The No. 4 University of Wisconsin-Whitewater women's basketball team returns home this week for a pair of Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference games against fellow nationally ranked opponents.
 
The Warhawks (11-1 overall, 2-0 WIAC) welcome No. 23 UW-Oshkosh to Kachel Gymnasium Wednesday for a 7 p.m. tipoff. The team then hosts eighth-ranked UW-Eau Claire Saturday starting at 3 p.m.
 
Both games will be broadcast live online and can be heard locally on the radio. Wednesday's game will run live on 940 AM WFAW in the Whitewater area, and Saturday's game will air on KIX 106.5 FM WKCH.
 
Last week, UW-Whitewater split a pair of non-conference games. On Thursday, the team posted a 79-51 victory against Edgewood at Kachel Gymnasium. UW-W forced 36 turnovers, including 20 on steals, and held the Eagles to 37.7 percent shooting from the floor. Aleah Grundahl (DeForest, Wis./DeForest) led all scorers with 19 points to go along with six rebounds and six steals.
 
On Saturday, the Warhawks suffered their first loss of the season, falling 71-62 at Carroll. UW-W forced 29 turnovers and led by as many as 10 points in the second quarter but was ultimately done in by 29.7 percent shooting from the floor, the team's lowest percentage of the season. Grundahl tallied a team-high 21 points with nine rebounds, and Johanna Taylor (Wauwatosa, Wis./East) finished with seven points, 12 rebounds, four assists and four blocks.
 
Wednesday, Jan. 5, 7 p.m. – vs. UW-Oshkosh
 
UW-Oshkosh (11-2, 1-1) has won five straight games entering the week, including a 67-40 triumph against Carthage on Dec. 30 in Northfield, Minn. The Titans held the Firebirds to 31.9 percent shooting and pulled away with a 25-point third quarter.
 
Leah Porath and Nikki Arneson each average double figures in scoring with 13.7 and 12.2 points per game, respectively, to lead UWO. Both are shooting better than 50 percent from the floor and better than 45 percent from 3-point range. Porath also leads the Titans in rebounding (6.1 per game) and is tied for the team lead with 26 assists.
 
UW-Oshkosh currently boasts the league's top scoring defense, allowing 44.3 points per game.
 
The Warhawks dropped three games against the Titans during the abbreviated 2020-21 season, including a 74-58 setback in the WIAC championship game on March 5, 2021. Taylor led UW-W with 23 points, eight rebounds and three blocks, and Grundahl added 12 points, nine rebounds and eight assists.
 
Saturday, Jan. 8, 3 p.m. – vs. UW-Eau Claire
 
UW-Eau Claire (11-2, 2-0) is also off to a strong start for the 2021-22 season and is coming off a pair of wins in Texas. The team defeated Austin College 69-45 on Dec. 31 behind a 24-point, 11-rebound effort from Jessie Ruden and a stingy defense that held Austin to 19.4 percent shooting from the floor.
 
Ruden paces a group of four players averaging double figures with 17.2 points per game. Tyra Boettcher averages 14.6 points per game, and Bailey Reardon (10.6 ppg) and Courtney Crouch (10.5 ppg) average double figures in scoring on better than 50 percent shooting from the floor.
 
The Warhawks have won their last four contests against the Blugolds, including a 74-62 victory in the semifinals of the WIAC Tournament on March 3, 2021. UW-W held UWEC to 32.2 percent shooting from the floor, including a 5-for-22 mark from 3-point range, and knocked down 10-of-24 (41.7 percent) from 3-point range on the offensive end.
 
UW-Eau Claire visits UW-Platteville Wednesday prior to making Saturday's trip to Whitewater.