Royal Purple

Issue date: 2/6/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Joy Kowald Sophomore guard Kelsey Hendrickson avoids UW-Eau Claire forward Kali Houselog as she drives for a layup during UW-Whitewater's 60-50 win against the Blugolds. Hendrickson scored seven points and grabbed five rebounds in the victory.

The third-ranked Warhawk women's basketball team improved to 19-1 after wins against UW-Eau Claire and UW-La Crosse last week.

Saturday, the Warhawks faced a stiff challenge in the UW-Eau Claire Blugolds, who handed UW-Whitewater its only loss this season. The Blugolds came into the game 10-0 in conference play, while the Warhawks were just behind them at 9-1.

First place in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference was on the line, and the Warhawks were eager to show who was boss after the 63-60 loss at the Blugolds' home floor on Jan 12. While the 'Hawks were seeking revenge, the team got off to a shaky start.

"We all knew that this game would be a different game then it was last time," senior center Lindsay Buechner said. "We came out slow, but gained momentum."

The Blugolds were ahead most of the first half, but the Warhawks tied it up 20-20 with 3:05 left in the half and went into the locker room with a 30-22 edge at halftime, a lead it wouldn't give up in the second half. Both teams struggled from the field, but the key to the game was UW-Whitewater's 47-31 advantange rebounding the ball.

The 'Hawks went on to win 60-50, extending its winning streak to five games, while snapping the Blugolds' seven-game winning streak.

Buechner and sophomore forward Nicole Bundy led the team in scoring with 12 and 11 points, respectively. Buechner's effort against UW-Eau Claire moved her into fourth place on the UW-Whitewater scoring list, as she now has 1,076 points.

Prior to the huge win Saturday, the 'Hawks won a nail biter at UW-La Crosse, edging the Eagles 99-87 in overtime. Buechner scored a season-high 24 points.

"It's always fun to reach goals, but right now it's about winning games," Buechner said. "It's about what we want to do, not what we've already done."

Nineteen of Buechner's 24 points were scored in the first half. She also had eight rebounds and four steals. Sophomore center Tiffany Morton scored 20 points, and sophomore guard Kelsey Hendrickson matched that, making it the first time this season that total the Warhawks had three 20-point scorers in a game.

The Warhawks will seek to extend its winning streak in Menomonie on Saturday, when the team takes on the UW-Stout Blue Devils at 3 p.m.

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