The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater women's basketball team used a strong defensive effort and an efficient offense Saturday afternoon to defeat UW-River Falls 62-34 in a Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference contest at Kachel Gymnasium.
 
The Warhawks (10-7 overall, 3-3 WIAC) held the Falcons to 22.2 percent shooting for the game and forced 23 turnovers while shooting 42.4 percent from the floor on the other end.
 
UW-River Falls (7-10, 1-5) made more free throws (12) than field goals (10) in the game.
 
Senior forward Olivia Freckmann (Milwaukee, Wis./Pius XI) tallied her fourth double-double of the season with 17 points and 11 rebounds to go along with six assists and four steals. Senior forward Sarah Schumacher (Whitewater, Wis./Whitewater) contributed 10 points, three rebounds and six assists, and junior guards Camri Conley (Sugar Grove, Ill./Kaneland) and Megan Corcoran (Madison, Wis./LaFollette) posted six points apiece.
 
The Warhawks scored the first six points of the game and shot 10-of-17 in the first quarter to take a 22-11 advantage. Corcoran gave the team its first double-digit lead at 15-4 on a 3-pointer with 3:21 remaining, and gave the team its largest lead at 22-10 on another 3-pointer with 11 seconds to go.
 
UW-Whitewater posted a 10-1 run to start the second quarter, taking a 32-12 advantage with 6:46 on the clock following a layup by senior center Becky Deichl (Libertyville, Ill./Libertyville).
 
The Warhawks cooled off for the remainder of the period but maintained its double-digit lead. The Falcons hit 8-of-12 from the free throw line in the quarter to trim their deficit to 34-21 by halftime.
 
UW-Whitewater tallied the first six points of the third quarter as Schumacher accounted for all six on a pair of buckets and two free throws. The team extended its lead to 21 by the end of the period as Conley knocked in a jumper with 15 seconds left.
 
The Warhawks didn't allow another point until the 4:41 mark of the fourth, expanding its advantage to 30 points with 5:04 to play on a bucket by Freckmann.
 
UW-Whitewater took its largest lead of the contest at 32 points when freshman guard Veronica Kieres (Chicago, Ill./Resurrection) made it 62-30 with 3:08 on the clock.
 
The Warhawks resume action at home Wednesday against UW-Platteville. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m. at Kachel Gymnasium.