Today is Tuesday, November 26, 2024
The No. 8 ranked University of Wisconsin-Whitewater women’s basketball team fell just short of a thrilling comeback victory Friday night, falling 70-62 against Redlands (Calif.) in the first round of the NCAA Division III Championship at Kachel Gymnasium in Whitewater.
UW-Whitewater wraps up its season with a 23-4 record after claiming the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference regular season championship, a semifinal appearance in the conference tournament and its 12th appearance in the NCAA Tournament in the last 13 years.
The Warhawks trailed by as many as 14 in the third quarter and were down 10 at the end of the period before making runs in the fourth.
UW-Whitewater drew to within two possessions at 52-46 with 9:27 on the clock after a pair of free throws by freshman forward Aleah Grundahl.
The Bulldogs (22-6) responded with six straight points to double their lead up to 12 at the 7:45 mark, but the Warhawks surged back with a 6-0 run to cut it to 58-52 on a layup by junior center Johanna Taylor at the midway point of the quarter.
Redlands responded again with five straight points, but UW-Whitewater ran off five unanswered as senior guard Becky Raeder cut it to 63-58 on a 3-pointer with 1:31 left.
The Bulldogs hit 7-of-8 from the free-throw line over the final 1:13 of regulation to punch their ticket to the second round, where they’ll face Trine (Ind.), a 65-37 winner over Benedictine (Ill.).
Grundahl led the Warhawks with 18 points and eight rebounds, and Taylor finished with a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds to go along with three assists.
Raeder and sophomore guard Veronica Kieres each tallied nine points, and junior guard Rebekah Schumacher registered eight points, all in the first half. Kieres added seven rebounds.
UW-Whitewater committed only 10 turnovers in the game but was held to 31.3 percent shooting in the contest, while Redlands converted 48.1 percent from the floor.
The Warhawks scored 28 second-chance points thanks to 17 offensive rebounds.
UW-Whitewater led 8-2 three minutes into the game. After Redlands drew to within one, the two teams traded baskets over the remainder of the first quarter, and the Warhawks took a 17-16 advantage on a 3-pointer by Schumacher with just over a minute remaining.
Neither team led by more than four in the second quarter before the Bulldogs took a five-point lead in the final minute of the period.
After a pair of Raeder free throws brought UW-W within three at the 8:37 mark of the third quarter, Redlands scored the next 11 points and led 48-34 with 6:18 on the clock.
The Warhawks drew within 10 by the end of the quarter to set up their comeback attempt.
The Whitewater Gymnasts competed in Sectionals at Elkhorn High School on Friday, February 28th. The Sectional competition consisted of nine teams which included Whitefish Bay, Elkhorn, West Bend East, Jefferson, Valders/Roncalli, Waterford, Port Washington, and Shorewood.
Whitewater placed 8th scoring a 113.125 which was their highest team score of the season. The gymnasts had a very successful meet achieving many personal bests.
Halee Peters placed 15th on Beam scoring an 8.075, 18th on Vault scoring an 8.25, a 7.85 on Floor, 7.05 on Bars, and scored a personal best in the All-Around score with a 31.225.
Jenna Caldwell competed Bars placing her 23rd with a score of 7.2. Anna Ejnik placed 20th on Beam scoring a 7.875 and a 7.55 on Floor.
Caleigh Yang scored two personal bests, scoring a 26.05 in the All-Around and on the Balance Beam scoring a 7.4. Maddy Donnelly scored a 7.7 on Vault, Brenda Aguilar scored a 7.3 on Vault, and Ashly Xochipa scored a 5.6 on the Balance Beam.
The Whippets have completed their successful season, and the Wisconsin State Gymnastics meet will be held on March 6th and 7th at the Wisconsin Rapids.
Article and Photo Submitted by Coach Kelly O’Hara
The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater women’s basketball team will host the first and second rounds of the NCAA Division III Championship this Friday and Saturday at Kachel Gymnasium in Whitewater.
The Warhawks (23-3 overall) will face Redlands (Calif.) in the first round Friday at 7 p.m. The Bulldogs earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament by winning the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament championship.
Trine (Ind.) and Benedictine (Ill.) complete the four-team pod and will square off in the first round Friday at 5 p.m. The Thunder earned a Pool C, or at-large, berth to the NCAA Tournament after reaching the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Tournament championship game. The Eagles also claimed an at-large bid after finishing as runner-up in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference Tournament.
UW-Whitewater earned an at-large bid to the national tournament, its fifth consecutive appearance and 12th in the last 13 years. The team claimed the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference regular season championship with a 13-1 league record and reached the semifinals of the WIAC Tournament last week.
The Warhawks were first in the NCAA Central Region rankings last week.
See below for the complete weekend schedule.
Friday, March 6
Game 1: Trine (home) vs. Benedictine, 5 p.m.
Game 2: UW-Whitewater (home) vs. Redlands, 7 p.m.
Saturday, March 3
Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 7 p.m.
*host will be the home team; if host does not advance, winner of Game 1 will be home team
The Whippet girls fell to Martin Luther 61-55 Saturday night, February 29, in the regional final.
Seven Whippets scored, with three in double-digits. Kacie Carollo led the team with 19, followed by Abby Grosinske with 15, and Cassidy Laue with 11.
Cora Linos and Grosinske led the team in rebounds, pulling down six each.
Catherine Skindingsrude, Grosinske, and Brianna Zimdars each contributed three assists.
The team combined for 12 steals, with six by Carollo.
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