The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater women's basketball team begins play in the 2019 NCAA Division III Championship Friday at Washington-St. Louis at 7:30 p.m.

Admission for Friday's game costs $7 for adults and $5 for youth, students and senior citizens. Tickets can be purchased at the door.

Friday's first round game can be heard live in the Whitewater area on KOOL 106.5 FM WKCH and online at 940wfaw.com. Fans can watch the game online and track live statistics online, courtesy of Washington-St. Louis. All live coverage will be available for Saturday's second-round game, should the Warhawks advance.

The Warhawks (18-9 overall) earned an at-large bid to the national tournament after tying for second in the the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and finishing as the league tournament's runner-up, while the Bears claimed an automatic bid by virtue of winning the University Athletic Association title for their 30th consecutive NCAA appearance. UW-Whitewater is making its 18th trip to the national tournament and 11th in the last 12 years.

Last Time Out

UW-Whitewater never led and was outscored 20-5 in a 69-40 setback at No. 13 UW-Oshkosh in the WIAC Championship final last Sunday in Oshkosh. Sophomore guard Emily Schumacher (Waukesha, Wis./Waukesha South) posted 11 points to lead the Warhawks, who were limited to five made field goals after halftime as the Titans shot 72.2 percent (13-of-18) from the floor in the second half.

In The Rankings

The Warhawks enter the week receiving votes in the D3hoops.com Top 25 and enter the national tournament ranked fourth in the NCAA Central Region rankings. After posting a 7-4 mark in non-conference play, UW-Whitewater dropped three of its first four WIAC contests before running off nine straight victories, including two wins over WIAC champion UW-Oshkosh. The Warhawks topped regionally ranked UW-La Crosse in the WIAC Tournament semifinals before falling in the championship game against UW-Oshkosh. Washington-St. Louis is ranked 19th by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association and 22nd by D3hoops.com, and is second in the Central Region.

About Washington-St. Louis

Wash U. (19-6) capped its regular season Saturday with a 67-52 victory over nationally ranked Chicago. It clinched the UAA's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament with an 89-70 triumph over Brandeis on Feb. 17. The Bears stood at 5-5 following a 66-36 loss against St. Thomas (Minn.) before winning 14 of their next 15 games, including two over fellow NCAA qualifier Chicago and one against Emory (Ga.), another NCAA qualifier. Wash U. earned its 24th UAA championship and owns a 72-27 all-time record in NCAA Championship play, good for the most national tournament wins in Division III history.

Series

UW-Whitewater and Washington-St. Louis have met on only one other occasion, when the Bears topped the Warhawks 62-45 in the second round of the 2016 NCAA Tournament on March 5, 2016, at Washington University Field House in St. Louis. Olivia Freckmann (Milwaukee, Wis./Pius XI) is the lone player on UW-Whitewater's current roster to have played in the contest, totaling four points, one rebound and two assists in 11 minutes of action. The Warhawks were held to 25.9 percent shooting in the contest despite out-scoring the Bears 15-4 on second-chance points.

Up Next

The winner of Friday's contest advances to Saturday's second round against the winner of Friday's other first round game featuring Greenville (Ill.) and No. 8 George Fox (Ore.). Tipoff of Saturday's affair is scheduled for 7 p.m.


To view the entire version of UW-Whitewater's NCAA first and second round game notes, click here.