The No. 21 ranked University of Wisconsin-Whitewater women's basketball team nearly completed a frantic comeback in the fourth quarter Monday night, but fell just short in a 77-73 setback against Loras (Iowa) in a non-conference contest at Kachel Gymnasium.
 
The Warhawks (0-1 overall) tallied 25 points in the final period and nearly tied the game in the waning seconds of the contest, but the Duhawks knocked down two free throws with one second on the clock to put the game out of reach.
 
Five players scored in double figures for UW-Whitewater, including freshman guard Veronica Kieres (Chicago, Ill./Resurrection), who posted a team-best 15 points to go along with six steals. Senior forward Sarah Schumacher (Whitewater, Wis./Whitewater) recorded a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds, and senior forward Olivia Freckmann (Milwaukee, Wis./Pius XI) collected 12 points, seven rebounds and two steals.
 
Junior guard Camri Conley (Sugar Grove, Ill./Kaneland) finished with 11 points and five rebounds, and sophomore guard Emily Schumacher (Waukesha, Wis./Waukesha South) totaled 10 points and a team-high four assists.
 
Loras hit 25-of-37 from the free-throw line, compared to 9-of-19 for the Warhawks, who forced 18 turnovers.
 
The Duhawks (1-1) led by 19 points midway through the third quarter before UW-Whitewater began to chip away at their deficit.
 
Junior guard Megan Corcoran (Madison, Wis./LaFollette) started a 7-0 run with a 3-pointer, and Kieres recorded back-to-back steals, which both led to transition buckets to bring the score to 54-42 with 5:07 to play in the period.
 
Conley knocked down a jumper with 59 seconds to go in the quarter to make it a 10-point game heading into the fourth.
 
Sarah Schumacher (Whitewater, Wis./Whitewater) whittled the deficit down to two possessions at 63-57 on a jump hook in the paint with 6:15 on the clock. Emily Schumacher (Waukesha, Wis./Waukesha South) brought the Warhawks to within three at the 3:23 mark.
 
Junior guard Sydney Smith (Racine, Wis./St. Catherine's) hit a 3-pointer 25 seconds later to bring UW-Whitewater within 68-66 with 2:58 remaining. Loras made it a two-possession game one minute later and seemed to take control of the game before Corcoran hit a 3-pointer, and Kieres converted a steal into a layup to make it 75-72 with under a minute to play.
 
The Warhawks drew to within two on a free throw by Sarah Schumacher (Whitewater, Wis./Whitewater), but could get no closer.
 
In the first half, the Duhawks shot 50 percent on their way to a 45-33 halftime advantage.
 
The Warhawks continue non-conference competition this Friday and Saturday at the UW-Stevens Point Tipoff Classic. UW-Whitewater opens tournament play Friday at 6 p.m. against Luther (Iowa) and continues Saturday at 3 p.m. against Dubuque (Iowa).