The No. 8 ranked University of Wisconsin-Whitewater women's basketball team recorded one of its most efficient offensive performances of the season Saturday afternoon on its way to an 86-62 victory against UW-River Falls in a Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference contest on Alumni Day at Kachel Gymnasium.
The Warhawks (15-1 overall, 6-0 WIAC) shot a season-best 52.5 percent from the floor and made 9-of-21 from 3-point range, including six of their first eight attempts. Defensively, UW-W held the Falcons to 34.4 percent shooting.
Veronica Kieres paced a balanced UW-Whitewater offense with 12 points to go along with six rebounds and three assists. Maggie Trautsch tallied 11 points and four rebounds, while Aleah Grundahl finished with 11 points, three rebounds and three assists.
Kacie Carollo knocked down three 3-pointers on her way to nine points, five rebounds and two blocks. Rebekah Schumacher finished with nine points, and Johanna Taylor collected seven points, eight rebounds, six assists and five blocks.
Both teams started strong on the offensive end as the Warhawks led 15-11 near the midway point of the first quarter. UW-W scored the next eight points, including 3-pointers by Kieres and Yssa Sto. Domingo. for a 23-11 advantage with 3:40 on the clock.
After UW-River Falls (7-7, 0-5) drew to within nine on the next possession, UW-Whitewater embarked on a 9-0 run as Kieres capped the spurt with a driving layup for a 32-14 lead with just under a minute left in the period.
The Warhawks built on their lead early in the second, starting the quarter with 10 straight points and holding the Falcons scoreless until the 6:20 mark. UW-W's advantage remained in the 20s over the course of the rest of the half, and the team led 52-27 through 20 minutes of action.
UW-Whitewater posted its largest lead of the game following Sto. Domingo's 3-pointer with 6:59 remaining in the third quarter. A layup by Abby Belschner in the final seconds of the frame gave the Warhawks a 70-44 advantage entering the fourth.
A total of 13 different players saw action for UW-W in the final period.
UW-Whitewater visits UW-La Crosse Wednesday at 7 p.m.