The No. 6 ranked University of Wisconsin-Whitewater women's basketball team hits the road this week for a pair of Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference games.
The Warhawks (19-2 overall, 9-1 WIAC) enter the final four games of the regular season conference slate in first place, one game ahead of UW-Eau Claire. UW-W has already secured a spot in the league's postseason tournament and can clinch a top-four seed and guarantee itself a home game with a win this week.
UW-Whitewater visits UW-Platteville Wednesday at 7 p.m., and heads to UW-Eau Claire Saturday for a 5 p.m. contest. Links to follow both games live can be found on the
UW-Whitewater women's basketball schedule page.
The Warhawks compiled a pair of victories last week, going on the road to defeat UW-Stevens Point 59-41 before downing UW-River Falls 71-45 on Saturday afternoon at Kachel Gymnasium.
On Wednesday, UW-Whitewater held the Pointers to 28.6 percent shooting and held a 51-32 advantage in rebounding, including a 22-9 margin on the offensive glass.
Johanna Taylor (Wauwatosa, Wis./East) registered her third double-double of the year with a 12-point, 11-rebound, 7-block effort, tying her career high in blocks.
Becky Raeder (Sheboygan Falls, Wis./Sheboygan Falls) posted 12 points on 5-of-10 shooting from the field.
On Saturday, the Warhawks celebrated Senior Day, honoring Raeder and
Megan Corcoran (Madison, Wis./LaFollette) during a brief halftime ceremony. Raeder and junior guard
Rebekah Schumacher (Whitewater, Wis./Whitewater) totaled 16 points apiece to pace the offense, and UW-W limited UW-River Falls to 29.8 percent shooting.
Wednesday – at UW-Platteville, 7 p.m.
Wednesday's game is the second meeting between the two teams this season. On Jan. 22 in Platteville, the Warhawks shot 51.9 percent in the second half while holding the Pioneers to 22.2 percent over the same span in a 67-52 victory.
Johanna Taylor (Wauwatosa, Wis./East) recorded 14 points, six rebounds and seven blocks to lead UW-W, which out-scored UW-P 44-24 in the second half, including 24-12 in the fourth quarter alone.
The Warhawks hold a 68-25 advantage in the all-time series between the two teams.
UW-Platteville (11-10, 3-7) has lost four of its last six games, but does own a 7-4 record at home this season. The Pioneers dropped a pair of games last week, including a 76-70 setback in overtime against UW-Stout. Kaylee Meyers tallied a team-high 18 points to go along with five rebounds, and Maiah Domask registered 16 points and 13 rebounds for UW-Platteville, which held a two-point lead in the final minute of regulation before the Blue Devils scored to tie the game with three seconds to play.
Domask (15.3 points per game) and Morgan Horstman (13.6 ppg) rank third and fourth, respectively, in the WIAC in scoring. Domask is the league's leading rebounder, grabbing 9.0 per game. The Pioneers lead the league in 3-point field goal percentage defense, allowing teams to hit only 25.6 percent from beyond the arc.
Saturday – at UW-Eau Claire, 5 p.m.
The Warhawks and Blugolds last played Jan. 4 in Whitewater. Four players scored in double figures for UW-Whitewater, which forced 21 turnovers and held UW-Eau Claire to 28.6 percent shooting in a 67-41 victory at Kachel Gymnasium.
Veronica Kieres (Chicago, Ill./Resurrection) paced UW-W's balanced scoring attack with 14 points to go along with seven rebounds.
UW-Eau Claire leads the all-time series between the two teams, 51-40, including a 30-15 mark in games played in Eau Claire.
The Blugolds (14-7, 8-2) enter the week on a four-game winning streak, including a 72-69 triumph at UW-Stevens Point on Saturday. Hallee Hoeppner totaled 17 points and eight rebounds to lead UW-EC, which built a 44-23 halftime lead and withstood a fourth-quarter rally by the Pointers.
UW-Eau Claire ranks second to UW-Whitewater in the WIAC in scoring defense entering the week, allowing only 58.0 points per affair. Hoeppner ranks second in the conference in scoring (15.9 ppg) and is tied for third in rebounding (6.7 per game).
The Blugolds visit UW-River Falls Wednesday before welcoming UW-Whitewater to Zorn Arena on Saturday.
