Feb. 25, 2015 By Justin St. Peter
The Warhawks women’s basketball team (13-12) is riding a four-game win streak heading into its first round WIAC Conference matchup against the UW-Oshkosh Titans on Feb. 25.
The Warhawks enter the tournament as the six seed and will travel to the third-seeded Titans.
“It’s nice to be the underdogs sometimes being able to upset some people,” freshman guard Brooke Trewyn said. “Winning four games in a row is good, so our confidence is pretty high. We are excited to start the tournament and are going in on a high note.”
The ’Hawks have met the Titans twice this year, losing 72-58 Dec. 3 at home, but the then beat the Titans 68-66 on Feb. 18 on the road.
If the ’Hawks upset the Titans once again, it will travel to UW-Superior, No. 1 seed, at 7 p.m. on Feb. 27.
The WIAC Championship game will be played at 2 p.m. on March 1 if the ’Hawks make it that far.
“It’s a whole new season now,” head coach Keri Carollo said. “We had to win our next four, get in the tournament and then it’s a whole new season for everybody. We are going to have to go on the road, and it’s going to be tougher traveling, but I feel like this team has been through a lot this year and nothing fazes them anymore.”
Before that, the ’Hawks have to focus on their first round matchup.
The Titans have been ranked throughout the season, and the ’Hawks beat them when they were ranked No.24 in the country.
The Warhawks definitely did not make it easy on itself, coming back from an eight point half-time deficit on the road.
The Warhawks then trailed 55-45 with eight minutes left before ripping off 11 straight points to take the lead for the first time since the opening possession with 4:40 left.
After the Titans took a 60-58 lead, the Warhawks went on a 7-0 run to pull the game away bolstered by Trewyn’s fourpoints and freshman forward Andrea Meinert’s three free throws.
The ’Hawks shot a scorching 61.7 percent from the field in the second half to come back and win.
Trewyn scored 15 of her team-leading 18 points in the second half, and Meinert posted a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds.
The ’Hawks then played the UW-Stout Blue Devils on Feb. 21.
Trewyn took control of the game early with seven straight points to give the ’Hawks and 18-13 lead with 13 minutes left in the first half.
The teams continued to trade baskets until junior guard Abbie Reeves hit two straight three pointers to stretch to gap to 33-24 with one minute left.
A flurry of baskets in the final minute saw the Warhawks take a 37-28 lead into the half.
The ’Hawks defense held the Blue Devils to 36 percent shooting from the field and forced 14 turnovers in the first half.
The Blue Devils tied the game up at 45 with 11:28 left in the second half, and the teams kept it close throughout the rest of the contest.
The Blue Devils took its final lead 64-63 with 55.9 seconds left.
Trewyn said the team did not panic when the Blue Devils pulled ahead.
“It’s a good atmosphere, and I knew the whole time we would win the game,” Trewyn said. “We have been playing well together.”
A few seconds later, Trewyn stepped up to the line and made a free throw to the game up.
With 24 seconds left, Trewyn then stole the ball and was fouled immediately. The referee ruled it an intentional foul which meant the ’Hawks would get two free throws and the ball.
Trewyn hit both free throws, and Meinert and freshman guard Malia Smith combined to go 3-of-4 from the line down the stretch to salt the game away.
Reeves led the ’Hawks with 15 points, including 3-of-4 from beyond the arc. Trewyn had 14 points and four rebounds. Meinert led the ’Hawks with 11 rebounds and contributed eight points.
After the four-game win streak heading into postseason play, Carollo said she is ready for whoever her team has to face in the future.
“Once you get into tournament play, it’s all about your team and how they are playing rather than who you are playing against,” Carollo said. “We got to execute and play well, and if we do that, we will be in great shape.”
