The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater women's basketball team rode a strong defense and the hot hand of the conference's reigning Newcomer of the Year Wednesday night on its way to a 61-50 victory at UW-Stevens Point in a Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference game and the season opener for both teams.
 
Aleah Grundahl (DeForest, Wis./DeForest) tallied team highs of 23 points and eight rebounds, shooting 11-of-19 on the way to her career-best scoring effort.
 
The Warhawks (1-0 overall, 1-0 WIAC) held the Pointers to 30 percent shooting from the floor, including 3-of-16 (18.8 percent) from 3-point range.
 
UW-Whitewater overcame UW-Stevens Point's 17-5 advantage in made free throws by committing only 13 turnovers in the contest while forcing 19 on the other end. The Warhawks also held advantages on points in the paint (40-22) and fast-break points (21-3).
 
Veronica Kieres (Chicago, Ill./Resurrection) added eight points and three rebounds, and Emily Schumacher (Waukesha, Wis./Waukesha South) registered seven points, three rebounds and three assists.
 
The Warhawks never trailed in the contest. After UW-Stevens Point forged a 20-20 tie with three minutes left in the second quarter, UW-W scored six straight points on buckets by Maggie Trautsch (Sun Prairie, Wis./DeForest), Erin Adams (Darien, Ill./Hinsdale South) and Kieres, and took a four-point lead into halftime.
 
The Pointers (0-1, 0-1) drew to within two in the opening minute of the third quarter, but UW-Whitewater responded with a 7-0 run, including baskets by Yssa Sto. Domingo (Streamwood, Ill./St. Edward), Johanna Taylor (Wauwatosa, Wis./East) and Grundahl.
 
At the midway point of the third, UW-Stevens Point drew to within one possession, but the Warhawks maintained their lead, building it all the way to double digits. They took a 43-33 advantage into the fourth.
 
UW-W led by as many as 19 in the final period.
 
The two teams close out their season series Friday at 7 p.m. at Kachel Gymnasium. UW-Whitewater will recognize its parents virtually in lieu of the program's annual Parents Day celebration.