Despite a strong first half by D3hoops.com No. 11 UW-Whitewater women’s basketball team, a decisive third quarter by No. 3 UW-Oshkosh turned a tightly-contested matchup into a 55-43 loss for the Warhawks.
Whitewater opened the game with poise and confidence, responding quickly to an early deficit. Midway through the first quarter, junior guard Camryn Nies finished a layup created by junior forward Mia Gillis, sparking a momentum shift that energized the home crowd. The Warhawks closed the period on a 9-2 run, building a 13-7 lead while shooting efficiently and holding Oshkosh to cold shooting from the floor.
The Warhawks continued to control the pace in the second quarter, relying on defensive stops and rebounding to maintain separation. UW-W pushed its advantage to nine late in the half before the Titans trimmed the margin, sending the teams into the locker room with the Warhawks leading 24-19. Gillis led all scorers at the break, while senior guard Renee Rittmeyer’s work on the glass limited Oshkosh’s second chances.
Reflecting on the first half success, junior guard Bri McCurdy pointed to a combination of timely shot making and team defense.
“Camryn [Nies] went on a run and made all those tough shots that we needed her to make,” McCurdy said. “As well as us getting stops and rebounds.”
Nies emphasized Whitewater’s defensive connectivity during that stretch.
“I would say defensively, like when we were helping each other, someone might get beat but then we had each other’s help to get the stop,” she said. “We didn’t give them any second chance shots in the first half, which helped us a lot.”
The momentum shifted dramatically after halftime. UW-O emerged with increased defensive pressure and offensive efficiency, erupting for 23 points in the third quarter to gain control of the game. The Titans’ surge erased Whitewater’s lead and created a 42-33 advantage heading into the final period, a margin the Warhawks could not overcome.
Conversely, the Warhawks struggled to find rhythm against Oshkosh’s tightened defense. Nies acknowledged the challenge, noting that the Warhawks were unable to adjust effectively.
“We didn’t play great defensively in the second half,” Nies said. “When they upped their defense we didn’t change what we were doing offensively, and we were shooting into them, which wasn’t helping us.”
McCurdy agreed with Nies’ assessment, explaining how the flow of the game reversed after the break.
“I would say in the first half we were forcing them to make tough shots,” she said. “In the second half they were forcing us to make tough shots and we didn’t adjust very well.”
The Titans extended their run early in the fourth quarter, pushing their lead to as much as 16 points before settling into a comfortable advantage. Oshkosh’s balanced scoring and defensive discipline sealed the outcome as the Titans remained unbeaten on the season.
Despite the loss, the Warhawks found encouragement in their growth. Nies reflected on how the team has matured since their last meeting with Oshkosh.
“The first time we played them we were more hectic. This time we leaned on each other more,” Nies said. “It shows that we’re resilient. While we did let them go on runs, we always come back, stay together, and play as a team.”
As the final quarter approached, the belief remained in the huddle. Nies shared the message she delivered to her teammates entering the final stretch.
“I feel like when it was going into the fourth quarter, I just looked at our team and said ‘we’re down, but that doesn’t mean the game is over,’” Nies said.
Gillis finished with a team high 18 points while Nies added 12 points and Rittmeyer grabbed 11 rebounds. McCurdy recorded a game high four assists.
While the result favored Oshkosh, Wednesday night reinforced Whitewater’s ability to compete with the nation’s best. As postseason play approaches, the Warhawks leave the matchup tested, united, and confident in the direction they’re headed.
