Related Links:
WIAC Tournament Web Page
NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Web Page (Selection Show – Monday, 1:30 p.m. Central Time)
The No. 9 ranked University of Wisconsin-Whitewater women's basketball team held a double-digit lead early in the second half but was unable to sustain the advantage Friday night in a 77-63 setback against UW-Eau Claire in the championship game of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament (presented by Culver's) at Kachel Gymnasium.
The Warhawks (23-4 overall), who won the WIAC regular season championship and were making their eighth appearance in the tournament title game, hope to secure an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. The 64-team field will be revealed Monday at 1:30 p.m. Central Time during a live selection show on
NCAA.com.
UW-Whitewater out-rebounded the Blugolds by a 47-39 margin, including 23-9 on the offensive glass that led to a 25-13 edge in second-chance points. UW-W was limited to 34.2 percent shooting from the floor, including a 20 percent clip in the fourth quarter.
UW-Eau Claire (21-7) turned 15 Warhawk turnovers into 20 points at the other end, shot 56.0 percent from the floor in the second half and made 28-of-31 from the free-throw line for the game.
Kacie Carollo (Whitewater, Wis./Whitewater) led UW-Whitewater with 14 points to go with five rebounds.
Johanna Taylor (Wauwatosa, Wis./East) registered a double-double with 10 points and 15 rebounds (11 offensive) to go along with seven assists and two blocks.
Yssa Sto. Domingo (Streamwood, Ill./St. Edward) collected 13 points and
Aleah Grundahl (DeForest, Wis./DeForest) finished with nine.
The Blugolds started the contest with seven straight points, but the Warhawks recorded 10 of the next 13 points to tie the game at 10-10 following a jumper by
Rebekah Schumacher (Whitewater, Wis./Whitewater) with 3:45 left in the first quarter. UW-EC held a 17-13 advantage through the first 10 minutes.
UW-Whitewater held UW-Eau Claire to 25 percent shooting in the second quarter and finished with a 25-13 scoring advantage in the period. The Warhawks took their first lead of the period on a 3-pointer by Sto. Domingo with 6:27 left, and a 10-0 run capped on a 3-pointer by
Maggie Trautsch (Sun Prairie, Wis./DeForest) gave UW-W a 36-24 lead with just over two minutes remaining.
A pair of free throws by Carollo in the final seconds of the quarter gave UW-Whitewater a 38-30 halftime lead.
Sto. Domingo knocked down a 3-pointer to begin the second half and Grundahl generated five points over a two-minute stretch to give the Warhawks their largest lead of the game at 48-35 with 7:37 to play in the third.
The Blugolds rallied with 13 straight points to tie the game at 48-48 just past the midway point of the quarter. The two teams traded baskets the rest of the period and UW-EC held a 57-55 edge heading to the fourth.
Grundahl brought UW-Whitewater within two points at the 8:28 mark before UW-Eau Claire scored eight straight points for a 67-57 advantage with 5:43 on the clock.
The Warhawks drew as close as eight points the rest of the way.
