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WIAC Women's Basketball Championship Web Page
 
The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater women's basketball team jumped out to a big lead early and never looked back Friday night in a 69-54 victory over UW-La Crosse in the semifinal round of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championship Presented by Culver's at Kachel Gymnasium.
 
With the win, the Warhawks (21-5 overall) advance to Sunday's tournament title game at top-seeded and 10th-ranked UW-Oshkosh. UW-Whitewater seeks its first-ever WIAC Tournament championship in its fifth appearance in the title contest.
 
UW-Whitewater, seeded second in the tournament, held the Eagles (16-11), who were the No. 4 seed, to 28.6 percent shooting in the contest. The Warhawks shot 59.1 percent in the second half and 44.3 percent for the game.
 
Junior guard Brooke Trewyn (Whitewater/Whitewater) scored a team-high 18 points and added eight rebounds, six assists and two steals, while sophomore center Becky Deichl (Libertyville, Ill./Libertyville) posted 17 points, six rebounds and three blocks.
 
Senior guard Reilly Stewart (Wheaton, Ill./Wheaton North) and junior guard Malia Smith (Bolingbrook, Ill./Neuqua Valley) chipped in with 11 points apiece, and sophomore forward Olivia Freckmann (Milwaukee, Wis./Pius XI) tallied four points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals.
 
UW-Whitewater committed only seven turnovers in the game, including none in the first half, and held a 36-14 advantage on points in the paint.
 
Despite a slow start by both teams offensively, the Warhawks jumped out to a 10-2 lead seven minutes, 47 seconds into the game. Trewyn drove for a layup in the final moments in the quarter to put the team ahead 12-5.
 
UW-La Crosse narrowed its deficit to five by the 8:08 mark of the second quarter, but UW-Whitewater scored 15 of the final 20 points in the period, including seven by Deichl, to take a 34-16 advantage into the locker room.
 
The Eagles drew to within 38-24 with 2:52 on the clock in the third quarter, but the Warhawks registered the next eight points, including four by Deichl, to take a 22-point lead with 49 seconds left and a 46-26 advantage to the fourth quarter.
 
UW-La Crosse never drew to with fewer than 12 in the fourth as UW-Whitewater shot 7-of-10 from the floor and 7-of-10 from the free-throw line in the period.
 
Sunday's championship game is the third meeting between UW-Whitewater and UW-Oshkosh this season. The Warhawks earned a 55-50 triumph at home on Jan. 18 before the Titans took the return game 59-58 on Feb. 15.