On Nov. 19 and Nov. 21, 2022, the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse’s Women’s Basketball Team played Carroll University and Concordia University Chicago (IL). The UWL Eagle’s season started on Oct. 15, 2022, with their first game on Nov. 8, 2022.

On Saturday, Nov. 19, UWL beat Carroll  58-52. It was the Eagle’s home opener. During the first quarter, the Eagles scored 20 points while Carroll scored 10 points. To begin the second quarter, UWL’s Casandra Warmsley made two free throws, making the score 22-10. UWL stayed at 22 points while Carroll scored seven points to make the score 22-17. UWL’s Gabby Ritchie made a two-point shot, but Carroll caught up to make the score 24-23. UWL’s Paige Schumann made two free throws, but Carroll made a two-point shot making the score at the end of the second quarter 28-27, with the Eagles leading by one point.

By the end of the third quarter, Carroll was leading the game over UWL 40-39. In the fourth quarter, Carroll was ahead 43-39 over UWL, but UWL scored 10 points in a row, managing to prevent Carroll from scoring any points. UWL had a 49-43 advantage. Carroll came back to make the score 52-50, but UWL made six free throws to win the game 58-50.

The game against Carroll improved UWL to a 5-0 winning streak.

Head Coach Karen Middleton is in her seventh season coaching for UWL. Previously, she had coached at many different places, including division I universities, before she got the position at UWL. She has 30-plus years coaching basketball. “Carroll was a really tough opponent. Very challenging from the get-go, but again, a great opportunity. We were able to pull it out and get a win,” said Middleton.

On Monday, Nov. 21, UWL played Concordia and won 75-52. In the first quarter, UWL took a lead against Concordia with Carly Coulthart and Gabby Ritchie’s layups. With eight seconds left in the first quarter, Kailee Meeker scored a three-pointer to give UWL a 17-12 lead.

In the second quarter, Alivia Arnebeck scored three points to make the score 20-12. Concordia brought the score up 22-19, but UWL scored eight points while Concordia only scored one. This brought the score to 31-20 and by the end of the second quarter, UWL led 35-25 against Concordia.

In the third quarter, Kyah Steiner made both of her free throws and with Meeker’s three-pointer, UWL led 42-31. UWL made nine points in a row to bring the score to 51-33. In the final quarter, UWL scored 24 more points, to make the score 75-52.

The game against Concordia University Chicago improved UWL to a 6-0 winning streak.

Middleton said, “I think we’re always looking for improvement throughout, but our obvious goals are to put ourselves at an opportunity to compete and win a championship, and get into the NCAA tournament, whether that’s an at-large bid, automatic win by winning tournament. Then make a deep run into the tournament.”

To see the remainder of the UWL Women’s Basketball Team’s 2022-2023 schedule, click here.