Related Links:
Play4Kay Web Page
 
The No. 14 ranked University of Wisconsin-Whitewater women's basketball team clinched the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference regular season championship and the top seed in next week's conference tournament Wednesday night with a 77-42 victory over UW-Platteville on Play4Kay Night at Kachel Gymnasium.
 
The Warhawks' league title, which they clinched at least a share of last Saturday, is the eighth in program history and the team's first since 2013-14. UW-Whitewater will begin its quest for a second straight WIAC Tournament championship at home next Thursday in the tournament's semifinal round against the lowest remaining seed.
 
Senior guard Malia Smith (Bolingbrook, Ill./Neuqua Valley) led the Warhawks with 15 points, four assists and four steals. Senior guard Brooke Trewyn (Whitewater, Wis./Whitewater) posted 14 points and tied a career high with seven steals. Twelve other players scored in the contest for UW-Whitewater, which shot 51.6 from the floor in the first half and hit 16-of-21 at the free-throw line while holding UW-Platteville to 32.5 percent from the floor.
 
The Warhawks also forced 34 turnovers in the affair and didn't allow a 3-pointer.
 
After a tightly-contested first quarter, the Warhawks (21-3 overall, 11-2 WIAC) ran off the first 15 points of the second to take control of the affair. The team led by as many as 19 in the half and led 39-25 at halftime.
 
UW-Whitewater continued to push its lead in the third quarter thanks to a relentless, full-court defense. After the Pioneers (6-18, 2-11) scored the first point of the period, the Warhawks tallied the next 13 points to run their lead up to 26 by the 6:34 mark.
 
UW-Whitewater led by as many as 30 points in the third and 37 in the fourth quarter.
 
The Warhawks close the regular season this Saturday at UW-La Crosse. Tip-off is slated for 3 p.m.