WHITEWATER, Wis.- The UW-Oshkosh women's basketball team played an overtime period for the first time since 2023 on Wednesday (Jan. 15), defeating UW-Whitewater, 59-52, at the Warhawks' Williams Center.
 
The Titans (15-0, 4-0 WIAC) last played in overtime on Jan. 25, 2023, when they defeated UW-Platteville, 60-59, on the Pioneers' home court. Oshkosh has now begun the season with 15 consecutive wins, the sixth time in program it won 15 straight to open a campaign; previous years include 2004-05 (15), 1998-99 (20), 1995-96 (31), 1994-95 (17), and 1975-76 (15).
 
UW-Oshkosh is ranked No. 4 in the nation by D3hoops.com and No. 7 in the Women's Basketball Coaches Association Coaches Poll, and held the No. 15/17 Warhawks (11-4, 1-3 WIAC) to zero points in the extra period after Whitewater came back from a 12-point deficit to send the game to overtime with the teams knotted up at 52-52.
 
Oshkosh led Whitewater, shooting 34.9 percent (22-of-63) from the field and 20.8 percent (5-of-24) from three to the Warhawks' 29.9 percent (20-of-67) and 15 percent (3-of-20) from three. The Warhawks held the edge at the line with an 81.8 percent (9-of-11) clip against the Titans' 66.7 percent (10-of-15).
 
The Titans also accumulated 42 rebounds, nine assists, eight steals, and six blocks. 32 of their points came in the paint, 16 were off turnovers, and 15 were scored by bench players.
 
Kayce Vaile's (Fifth • Greendale) 19-point, 13-rebound double-double led UW-Oshkosh in both categories while she also paced the team with four assists and five blocks. She shot 8-of-17 from the field, 1-of-4 from three, and 2-of-3 from the line.
 
Sammi Beyer (So. • Appleton) also reached double-digit points at 12 by going 5-of-15 from the field and 2-of-7 from three and both Sarah Hardwick (Jr. • Green Bay) and Kate Huml (Jr. • Janesville) recorded three steals.
 
The Warhawks scored the first five points of the game and while Hardwick and Huml tallied points on a layup and a pair of free throws, they retained the edge by scoring four more by the time the end of the first quarter was signaled.
 
The Titans cut the deficit to a point in the second quarter by outscoring Whitewater, 18-14. Vaile opened the quarter with a layup and added four more points on two more. UW-Oshkosh briefly gain the lead at 20-19 as Mallory Hoitink (So. • Hartford) sunk a 3-pointer and Beyer converted a layup with 1:45 remaining in the half. Alex Rondorf (Grad. • West Bend) added Oshkosh's final points of the period on a layup from Hoitink.
 
In the third quarter, Oshkosh more than doubled Whitewater, 22-10, which Vaile kicked off with a three at 7:49. The conference foes traded baskets for much of the period. The Titans slowly built up their halftime lead of 44-33 with runs of four, five, and four points.
 
Hardwick and Poole combined for three rebounds for the Titans' first three points of the fourth quarter which pushed Oshkosh's lead to 47-35, its largest lead of the contest. A 12-0 Warhawk run tied the game up at 47-47 with 3:08 to play in regulation and they held the edge as late as 23 seconds before Vaile converted an and-1 layup at 11 seconds and Poole pulled down a rebound on a second chance jump shot as time expired to force overtime.
 
The Titans dominated the overtime period, scoring all seven points with three from Vaile, two from Rondorf, and two from Hardwick. Hardwick also recorded a pair of steals and a defensive rebound while Rondorf recorded another two to keep the ball out of Whitewater's hands, including the final one of the game.
 
The Titans host UW-La Crosse (9-6, 1-3 WIAC) on Saturday (Jan. 18) at 5 p.m. and will hold Alumni Day at Kolf Sports Center. They are 63-34 against the Eagles since 1975, including nine of the last ten matchups and the most recent four.