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UW-Whitewater Warhawks hit 14 three-pointers in win

WHITEWATER — The UW-Whitewater women’s basketball team is headed to Eau Claire for a Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament semifinal game Thursday.

The Warhawks advanced to the semifinals by romping past visiting UW-Superior, 92-58, at Kachel Gym here Tuesday.

The Warhawks hit the Yellowjackets from long distance, hitting a school- and conference-record 14 three-pointers in the lopsided win.

No. 3-seeded Whitewater takes a 21-5 overall record into the Thursday semifinal against the 20-5 Blugolds.

The Warhawks will be tough to beat if they continue their hot shooting from beyond the arc for the rest of the tournament.

“I think Chantel Burg hit the first one, and everyone followed suit,” Whitewater coach Keri Carollo said.

Whitewater shot 14 of 25 from three-point range, led by Merg’s 3-for-3 effort, and Swanson’s 4-of-6 night. Seven different Warhawks made three-pointers, and 14 Warhawks scored.

The Warhawks never were in trouble, opening up a 50-18 halftime lead. Whitewater led, 25-14, with 11:12 left in the half, and then left Superior behind with a 25-4 run to close out the half.

Mary Merg led the Warhawks with 18 points, while Jamie Swanson added 17 and had six rebounds. Sam Quandt added 10 points.

Carollo was pleased with the early lead that allowed her to rest her starters, especially since Eau Claire earned one of the two first-round byes Tuesday.

“It was nice to be able to rest our top eight or nine players,” Carollo said.

Whitewater split their regular-season games against the Blugolds, losing 75-70, at Eau Claire on Dec. 10, and romping at Whitewater, 61-41, on Jan. 28.

“Our girls are really confident,” Carollo said. “That’s the most important thing, especially at this point of the season. Our girls are looking forward to playing another game up at Zorn (Arena). It’s a crazy atmosphere up there.”

Whitewater will have to contend with the taller Blugolds, led by 6-foot-5 senior Ellen Plendl.

“We’ll have to make it a full-court game,” Carollo said. “They are long. We’ll have to get out and pressure their guards and make it difficult for them to get the ball into the post.”

WHITEWATER 92, SUPERIOR 55

Superior (55)—McDonald, 3-0-6; Urmanski, 3-0-7; Vavra, 1-2-4; Davis, 4-0-8; Hart, 3-2-8; Deadrick, 2-3-7; Adams, 2-1-5; Chell, 2-0-4; Rasmussen, 1-0-2; Peterson, 1-0-2; Lebens, 0-2-2. Totals: 22-10-55.

Whitewater (92)—Thill, 1-2-4; Merg, 5-5-18; Swanson, 5-3-17; Burg, 2-0-5; Kumerow, 4-0-8; Tkachuk, 1-0-3; Mandrell, 0-2-2; Bestor, 3-0-9; Quandt, 3-3-10; Glende, 1-2-5; Newhouse, 1-1-3; McCullick, 1-0-2; Glynn, 2-1-5; Scarbro, 0-1-1. Totals: 29-20-92.

Superior 18 37—55

Whitewater 50 42—92

Three-point goals—Superior 1 (Urmanski), Whitewater 14 (Merg 3, Swanson 4, Burg, Tkachuk, Bestor 3, Quandt, Glende). Rebounds—Superior 30 (Davis 7), Whitewater 40 (Swanson 6). Assists—Superior 8, Whitewater 20 (Burg 6). Free throws missed—Superior 5, Whitewater 4. Total fouls—Superior 21, Whitewater 20.