Blue Devils and Warhawks meet for third straight time, same results in conference tourney game

UW-Whitewater 66, UW-Stout 49

WHITEWATER (March 1, 2021) - The third time did not prove to be the charm for UW-Stout as UW-Whitewater defeated the Blue Devils, 66-49, in the two teams' third straight outing, this time in the first round of the WIAC Championship, presented by Culver's, at Kachel Gymnasium Monday.

By a quirk in the shortened schedule. Stout and Whitewater met for three consecutive games - twice to end the regular season and in the opening round of the tournament - and the Warhawks (7-2) controlled all three games.

Like in the other two contests, the Warhawks took an early lead and would not relinquish it, but to the Blue Devils' credit, they were able to get within striking range several times, including in the final minutes when Stout (2-7) pulled to within seven points with four minutes left in the game. The Warhawks were able to answer any Stout rally attempt and kept the Blue Devils at bay and pulled away to the 17 point win.

The Warhawks led 12-5 at the end of the first quarter, 29-19 at halftime and 44-31 at the end of the third quarter. The Warhawks forced 27 Stout turnovers and produced 20 points off turnovers. 

Blue Devil forward Lizzy Olsem had her best offensive output of the season, scoring 16 points, matching a career-best. Senior guard Liz Oswald and sophomore forward Haylee Yaeger each scored nine points. Freshman guard Anna Mutch was held to four points, her lowest point total of the season, but she still managed to pull down eight rebounds, one over her season average. 

Emily Schumacher scored 16 points to lead the Warhawks. Rebekah Schumacher added 13 points and Adriana Wood finished with 12 points. The Warhawks held a 47-33 advantage in rebounds. Johanna Taylor had a game-high nine rebounds and Aleah Grundahl had seven boards.

Stout shot 19 of 51 from the floor (.373), 7 of 20 from 3-point range (.350) and 4 of 5 from the line (.800). The Warhawks shot 23 of 69 from the floor (.333), 12 of 35 from beyond the arc (.353) and 8 of 13 from the line (.615). 

Whitewater will travel to UW-Eau Claire, Wednesday, March 3 for a second round game. The Blugolds defeated UW-Platteville, 81-56. UW-La Crosse defeated UW-Stevens Point, 59-53, and will travel to UW-Oshkosh, which defeated UW-River Falls, 79-59.