By Angela Kelm
Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Information

Fort Wayne, Ind. — Warhawks’ Phenomenal Run Ends in NCAA Semifinal

The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater men’s basketball team’s phenomenal postseason run came to a close in the NCAA Division III semifinals Thursday night. The Warhawks fell to No. 3 Mount Union 83-79 in the Final Four at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne, Indiana.  

UW-Whitewater’s growth this season culminated in a fantastic run through the postseason. Heading into the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament as the number three seed, the Warhawks hosted UW-River Falls in their opening game picking up a win in Kachel Gymnasium. UWW has been on the road ever since. From February 24 at La Crosse to March 16 in Fort Wayne, the Warhawks traversed over 1,800 miles defeating four ranked teams along the way to set up the semifinal game against the Purple Raiders.  

The Warhawks won the first half in the battle of the purple powers. UW-Whitewater was shooting lights out building a lead that eventually hit 15 by the 10:48 mark after a turnaround jumper by Trevon Chislom made it 23-8. Just over two minutes later, Jameer Barker hit from deep to extend the lead to 18, 32-12, as UWW had the Purple Raider faithful in a stunned silence.  

As it rained from downtown, Carter Capstran added to the three-point tally with a triple at the 3:41 mark to give the Warhawks their largest lead of the game, 37-17. From that point Mount Union closed the half on an 11-4 run to cut the margin to 13, 41-28 at the break.  

The Warhawks shot over 57-percent from the floor in the first half hitting 46-percent from downtown. Atypical of UWW’s play all season, the Warhawks struggled from the free throw line making just 4-12. Meanwhile, Mount Union shot just 29-percent from the floor and, contrary to their resume this season, were 0-11 from deep.  

Three Warhawks had already hit double figures in the scoring column as Miles Barnstable led all players with 12, Capstran had 11 and Chislom dropped in 10.  

On the other side of the break, the Purple Raiders continued to build their momentum opening the half on an 11-3 spurt to cut the gap to five, 44-39 at the 15:56 mark.  

A three-pointer from Delvin Barnstable followed by a jumper from Barker quickly pushed the lead back into double figures with 14:43 on the clock. The gap hovered between 8 and 11 for three minutes.  

Mount Union continued to chip away claiming their first lead of the game with less than eight minutes left. Capstran knocked down his signature hook shot to give UWW the lead once again but the Purple Raiders hit in their next possession and would never trail the rest of the way.  

The Warhawks stayed within striking distance, never allowing the gap to grow to more than five points, but free throws and second chance points late kept UWW from coming back.  

With less than 10 seconds remaining, in a three-point game, a controversial call had the officials meeting at the scorer’s table to review. The Warhawk faithful were hopeful they were reviewing possession as the ball was tipped out of bounds. However, they were only reviewing for time purposes putting mere tenths-of-a-second back on the clock. Mount Union was able to seal the game at the line.  

The Warhawks shot 45-percent from the floor (27-60) and from beyond the three-point arc (9-20) but hit just 57-percent from the charity stripe (16-28). Mount Union shot 36-percent from the floor (29-81), made just one triple in 18 tries and knocked down 77-percent (24-31) from the line.  

Capstran, Chislom and Barnstable all had 17 points and six rebounds to lead UWW. Barker added 15 and four assists. Chislom posted a game-high four blocks in the contest.  

The Warhawks 2022-23 campaign ends with a 25-8 mark with the program’s 22^nd appearance in the national tournament and sixth trip to the Final Four.  

By Angela Kelm
Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Information

University of Wisconsin-Whitewater senior forward Aleah Grundahl (DeForest, Wis./DeForest) and sophomore guard Kacie Carollo (Whitewater, Wis./Whitewater) have earned All-America honors from the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association. 

Grundahl, the 2023 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Year and D3hoops.com Region 9 Player of the Year, was named First Team WBCA All-America Thursday. Grundahl is now a three-time All-America honoree after being selected to the D3hoops.com Second Team and WBCA Honorable Mention squads a season ago. The senior forward ranked among the top ten in the league in seven categories including points per game, field goal percentage, steals and blocks. The four-time all-league player was injured in the semifinal of the WIAC Tournament but supported her team throughout the squad’s run to the Sweet 16 this season. 

Carollo becomes a first-time All-American as an Honorable Mention pick in 2023. The First Team All-Region 9 selection from D3hoops.com was also a First Team All-WIAC pick and received recognition on the All-Defensive Team this season. The sophomore guard wrapped up the season with four consecutive 20-plus point games including a career-high 29-point performance in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. In the Sweet 16, she dropped in 28 to close the season averaging 17.0 points per outing. 

The pair led the Warhawks to the program’s 11th regular season WIAC title this season. UWW also claimed the league tournament title to secure the WIAC’s automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament. Making their 21st appearance in the postseason, the Warhawks rolled through first and second round games on their home court before falling in the Sweet 16 to Trinity College (CT). 

By Jeff Angileri
Executive Director, University Marketing & Communications
UW-Whitewater

Update 3/18/23 @ 10:50 a.m. – UW-W Men’s Wheelchair Basketball fell to Auburn by 68-64 on Saturday morning, ending their chance to place third in the championship.

Update 3/17/23 @ 9:20 p.m. – UW-W beat the Missouri Tigers 71-52 in a consolation bracket game on Friday. Next up is a game vs. on Saturday at 8:00 a.m. vs. the Auburn Tigers. If UW-W wins that game they’ll play for third place at noon on Saturday.

Update: 3/16/23 @ 10:15 p.m. – After winning their first game by 105-21 vs. Eastern Washington University, the Warhawks (#6) fell to Illinois (#3) by 57-45. UW-W will next play in a consolation game vs. Edinboro on Friday at 4:00 p.m.

The finest wheelchair basketball athletes from around the nation will travel to the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater on March 16-18 for the National Wheelchair Basketball Association men’s intercollegiate championships.

Eleven universities will participate: UW-Whitewater: University of Alabama, University of Arizona, Auburn University, City University of New York, Eastern Washington University, Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, University of Illinois, University of Missouri, Southwest Minnesota State University, and University of Texas-Arlington.

“UW-Whitewater is proud to partner with the National Wheelchair Basketball Association to host the men’s collegiate championships,” said Corey King, chancellor. “Hosting such a prestigious event builds upon our legacy as an institution of excellence in adaptive learning, engagement and athletics. On behalf of everyone at the university and in the Whitewater community, the Warhawk family sincerely welcomes you and we hope you enjoy the games!”

All games will take place in Kachel Gym in the Williams Center. Admission is free and complimentary parking is available in lots 11 and 24. Donations to support UW-Whitewater’s wheelchair athletics program are greatly appreciated.

For those unable to cheer on the teams in person, games will be livestreamed by UWW-TV.

“There is a tremendous amount of pride in hosting the national tournament on our home court,” said Jake Williams, men’s head coach and two-time Paralympic gold medalist. “Our athletes work extremely hard to be at the top of their game and this competition is sure to be exciting. We’ve always had incredible fan support from Warhawks across the region and we look forward to having a good crowd to cheer on the teams as they compete for the national title.”

The UW-Whitewater men’s and women’s wheelchair basketball teams have won 13 national championships and 3 national championships, respectively, and produced numerous Paralympic athletes and medalists.

By Angela Kelm
Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Information

UPDATE: 3/16/23 @ 10:40 P.M. – After the Warhawks led by as much as 20 points in the first half, Mount Union was a different team in the second half and ultimately defeated UW-W by a score of 83-79. At the post game press conference Coach Pat Miller said, ” Really proud of my team. What they’ve done the last four weeks is nothing short of amazing.”

The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater men’s basketball team is headed back to the NCAA Division III Final Four. The Warhawks will take on Mount Union Thursday, March 16 in semifinal action in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Tipoff at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum is set for 7 p.m. CDT. 

GAME INFORMATION
Round: NCAA Division III Final Four – Semifinal
Date: Thursday, March 16
Site: Allen County War Memorial Coliseum
Location: Fort Wayne, IN
Opponent: Mount Union
Tipoff Time: 7 p.m. CDT
Live Video | Live Stats
Tickets: Section 212 is behind the UWW bench for Thursday’s game. Sections 211 and 213 are across from the Warhawk bench.

WHITEWATER WATCH PARTY
Can’t make it to Fort Wayne but want to cheer on UW-Whitewater with other Warhawk fans? Head to 841 Brewhouse in Whitewater to watch the game live. 

UW-WHITEWATER’S PATH TO FORT WAYNE
The Warhawks, 25-7, punched their ticket to the NCAA Division III Tournament with a huge 92-79 victory over #12 UW-Oshkosh in Oshkosh to claim the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament title. That victory secured the league’s automatic bid into the postseason to get UWW dancing. 

Road Warriors: UWW headed to Cleveland, Ohio for first and second round action. The Warhawks took down Wabash 90-83 followed by a 78-75 win over host #8 Case Western Reserve. Next came the Sweet 16 and a trip to Ashland, Virginia as Randolph Macon hosted the pod. A thrilling 83-82 overtime victory over Johns Hopkins led to a 77-74 Elite 8 win over #6 Oswego State and the Warhawks keep dancing all the way to Fort Wayne. Since the WIAC Tournament semifinal in La Crosse, the Warhawks have traversed over 1,600 miles over a six-game span — they’ll add another 270 to that total this week with the trip to Fort Wayne.

The Series: Thursday will be the second meeting between Mount Union and UW-Whitewater on the hardwood. The lone other game featuring the Warhawks and Purple Raiders resulted in a UWW win — 76-58 on December 28, 1998, in Whitewater. 

The History: The Warhawks are in the midst of their 22nd appearance in the NCAA Division III Tournament and first since 2014. The Final Four has been good to the Warhawks — rather the Warhawks have been good in the Final Four. UW-Whitewater has gone on to win the national title the last four times they have advanced to the Final Four (2014, 2012, 1988, 1984). 

Head Coach Pat Miller enters Thursday’s game with a 21-7 mark in the NCAA Tournament. He’s won two national titles as a coach and one as a Warhawk student-athlete (1984). 

Doing it for Derek: The Warhawks are playing for something bigger than themselves this season after teammate Derek Gray (Madison, Wis./La Follette) tragically passed away in the summer due to a cardiac event. DG4 is the story behind our story this season.

Key Player Accolades: Miles Barnstable (Sheboygan, Wis./Howards Grove) – D3hoops.com Third Team All-Region 9, All-WIAC, WIAC Newcomer of the Year; Trevon Chislom (McFarland, Wis./McFarland) – NABC Second Team All-District 9, All-WIAC; Jameer Barker (Racine, Wis./St. Catherine’s) – Honorable Mention All-WIAC; Delvin Barnstable (Sheboygan, Wis./Sheboygan Lutheran) – Honorable Mention All-WIAC; Elijah Lambert (Racine, Wis./St. Catherine’s) – WIAC All-Defensive Team

MOUNT UNION’S PATH TO FORT WAYNE
The Purple Raiders, ranked third according to D3hoops.com, won the Ohio Athletic Conference regular season and tournament titles to secure an automatic berth into the NCAA Division III Tournament. 

Mount Union has hosted all the way through. Surviving a late push, MU defeated Anderson 73-65 to open the tournament. The Purple Raiders downed Lancaster Bible College 90-66 in round two. The Sweet 16 saw Mount Union topping North Park 102-85 before the Purple Raiders punched their ticket to Fort Wayne with a 78-67 win over UW-Oshkosh in the Elite 8. 

Their History: Mount Union is making their fifth NCAA Division III Tournament appearance but the Final Four is uncharted territory for the Purple Raiders. The program is making its first trip to the semifinals. 

Key Player Accolades: Christian Parker – D3hoops.com Region 7 Player of the Year, First Team All-Region, NABC District 7 Player of the Year, First Team All-District, OAC Player of the Year, First Team All-OAC; Collen Gurley – D3hoops.com Second Team All-Region 7, NABC Second Team All-District 7, First Team All-OAC; Darrell Newsom – OAC Defensive Player of the Year, Honorable Mention All-OAC; Braedon Poole – Honorable Mention All-OAC; Jeffery Mansfield – Honorable Mention All-OAC