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The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater women's basketball team looks to extend its current four-game winning streak as it hosts UW-Eau Claire and No. 12 UW-Oshkosh in Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference contests over the coming days.
The Warhawks (12-7 overall, 5-3 WIAC) welcome UW-Eau Claire to Kachel Gymnasium Saturday at 3 p.m. The team will wear pink to raise awareness for breast cancer research and raise funds for Play4Kay, an initiative benefitting the Kay Yow Cancer Fund. Yow is a former women's basketball coach at North Carolina State who passed away in 2009 after a battle against breast cancer. All fans are invited to join the team in wearing pink and donating to the cause.
UW-Whitewater will host first-place UW-Oshkosh Monday at 7 p.m. in a game rescheduled due to inclement weather.
The Warhawks swept a pair of games last week, besting UW-Platteville 71-55 before traveling to No. 22 UW-La Crosse and pulling out a 55-53 victory.
On Wednesday against the Pioneers, UW-Whitewater broke open a six-point game at halftime by outscoring UW-Platteville 24-12 in the third quarter. Sophomore guard
Emily Schumacher (Waukesha, Wis./Waukesha South) totaled a game-high 19 points on 7-of-11 shooting, and senior forward
Olivia Freckmann (Milwaukee, Wis./Pius XI) registered a double-double with 14 points, 12 rebounds, six assists and two steals.
On Saturday in La Crosse, the Warhawks held off the Eagles in the final minute of regulation for their third true road win over a nationally ranked opponent this season. Freckmann posted her fifth double-double in the last six games with a 10-point, 14-rebound effort, and Schumacher added 14 points.
Saturday – vs. UW-Eau Claire, 3 p.m. (Kachel Gymnasium)
After a 4-1 start to the conference season, the Blugolds (13-6, 4-4) have lost three straight games, including an 88-75 setback at home against UW-Stevens Point.
UW-Eau Claire, which begins a stretch Saturday of playing five away games in its last six, is led in scoring by Hallee Hoeppner, who averages 19.4 points and 7.6 rebounds per game while shooting 50.2 percent from the floor. Kelsey Bakken averages 15.2 points and a team-leading 7.8 rebounds per contest while shooting 51.4 percent from the field.
The Blugolds claimed the other meeting against the Warhawks this season, finishing with a 30-12 scoring advantage in the fourth quarter on their way to an 85-58 victory. UW-Whitewater was held to 31.7 percent shooting from the floor, and was led by Schumacher, who tallied 16 points.
UW-Eau Claire leads the all-time series, 51-39.
Monday – vs. No. 12 UW-Oshkosh, 7 p.m. (Kachel Gymnasium)
UW-Oshkosh continued its strong play against conference foes last week with double-digit wins at UW-Eau Claire and at home against UW-River Falls. The Titans (17-2, 7-1) have allowed more than 50 points in only one league game, an 81-54 victory over UW-Stout on Jan. 5, and own the league's top scoring defense (46.1 ppg).
Nine players average between 4-10 points for UW-Oshkosh, including Melanie Schneider, who leads the team with 9.7 points and 5.1 rebounds per contest. Isabella Samuels ranks second at 8.4 points per game on 64.9 percent shooting.
The Warhawks handed the Titans their only loss in WIAC play with a 49-47 triumph on Jan. 16 in Oshkosh. Junior guard
Becky Raeder (Sheboygan Falls, Wis./Sheboygan Falls) recorded 15 points to lead UW-Whitewater, which held UW-Oshkosh to 29.4 percent shooting. UW-Oshkosh leads the all-time series between the two teams, 57-42, but the Warhawks have won the last five matchups.
The Titans visit UW-Stout Saturday before making the trip to Whitewater on Monday.
