By Chris Lindeke, Asst. Athletic Director, UW-W

The No. 6 ranked University of Wisconsin-Whitewater women’s basketball team broke open a close game through three quarters with a strong fourth Saturday afternoon in a 72-56 victory over UW-Stout in a Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference game at Kachel Gymnasium.

The Warhawks (15-1 overall, 5-0 WIAC), who extended their active win streak to 13 games, outscored the Blue Devils 23-14 in the fourth quarter and shot 56.0 percent in the second half overall.

Freshman forward Aleah Grundahl led UW-Whitewater with 17 points, while senior guard Becky Raeder tallied 16 points, five assists and two steals. Sophomore guard Veronica Kieres collected 12 points, nine rebounds and four assists, and junior center Johanna Taylor registered eight points, 10 rebounds, four assists and six blocks, which tied for the 11th-most in one game in program history.

The Warhawks scored the first seven points of the contest before the Blue Devils responded with their own 7-0 run to tie the game midway through the first quarter. UW-Whitewater found baskets on each of its last two possessions of the period on layups by Grundahl and sophomore guard Veronica Kieres to make it 18-10.

UW-Stout opened scoring in the second before the Warhawks ran off the next 12 points, including a Euro-step layup in transition by sophomore guard Yssa Sto. Domingo and a layup by Grundahl that capped the run for a 30-12 lead by the 4:19 mark.

UW-Whitewater led 32-15 with 3:08 left in the half before the Blue Devils ended the quarter with eight straight points to close within 32-23.

UW-Stout continued its momentum early in the third, drawing to within 39-37 near the midway point of the quarter. The Warhawks closed the frame on a 10-5 run, including four points by sophomore forward Courtney Oomens, to take a 49-42 advantage.

UW-Whitewater started the fourth quarter on a 9-0 run over the first two-plus minutes, capped by a layup by Grundahl, to take a 58-42 lead.

The Warhawks matched their largest lead of the game at 18 points with 3:41 to play following a 3-pointer by Kieres, and made 5-of-6 free throws in the period to maintain the advantage.

The Warhawks host UW-Platteville for Staff Appreciation Night Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Kachel Gymnasium.