MENOMONIE, Wis. (March 8, 2025) – For the second consecutive season, the UW-Stout women's basketball team is headed to the NCAA Sweet 16 after a hard-fought 75-69 victory over No. 6 Whitman College in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at Johnson Fieldhouse.
Anna Mutch delivered a career-high 31-point, 12-rebound double-double as the Blue Devils took down one of the top teams in the nation, ending Whitman's 19-game winning streak and handing the Blues just their second loss of the season.
With 1,246 rowdy fans packing Johnson Fieldhouse, the energy was electric as Stout fed off the home crowd to rally from an early deficit and take control in the second half.
How It Happened
Whitman came out firing, shooting 50 percent in the first quarter to take a 19-14 lead, but Stout responded in the second quarter. Amanda Giesen's sharp shooting and a key three-pointer from Lexi Wagner helped the Blue Devils pull within 37-35 at halftime.
The third quarter proved to be the turning point. Stout outscored Whitman 24-17, with Mutch dominating in the paint and Wagner continuing to hit big shots. The Blue Devils took their first lead midway through the quarter and never trailed again.
In the final minutes, Whitman cut the lead to two, but Stout's composure at the free-throw line made the difference. The Blue Devils went 9-for-10 from the stripe in the final minute to close out the win and punch their ticket to the Sweet 16.
By the Numbers
- 31 – Anna Mutch's career-high points, shooting 10-of-15 from the field and 9-of-9 from the line.
- 23-of-24 – Stout's free-throw shooting percentage (95.8%), including clutch makes in the final minutes.
- 16 – Points by Lexi Wagner, including three three-pointers.
- 18 – Points from Amanda Giesen, providing another offensive spark.
- 33-26 – Stout's rebounding advantage, led by Mutch's 12 boards.
- 24-17 – The third-quarter scoring margin that shifted the momentum.
Up Next
With the win, UW-Stout advances to the Sweet 16 for the second straight season and is awaiting its destination and opponent for the next round of the NCAA Tournament. The Blue Devils will look to continue their postseason run next weekend as they prepare for their biggest challenge yet. Stay tuned for more details on the next step in Stout's journey.
