MENOMONIE, Wis. – In front of a raucous crowd at Johnson Fieldhouse, the UW-Stout women's basketball team battled from start to finish but came up just short, falling 69-63 to UW-Whitewater in the WIAC Tournament semifinals on Thursday night.
Both teams, receiving votes in the national rankings, delivered a thrilling contest featuring multiple lead changes, standout individual performances, and high-intensity moments that had the home crowd on its feet all night.
Game Recap
The Blue Devils (19-7, 10-4 WIAC) came out firing, feeding off the energy in Johnson Fieldhouse. Raegan Sorensen set the tone early, scoring inside and drawing fouls to help Stout jump out to a 21-13 lead in the first quarter. However, Whitewater (21-6, 9-5 WIAC) responded in the second quarter behind Kacie Carollo, who fueled a 10-0 Warhawk run to flip the score in their favor at 23-21.
Sorensen and Carollo went toe-to-toe in an electric first half, with Sorensen racking up 17 points and Carollo countering with 20. At the break, Whitewater held a narrow 31-30 lead.
The second half remained a battle, with both teams matching each other shot for shot. Whitewater stretched its lead to as much as seven in the third quarter, but Stout clawed back. Lexi Wagner drilled a clutch three-pointer to tie the game at 57-57 with under three minutes to play, sending the crowd into a frenzy.
However, Whitewater had the answers down the stretch. Carollo's inside bucket gave the Warhawks a 59-57 edge, and they converted key free throws in the final minute to fend off Stout's comeback attempt. Sorensen added a jumper and free throws late, but Whitewater sealed the win at the line to advance to the WIAC championship game.
Sorensen was sensational, finishing with 33 points and 10 rebounds for her latest double-double. Her performance also made history, as she moved into second place on UW-Stout's all-time scoring list with 1,627 career points, passing Julie Maki's 1,620-point mark set in 1993.
By the Numbers
- 33 – Raegan Sorensen's game-high points
- 1,627 – Sorensen's career points, now second in Stout history
- 916 – Fans in attendance, bringing energy all night
- 6 – Times the score was tied in a back-and-forth battle
- 3 – Lead changes throughout the game
Up Next
Despite the loss, UW-Stout is expected to earn an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Blue Devils will learn their postseason destination during the NCAA Selection Show on Monday, March 3, at 1:30 p.m.
