Wednesday wrapup: Welcoming the WIAC

Feb 03, 2021
Gage Malensek, a transfer from Cardinal Stritch, scored 22 points for UW-Whitewater but the Warhawks had two looks at the basket in the final three seconds and came away empty against UW-Stevens Point.
UW-Whitewater athletics photo by Dane Sheehan
 

On the day that the NCAA announced there would be no winter national championships at the NCAA Division III level in 2020-21, even more schools took to the floor for the first time this season. The entire WIAC, both men and women, were in action on Wednesday and other Division III luminaries such as the Nebraska Wesleyan men and St. Thomas men and women got into action for the first time as well.

Through Wednesday's games, 152 women's teams and 148 men's teams had played at least one game.

UW-Whitewater battled back from a double-digit deficit in the second half, but the Warhawks were unable to convert on two looks at the basket in the final two and a half seconds as UW-Stevens Point escaped Kachel Gymnasium with a 70-68 win.

In the teams' first game in more than 11 months, the Pointers rolled up a 47-37 lead early in the second half before Gage Malensek, a transfer from NAIA member Cardinal Stritch, hit a pair of free throws to tie it at 52. He later converted a three-point play with under three minutes left to give the Warhawks their first lead of the second half at 65-63.

The Pointers had a chance to seal the game at the foul line with 2.7 seconds left but missed the front end of a one-and-one and Trevon Chislom, who came up short on a floater in the paint on the previous possession, missed a shot from the perimeter to end the game. Malensek scored a team-high 22 points, while Philip Flory had 26 for the Pointers to lead all scorers.

Eddie Muench scored a game-high 27 points and Hunter Plamann added 22 but it was not enough as UW-Oshkosh, the last Division III men's basketball team to win a national title, fell 88-75 in its opener at UW-Platteville. Justin Stovall had a big night for the Pioneers, going 9-for-10 from the floor en route to 24 points and 10 boards in the win.

Riley Miller scored 20, Ryan Lindberg added 15 and Anders Nelson 14 as St. Thomas rolled past Hamline 81-52 in its season opener. Hamline fell to 1-2. And a new-look Nebraska Wesleyan, finally taking the floor after losing games to COVID and to the weather, struggled in a 76-64 loss at Buena Vista. The Prairie Wolves' starting five tonight accounted for just 320 minutes and zero starts last season.

Sixth-ranked Trine made easy work of Hope as Nick Bowman scored 23 and Brent Cox added 17 in a 91-52 win against the Flying Dutchmen. The Thunder (8-0) harassed Hope into 27 turnovers, turning them into 40 points, while Trine turned the ball over just six times. Hope fell to 2-2.

Three players scored 20 or more as Dubuque improved to 7-0 with a 99-91 win against crosstown rival Loras. Patrick Mayfield led the Spartans with 25 points in 35 minutes, going 9-for-15 from the field and 6-for-7 at the line. Peter Ragen finished the night with 20 points, five rebounds, and five assists. San Kilburg collected 20 points after sinking eight of 14 attempts from the field. He had a team high three blocks despite missing about five minutes of action in the first half after a cut to his head kept him briefly on the sideline. Loras was led by Cole Navigato's 22 points and eight rebounds.

Wednesday's women's action

No. 2 Wartburg fell with a thud in Wednesday night's women's action, as the Knights shot just 16-for-60 from the floor and 5-for-29 from 3-point range, losing 48-46 at Coe. Payton Draper hit back-to-back buckets with 4:08 remaining to give the Knights (7-1) a 46-43 lead, but they were the last points Wartburg would score. The teams combined to miss their next seven shots before Madeline Wilkins' layup and three-point play tied the game at 46. After Jackie Feldt blocked a shot and rebounded it, Coe came down and Feldt scored on a layup to give the Kohawks (2-3) a 48-46 lead. Wartburg missed on two opportunities on its final possession and an inbounds with 0.2 seconds left did not result in the necessary tip-in, sending the Knights to defeat. Feldt led all scorers with 15 points, while Draper had 10 to lead Wartburg.

Senior guard Macy Hatlestad scored 10 of her career-high 26 points to fuel a game-closing 18-4 run over the final 4:45 of the contest as St. Thomas opened its women's basketball season with a 69-66 non-conference win against Bethel. The Tommies survived three potential game-tying 3-point attempts in the closing seconds, capping a drought in which Bethel (0-1) hit just one field goal in the final 4:51 of the game. Elizabeth Schwarz led Bethel with 20 points and 11 rebounds.

St. Thomas sophomore Madi Schirmer scored a career-high 16 for St. Thomas in the win.
Photo by Ryan Coleman, d3photography.com | More photos from this game
 

Jessie Ruden scored 18, Katie Essen added 18 and Maizie Diehl 17 as UW-Eau Claire got its women's basketball season off on the right foot, defeating UW-La Crosse 76-58. The Blugolds open their WIAC schedule 1-0, as do UW-Platteville, UW-Whitewater and UW-Stout.