UW-Whitewater 58, UW-Stout 53
MENOMONIE (December 4, 2021) - UW-Stout falls to third-ranked UW-Whitewater, 58-53, in a game that went right down to the wire on Saturday afternoon in Johnson Fieldhouse.
The Blue Devils (3-4, 1-1) came into the game as the underdogs yet again, facing another opponent that was ranked in the top-ten at the time of their meeting (the previous being No. 6
Wartburg and No. 3
Trine). The Warhawks (8-0, 2-0) came into the match ranked third in the most recent WBCA poll. Both teams started out the first quarter playing a defensive-focused game. The first quarter only saw 8 baskets made by both teams. UW-Whitewater was on the better half of those baskets scoring 13 points to Stout's 10. In the second quarter, Stout tried to close the gap, but each team was able to score 13 points. Stout went into the half only down by three, 23-26.
Coming out of the break, Stout was fired up and ready to take back the lead, but the Warhawks were able to pull ahead, extending their lead to seven points with three minutes left in the third. That seven-point lead was the biggest of the night for Whitewater. Stout bounced back and went on a 9 to 4 run to finish out the quarter, bringing the Warhawks lead back down to only 2 entering the fourth.
This back and forth game came down to final minutes. With three minutes left to go,
Amanda Giesen was able to pull down her own missed shot and kick it out to
Lauren Arenz for a Stout-three. After a defensive stop,
Anna Mutch had a nice drive to the basket, but was unable to connect on the lay-up, but
Haylee Yaeger muscled her way to the board and got the offensive rebound and put it back up to give Stout a one-point led.
Whitewater's Maggie Trautsch then connected on a three, but Stout found a way to tie it back up at 50 with
Anna Mutch getting another offensive rebound and capitalizing on the second chance opportunity.
Trautsch drew a Stout foul and made both free throws to put the Warhawks back up by two. After Stout's possession came up empty, Whitewater had a chance to seal the game with 40 seconds left. But Stout played stellar defensive, forcing a missed lay-up by Trautsch. Despite leading the game in total rebounds, Stout was unable to come up with this one, as Whitewater's Kacie Carollo corralled the missed shot, forcing Stout to intentional foul. Carollo finished with a double-double, recording 10 points and 12 rebounds.
Whitewater would then go a perfect 4 for 4 on free throws to seal the win. The Warhawks didn't miss a single free throw throughout the game, going 12 for 12. Stout was able to get the line more often, but went 12 for 24 from the charity stripe.
Leading Whitewater was Carollo and Trautsch. Trautsch finished with 11 points and 4 rebounds on 30-percent from the floor (3 for 10).
Stout was led by
Amanda Giesen who nearly had her own double-double with 12 points and 9 rebounds.
Anna Mutch also was close to having a double-double scoring 9 points and pulling down 12 rebounds.
As a team, the Blue Devils shot 37-percent from the floor (19 for 51) and 21-percent from deep (3 for 14). Whitewater only went 30-percent from the floor (20- for 65) and 23-percent from deep (6 for 26). The Blue Devils led in rebounds, 43-37 but Whitewater led on defensive turnovers, forcing Stout to commit 23 turnovers while they only committed 19.
The Blue Devils Women's basketball team will start a three-game road stretch with the University of Dubuque for double-header action with the men. They will be back home for another double header with the men on Tuesday, December 21, to take on Finlandia University. The Women's game will tip off at 10:30 a.m.
