By Kevin Cunningham
Sports correspondent
After two wins this past week, the UW-Whitewater men’s basketball team is now 4-6 in its last 10 games. Prior to those 10, the team was 11-2 overall.
The Warhawks will wrap up its regular season action with two games this week heading into the WIAC Tournament. In the first of two games this past week, on Feb. 10, the ’Hawks defeated UW-Platteville, in Platteville with a heavy dose of offense.
Thanks to 47 points in the first half and then 57 more in the second, the ’Hawks left Platteville with a 104-86 victory. Trinson White finished with 27 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds while Haki Stampley added 23 points of his own.
The team made 56 percent of its two-point field goals and 56 percent of its 3-pointers (13-of-23) in the win. UW-Whitewater also made 29-of-35 from the charity stripe compared to UW-Platteville’s 4-of-13.
Three days after the win over the Pioneers, the Warhawks came back with a win at home over UW-Stout, 83-70. The first half wasn’t indicative of the entire game, but it gave the ’Hawks the boost it needed to survive the rest of the contest.
By first half’s end, UW-Whitewater led, 44-27. In the second half, it was UW-Stout who had the advantage, but the ’Hawks held on for the 13-point victory.
Three players made up the bulk of the scoring, as Stampley had 23, White finished with 18, and Cole Van Schyndel finished with 16. White added 10 rebounds and three assists to his stat-line by game’s end.
The charity stripe was a difference maker again as the ’Hawks made more free throws than UW-Stout even attempted, going 22-of-30 compared to the Blue Devils’ 11-of-19.
The ’Hawks’ played UW-Oshkosh Wednesday and are set to hit the road against UW-Eau Claire on Feb. 20 to round out the regular season.
Women back on track
Much like the Warhawks’ men’s team, the women’s team started off the season on the right foot. The ’Hawks were 12-0 to start the season, and then lost three of its next four games.
Since then though, the team has won six of its last seven, including going 2-0 this past week as well. On Feb. 10, the team hosted UW-Platteville and won the first three quarters by a combined score of 66-38.
The Pioneers ended up winning the fourth quarter by one, but the final score read, 85-58. UW-Whitewater got 15 points apiece from Jaya Perkins and Andrea Olsen while also getting 14 from Brooke Trewyn.
It wasn’t the standout scoring performances of a few players that popped eyes in the stat sheet though, it was the 12 players who played at least 11 minutes in the game. Those 12 players all played between 11 and 18 minutes in the contest.
And just in case the 12 weren’t enough, eight more saw the floor before the game ended, with five of those players logging at least five minutes apiece. Despite the 27-point win, a couple stat totals went the Pioneers’ way, as the rebounding battle was won, 43-40, and the visiting team shot 45 percent from behind the arc compared to the ’Hawks’ 36 percent.
One key outside of depth that can be pointed to was the Pioneers’ 27 turnovers. They had eight assists on all of its baskets, conversely.
Three days later the team travelled to play UW-Stout and either won or tied each of the four quarters. With that, the ’Hawks ended up winning, 66-55 thanks to efficient defense.
UW-Stout finished the game shooting 30 percent from the field and 27 percent from three-point range. The Blue Devils did convert on 16-of-20 from the free throw line though, and only committed nine turnovers throughout the game.
On the other side, the Warhawks didn’t shoot it well either, going 38 percent from inside the arc and making two of its 15 attempts outside it. Again, the charity stripe was friendly, as the ’Hawks shot 18-of-20 from there.
Lisa Palmer posted a double-double, scoring 15 points and recording 13 rebounds in the win. The team was 19-4 overall heading into its Feb. 17 at UW-Oshkosh. They will wrap up the season at home with a 3 p.m. game on Feb. 20 in Kachel Gymnasium against UW-Eau Claire.
The WIAC Tournament begins on Feb. 23 at a place to be determined and the ’Hawks are in third place in the WIAC standings but are tied for first in terms of overall record with UW-Oshkosh and UW-River Falls.
In the latest D3hoops.com Top-25 poll, UW-River Falls ranks No. 13, UW-Oshkosh is right behind at No. 14, UW-Whitewater comes in at No. 17 and UW-Stevens Point is ranked No. 19.
