on Kids Day at Kachel Gymnasium. Tipoff is slated for 3 p.m.
 
All children in eighth grade and under will receive free admission and be eligible to win great prizes throughout the game.