After a hot start to the season for the Warhawk women’s basketball team, the ’Hawks have lost two in a row to UW-La Crosse and UW-Eau Claire.

The team’s next game will be at 7 p.m. The ’Hawks will be facing an undefeated top-10 team in UW-Stevens Point.

“We’re expecting it to be a really tough game,” coach Keri Carollo said. “It’s definitely going to come down to the team who makes the least mental mistakes and we’re hoping that we come out on the positive end of that.”

Against the Blugolds, there were four lead changes in the first half with neither team holding a lead over seven points. The second half was much of the same, with both squads fighting for control and neither team holding a lead over six points.

It wasn’t until the 7:08 mark in the second half when the ’Hawks gave up the lead and didn’t reclaim it for the rest of the game.

Carollo said that the game came down to the little things.

“I think our lack of rebounding on the defensive end really hurt us,” Carollo said. “A few mental mistakes down the stretch also hurt us and UW-Eau Claire did a nice job of taking advantage of those mistakes.”

However, sophomore guard Mary Merg was a bright spot for the team as she made five three-point shots and ended the game with 29 points.

Carollo was quick to point out that Merg does a lot for the team.

“Mary’s a great player on the offensive end,” Carollo said. “She creates a lot of opportunities for herself, as well as her teammates.  Obviously with her being so young, we hope that she continues to grow and if she can, she should be one of the better players in the conference.”

Despite the ’Hawks great start to the season, Carollo said the last couple of games have ended up in the loss column because of leadership issues. The team’s starting five consists of only one senior, and a total of four sophomores end up playing a good chunk of minutes throughout the game.

“We’re definitely searching for leadership,” Carollo said. “There’s no doubt about that. That has a lot to do with us playing so many young players, but we hope that as the year progresses they will eventually end up being some of the best leaders we’ve ever had.”

The women host the Pointers tonight in the Kachel Gymnasium. Tonight’s conference showdown is also a White Out. Fans are encouraged to wear white if they show up to support the ’Hawks.