By Chris Lindeke, Assistant Athletic Director, Strategic Communications and Branding, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
Friday, February 25, 2022
NCAA Division III Women’s Basketball Web Page (Selection Show – Monday, 1:30 p.m. Central Time)
The No. 9 ranked University of Wisconsin-Whitewater women’s basketball team held a double-digit lead early in the second half but was unable to sustain the advantage Friday night in a 77-63 setback against UW-Eau Claire in the championship game of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament (presented by Culver’s) at Kachel Gymnasium.
The Warhawks (23-4 overall), who won the WIAC regular season championship and were making their eighth appearance in the tournament title game, hope to secure an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. The 64-team field will be revealed Monday at 1:30 p.m. Central Time during a live selection show on NCAA.com.
UW-Whitewater outrebounded the Blugolds by a 47-39 margin, including 23-9 on the offensive glass that led to a 25-13 edge in second-chance points. UW-W was limited to 34.2 percent shooting from the floor, including a 20 percent clip in the fourth quarter.
UW-Eau Claire (21-7) turned 15 Warhawk turnovers into 20 points at the other end and shot 56.0 percent from the floor in the second half.
Kacie Carollo led UW-Whitewater with 14 points to go with five rebounds. Johanna Taylor registered a double-double with 10 points and 15 rebounds (11 offensive) to go along with seven assists and two blocks.
Yssa Sto. Domingo collected 13 points and Aleah Grundahl finished with nine.
The Blugolds started the contest with seven straight points, but the Warhawks recorded 10 of the next 13 points to tie the game at 10-10 following a jumper by Rebekah Schumacher with 3:45 left in the first quarter. UW-EC held a 17-13 advantage through the first 10 minutes.
UW-Whitewater held UW-Eau Claire to 25 percent shooting in the second quarter and finished with a 25-13 scoring advantage in the period. The Warhawks took their first lead of the period on a 3-pointer by Sto. Domingo with 6:27 left, and a 10-0 run capped on a 3-pointer by Maggie Trautsch gave UW-W a 36-24 lead with just over two minutes remaining.
A pair of free throws by Carollo in the final seconds of the quarter gave UW-Whitewater a 38-30 halftime lead.
Sto. Domingo knocked down a 3-pointer to begin the second half and Grundahl generated five points over a two-minute stretch to give the Warhawks their largest lead of the game at 48-35 with 7:37 to play in the third.
The Blugolds rallied with 13 straight points to tie the game at 48-48 just past the midway point of the quarter. The two teams traded baskets the rest of the period and UW-EC held a 57-55 edge heading to the fourth.
Grundahl brought UW-Whitewater within two points at the 8:28 mark before UW-Eau Claire scored eight straight points for a 67-57 advantage with 5:43 on the clock.
The Warhawks drew as close as eight points the rest of the way.
