The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater women's basketball team wrapped up the 2024 calendar year with a 46-43 win over Calvin University in Kachel Gym Monday afternoon. The Warhawks, ranked sixth and eighth in a pair of national polls, take a 10-1 record into 2025.
The Knights scored the first points of the contest on a pair of free throws, but UWW quickly took the lead and didn't trail until late in the fourth quarter. Still the game was close throughout with a double digit margin showing on the scoreboard just once following a
Kacie Carollo (Whitewater, Wis./Whitewater) three-pointer with 4:08 left in the second quarter. Calvin registered the final four points of the period to cut the gap to six, 28-22, at the break.
Both teams struggled in the third quarter, combining for just 13 points, as UWW's lead disappeared with under two minutes to go in the period. A three-pointer for the Knights knotted the game at 30-30, but Carollo had the answer draining a triple off of a
Katie Hildebrandt (McFarland, Wis./McFarland) assist with 44 seconds left to reclaim the Warhawk advantage heading into the fourth.
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Mallory Oloffson (Normal, Ill./Normal Community) layin and another Carollo three split a pair of Knight buckets to push the lead back to four early in the fourth. Four minutes later, Calvin tied the contest before taking their second lead of the game, 40-42, with 3:23 left. Oloffson knocked down a jumper off a
Mia Gillis (Mundelein, Ill./Carmel Catholic) pass to tie the game at the three minute mark.
A minute later, Carollo negated a Calvin free throw with a layup and Oloffson followed with another layin to give UWW a 46-43 lead with 1:29 left.
Calvin called timeout to advance the ball but the Warhawks forced a turnover with exactly one minute remaining. A miscue on UW-Whitewater's offensive end gave the Knights the ball with 29 seconds left. Calvin chose to advance the ball to the far side of the court. Hildebrandt pressured and got a hand on the initial inbounds pass nearly grabbing the steal but it caromed out of bounds. The Knights successfully inbounded and were able to get a triple off with five seconds remaining. Calvin hauled in the offensive board but couldn't get the tipin to go and the Warhawks were whistled for a foul with eight-tenths of a second left.
The Knights inbounded but the Warhawks didn't allow a shot to go up as the final buzzer sounded sealing the 46-43 victory.
Carollo led UW-Whitewater 22 points on 8-14 from the floor including 4-8 from beyond the arc. Hildebrandt tallied a team high seven boards and five blocked shots adding a pair of steals. Oloffson and Gillis each pitched in six points.
The Warhawks return to action Saturday in Kachel Gym as UWW opens WIAC play against UW-River Falls. Tipoff against the Falcons is set for 3 PM with the men's game to follow in the rare home doubleheader.
