Box Score UW-Whitewater captured its third Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament championship in the fifteen year history of the event with a 66-55 win over UW-Platteville in Kachel Gym of Williams Center in Whitewater Saturday night.  UW-W, 23-4 and the defending NCAA III champion, earns the league's automatic berth in the national tournament.  The NCAA III bracket will be announced Monday.

Photo Gallery (courtesy of Jenny Dupuis, available for purchase)
Photo Gallery (game action and celebration photos courtesy of Leah Thyne)

Platteville led the entire first half.  After getting out to a 10-4 lead on a three by Chas Cross at 13:49, the Pioneers extended the lead to 15-8 at 8:16 on Jake Manning's jumper, and then 22-13 on a jumper by Jim Stocki with 4:40 left in the half.  UW-W closed to within 26-21 on Patrick Souter (Racine/St. Catherine's)'s jumper that ended the half.

UW-P shot 40% in the half and limited Whitewater to 31%.  Platteville was 3-9 on three point attempts, Whitewater 2-9.  The Pioneers made three of four free throws, Whitewater three of seven.  UW-W led in rebounds, 20-14. 

Eric Bryson (Elkhorn/Elkhorn) led the Warhawks with seven first half points and Darnell Harris (Milwaukee/Hamilton) contributed seven rebounds.  Stocki topped UW-P in scoring with seven.  Cross pulled down five rebounds and Marcus Jackson dished three assists.

Whitewater used two second half spurts to change the complexion of the game.  The Warhawks came out of the lockerroom with a 6-0 burst to take a 27-26 lead on a Luke Knoble (Boscobel/Boscobel) jumper at 17:26.  The teams traded a one point lead for three minutes, when the second burst, the one that proved fatal to the Pioneers' hopes, came.  Patrick Souter (Racine/St. Catherine's)'s three pointer gave UW-W a 34-30 lead at 13:53.  Harris drained back-to-back threes, at 13:01 and 12:09, to give Whitewater its first double digit margin, 40-30.

UW-W had the lead back at ten at 51-41 with 4:34 left, and still maintained the margin at 55-45 with 2:21 on the clock.  The Warhawk lead reached thirteen, 63-50, on a pair of Souter free throws with 0:47 remaining. 

Whitewater's marksmanship improved in the second half, from the 31% in the first twenty minutes to 52% in the second half.  Also key, the Warhawks had just two turnovers in the second half while forcing nine from UW-Platteville.  UW-W finished with nine turnovers, the fourth game this season the Warhawks have been in single figures in that category.

Harris led all scorers with 20 points, notching a double double with ten rebounds, his third of the season.  Bryson chipped in with 17 points, and Souter was also in double figures with ten.  Harris also recorded three blocks.  Stocki topped the Pioneers with 13 points, with Cross taking rebound honors with 13.  Eric Gerber contributed ten points.

UW-Platteville is 19-9.






TF/dw