The No. 21 ranked University of Wisconsin-Whitewater women's basketball team held UW-Eau Claire to 23.5 percent shooting from the field in a 67-37 victory Saturday in Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play at Kachel Gymnasium.
 
The Warhawks (12-1 overall, 2-0 WIAC) didn't allow a made field goal until the 9:01 mark of the second quarter, starting the contest on a 17-2 run through the end of the first quarter.
 
UW-Whitewater held the Blugolds (7-6, 1-1) to 13 first-half points and forced 21 turnovers, including eight in the first quarter alone. The team committed only seven turnovers on the other end and held a 21-0 advantage in points off turnovers.
 
Senior guard Reilly Stewart (Wheaton, Ill./Wheaton North) and junior guard Malia Smith (Bolingbrook, Ill./Neuqua Valley) led the Warhawks with 11 points apiece. Smith added six rebounds, three assists and three steals, and Stewart contributed five rebounds and two steals.
 
Junior guard Brooke Trewyn (Whitewater/Whitewater) totaled 10 points and three steals, and sophomore center Becky Deichl (Libertyville, Ill./Libertyville) contributed nine points.
 
UW-Whitewater overcame its own slow start from the field, scoring the final 13 points of the first quarter as Smith's layup beat the buzzer.
 
In the second quarter, the Warhawks built their lead to 23-4 with 7:20 on the clock after a layup by freshman forward Kaelynn Lesniak (Pewaukee, Wis./Lake Country Lutheran).
 
UW-Whitewater ran its lead back to 19 by the end of the quarter on a pair of free throws by Stewart.
 
The Warhawks started the third on a 10-3 run, boosting their advantage to 42-16 by the 3:57 mark of the quarter.
 
UW-Whitewater built a 30-point lead one minute into the fourth on a 3-point play by sophomore forward Olivia Freckmann (Milwaukee, Wis./Pius XI).

At halftime of the contest, the program recognized approximately 25 alumni in attendance.
 
The Warhawks continue WIAC play at UW-River Falls Wednesday at 7 p.m.