Menomonie, Wisconsin - The UW-Stout women's basketball team delivered a statement win on Saturday, defeating the ninth-ranked UW-Whitewater Warhawks 66-53 on the road at the Williams Center in Whitewater, WI. The Blue Devils improved to 11-10 overall and 2-8 in WIAC play, while handing Whitewater (16-5, 6-4 WIAC) a tough home loss..
Freshman Addy Verhagen paced Stout with a game-high 18 points on 5-of-12 shooting, including 4-of-6 from three-point range, plus 4-of-4 free throws. She added 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals in 38 minutes of action.
Whitewater jumped out to an early lead and held a 36-27 advantage at halftime. Stout flipped the script in the second half, starting the third quarter with a strong run that erased the deficit and tied the game at 40-40.
The run featured relentless offensive rebounding, second-chance opportunities, and timely defensive stops that sparked transition play. Verhagen knocked down a three to help close the gap, and the Blue Devils continued to attack the glass effectively.
Late in the third quarter, Rosella Wille drained a clutch three-pointer late in the shot clock to give Stout a 43-41 lead. Whitewater briefly regained the advantage, but Brooklynn Birt delivered a key layup with one second left in the period to tie the score at 45-45. Stout dominated the quarter, outscoring the Warhawks 18-9.
The Blue Devils carried that momentum into the fourth, opening with a decisive 15-2 run to stretch the lead to 60-47. This surge was fueled by continued defensive pressure and efficient scoring inside and out. The Blue Devils would ultimately hold onto to this 13 point lead and win the game 66-53.
Stout's Defensive and Rebounding Dominance
Stout's defense was the story of the day. The Blue Devils forced Whitewater into a season-worst shooting performance: the Warhawks went 14-of-47 (29.8%) from the field and a brutal 3-of-20 (15.0%) from beyond the arc. Stout racked up 13 steals and limited Whitewater to just 8 fast-break points while holding them to single digits in both the third (9) and fourth (8) quarters for a total of just 17 second half points.
The Blue Devils also dominated the offensive glass, grabbing 16 offensive rebounds (to Whitewater's 10) for 18 second-chance points. Multiple tip-ins and putbacks from Maraya Wiltrout and Julia Rybacki kept possessions alive and provided crucial momentum. Mary Berg and Rosella Willie each connected on two threes to stretch the floor for Stout, while strong interior finishing from Rybacki (11 points, 8 rebounds), and Wiltrout's all-around effort (10 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals) contributed to a balanced Blue Devil attack.Â
By the Numbers
- Field Goals: Stout 25-62 (40.3%), Whitewater 14-47 (29.8%)
- Three-Pointers: Stout 8-22 (36.4%), Whitewater 3-20 (15.0%)
- Free Throws: Stout 8-12 (66.7%), Whitewater 22-30 (73.3%) — Whitewater had far more opportunities at the line (30 attempts vs. Stout's 12), but Stout's defense and rebounding neutralized the advantage.
- Rebounds: Stout 39 (16 offensive), Whitewater 33 (10 offensive)
- Steals: Stout 13, Whitewater 8
- Second-Chance Points: Stout 18, Whitewater 9
- Points in the Paint: Stout 34, Whitewater 12
- Bench Points: Both teams 13
Up Next
The Blue Devils return home to the UW-Stout campus to host UW-La Crosse on Wednesday, February 11 at 7:00 PM at Johnson Fieldhouse. It will be another key WIAC matchup as Stout looks to build on this momentum.
