The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater women's basketball team plays in the first round of the 2022 NCAA Division III Championship Friday against Ripon at Kachel Gymnasium.

The Warhawks earned an at-large bid to the national tournament after claiming the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference regular season championship, while the Red Hawks claimed an automatic bid by virtue of winning the Midwest Conference Tournament title. UW-Whitewater is making its 20th trip to the national tournament and 13th in the last 14 seasons.

Fans can purchase tickets at the door starting 60 minutes prior to tipoff for each game. Cost is $10 per game for adults, $7 for students and seniors and free for children aged 3 and under. The first 150 UW-W students in attendance at Friday's game will receive free admission courtesy of DLK Enterprises, the James R. Conner University Center and UW-W Housing.

All three of this weekend's games, regardless of Friday's outcomes, can be watched live on UWW-TV on channel 100.1 on campus, Spectrum channel 989 for customers in the Whitewater area or online at uwwtv.org. UW-Whitewater's game(s) can be heard live in KIX 106.5 FM WKCH in the Whitewater area or online at kix1065.com.

Last Time Out

UW-Whitewater was outscored 47-25 in the second half during a 77-63 setback against UW-Eau Claire in the championship game of the WIAC Tournament (presented by Culver's) on Feb. 25 at Kachel Gymnasium. Johanna Taylor (Wauwatosa, Wis./East) tallied a double double with 10 points and 15 rebounds to go with seven assists and two blocks. Kacie Carollo (Whitewater, Wis./Whitewater) and Yssa Sto. Domingo (Streamwood, Ill./St. Edward) finished with 14 and 13 points, respectively.

In The Rankings

The Warhawks enter the week ranked 12th in both the D3hoops.com Top 25 and the Women's Basketball Coaches Association NCAA Division III Top 25 Coaches Poll, and third in the NCAA Region IX rankings. UW-Whitewater racked up four wins against teams ranked in Region IX, including No. 2 UW-Eau Claire, No. 4 UW-Oshkosh (2x) and No. 6 Loras as well as victories against Illinois Wesleyan and Calvin, which are ranked in other regions. Ripon is not ranked in any poll. DePauw is ranked 15th in the D3hoops.com Top 25, 16th in the WBCA poll and third in Region VII, and Illinois Wesleyan is third in Region VIII and receiving votes in the D3hoops.com poll.

About Ripon

Ripon claimed the Midwest Conference Tournament championship last Saturday with a 62-55 victory against Monmouth, claiming an automatic bid to their sixth NCAA Tournament in program history and second in the last three seasons. Alison Leslie totaled a team-high 21 points for the Red Hawks, who built a 14-point halftime lead and held off Monmouth in the second half. 

Series

Friday's game is the fifth meeting between UW-Whitewater and Ripon. On Nov. 16, 2016, the Warhawks held the Red Hawks to to 34.0 percent shooting and used a 14-1 run in the second half for a 70-54 victory at the UW-La Crosse Holiday Inn Express Thanksgiving Classic. Brooke Trewyn led all scorers with 26 points to go along with 12 rebounds.

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 DePauw (Ind.) and Illinois Wesleyan. Tipoff of Saturday's affair is scheduled for 7 p.m.

UW-Whitewater owns a 2-3 record all time against DePauw. The Warhawks fell 70-69 in overtime in the most recent matchup on Nov. 16, 2019. UW-W and Illinois Wesleyan met earlier this season, with the Warhawks posting a 75-43 win on Nov. 20 in Bloomington, Ill. Veronica Kieres (Chicago, Ill./Resurrection) collected 12 points to pace UW-Whitewater, which forced 25 turnovers and held IWU to 28.3 percent shooting.