By Erik Lewis
Basketball games can often be won or lost at the free-throw line. That is where the Warhawks women’s basketball team got the job done Saturday in their 82-66 victory against UW-Superior.
Senior center Cortney Kumerow led all scorers with 29 points and 17 rebounds and was 19-for-19 at the free throw line. UW-Superior was in trouble often, struggling to contain Kumerow.
“I just think if they’re going to give me a free shot, I better put it in, and I just concentrate–everything else is gone,” Kumerow said. “It’s just a free throw. You shoot hundreds and hundreds of them a week, so it’s the same in the game or in practice.”
Getting points at the free throw line was easy for the ’Hawks in the first half. Despite the lengthening of the game because of trips to the line, the team’s ability to make its free throws led to its success. Kumerow is now shooting 88 percent from the free throw line on the season.
“Silly free throws, I think, on their part to put our best free throw shooter of all time at the line 19 times,” head coach Keri Carollo said.
The ’Hawks shot 20-for-23 from the line (12-for-16 in the second half), compared to the Yellow Jackets’ eight free throws in the first half. Outside shooting was a struggle for the ’Hawks until junior guards Kaitlyn Thill and Mary Merg knocked down two 3-pointers at the end of the first half to go up 38-30. The threes capped a 10-2 run they needed to stay out in front.
“To be able to [have], I think it was, four or five possessions where they got shots, but it was one and done, that’s something we talk about,” Carollo said.
The ’Hawks face off with UW-Oshkosh 7 p.m., Wednesday Feb. 13 in Whitewater. With the Titans just one game behind in the standings, the outcome of the game will decisively crown a conference champion. The ’Hawks have won six straight, have already clinched a first round bye in the WIAC tournament and will be the hosts of at least the first two rounds of the tournament if they secure the No.1 seed.
“It’s just another game,” Carollo said. “We just have to come in with the same energy and excitement and enthusiasm that we did today.”
