The UW-Whitewater women’s basketball team snapped a two-game losing streak on Saturday, defeating the UW-River Falls Falcons behind an aggressive defense at Kachel Gymnasium on Senior Day.
The Warhawks pressured the Falcons from start to finish defensively, forcing 17 turnovers in the first half. The defense held River Falls to 18 points in the first half and 19 in the second, cruising to the win by a final score of 57-37.
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UW-River Falls’ leading scorer Taylor Kargee gave her team the early lead with the first basket of the game, but after senior guard Reilly Stewart answered with a three-pointer at the other end, the Warhawks never trailed again.
“I tried to take it just like any other game,” Stewart said. “Obviously it’s a special day. Just to be in the program for four years and going out there and representing all of the players that have played in the past, and playing for my coaches and teammates…It’s a fun day and I’m glad we got the ‘W.”
Stewart paced the team on offense, tallying 11 points, 8 of which came in the first half. Freshman Becky Raeder and Junior Brooke Trewyn also scored in double figures, adding 11 and 10 points respectively.
Trewyn pulled down 11 rebounds in the contest, adding another double-double to her list of accomplishments this year. The junior leads the team this year in scoring and rebounds, and is second in steals and assists.
“We played with a little more passion tonight knowing that it was Senior Night and Play4Kay,” Trewyn said. “We all played together and did it for our seniors.”
The athletes all wore pink during the game in order to raise money and awareness for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund. The charity began in 2007, and is aimed at working towards putting an end to cancer, especially those affecting women.
Freshman Olivia Freckman stuffed the stat sheet with contributions on both ends of the floor for the Warhawks. She finished the game with eight points, three assists, four blocks and a pair of steals.
Junior guard Malia Smith was a big reason for the Warhawks success on defense. She grabbed seven steals in 27 minutes played. Smith was efficient at the other end of the floor, never missing a shot from the field or the foul line.
Senior guard Hannah Pignato led the way for River Falls with 13 points, four rebounds and a steal. She was also perfect from the foul line, making all four of her attempts.
But the Falcons struggled to find answers for the Warhawks full-court pressure. Kargee picked up two early fouls which kept her out most of the first half and the team struggled shooting the ball, averaging under 30 percent from the field.
With the win, the Warhawks improve to 19-4 overall and 9-3 in conference play. The team is second in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference behind the UW-Oshkosh Titans who are 21-2 overall and 11-1 in conference. They will have a chance to close the gap on Wednesday night, when they face the Titans in Oshkosh at 7 pm.
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