OSHKOSH, Wis.- The UW-Oshkosh and UW-Whitewater women's basketball teams faced off at Kolf Sports Center on Wednesday night (Feb. 5) and fans that watched both games of the 2024-25 season likely had a case of déjà vu.
 
Just like the first matchup of the season in Whitewater on Jan. 15, the Warhawks (15-5, 5-4 WIAC) led late and looked poised to take the win before the Titans (19-1, 8-1 WIAC) stormed back and tied the score before winning in overtime. The Warhawks didn't let Oshkosh win easily in Wednesday's matchup, however. It took a second extra period for UW-Oshkosh win, 77-69, and sweep the season series over its WIAC rival.
 
Whitewater, ranked No. 16 in the nation by D3hoops.com and No. 22 by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association, scored the opening basket and led No. 5/7 Oshkosh through the first three quarters, entering the fourth period up 13 points on .465 shooting from the field (20-of-43). The Titans proved why they are never to be counted out of a game in the final 10 minutes of regulation, holding the Warhawks to just seven points while adding 20 of their own, led by Mallory Hoitink's (So. • Hartford) 10 points off the bench. UW-Oshkosh scored the final 12 points of regulation to force overtime.
 
Both teams scored seven points in the first overtime and for the first time since a 59-57 double overtime win over UW-La Crosse in the opening round of the WIAC Tournament Semifinal on Feb. 21, 2022, UW-Oshkosh headed to a second overtime period.
 
Oshkosh and Whitewater traded the first four baskets of overtime two with the score knotted up at 69-69 with 2:52 to go. Hoitink put the Titans ahead on a layup, followed by a pair of three throws for Kayce Vaile (Fifth • Greendale). The Warhawks had two quick chances to score, however they committed an offensive foul and were blocked by Hoitink after stealing possession. Four consecutive free throws for Kate Huml (Jr. • Janesville) increased Oshkosh's edge to eight points with 1:18 remaining on the clock. Each team turned the ball over once more and Vaile dribbled out the win after pulling down a rebound at 16 seconds.
 
Across the 50-minute marathon contest, UW-Oshkosh shot 46.2 percent (30-of-65) from the field, 22.2 percent (4-of-18) from three, and 72.2 percent (13-of-18) from the line, adding 50 points off the bench, 44 in the paint, 15 off turnovers, and nine on second chances.
 
Sammi Beyer (So. • Appleton) shot 11-of-22 from the field, including 4-of-10 from the line and 1-of-1 from the line for a career high 27 points. She was also one of three Titans with two steals, joined by Vaile and Huml.
 
Hoitink was Oshkosh's second leading scorer at 14 points while Vaile contributed a 12-point, 16-rebound double-double, her seventh of the season. She also blocked four shots, surpassing the 100 career block mark (102).
 
At halftime of Wednesday night's game, all 11 UW-Oshkosh women's athletics programs were recognized as part of UW-Oshkosh's National Girls & Women In Sports Day celebration.
 
The Titans host UW-River Falls (12-8, 4-5 WIAC) at Kolf Sports Center at 3 p.m. on Saturday (Feb. 8) as they celebrate their senior class. In the first game of the season between the Titans and the Falcons, River Falls won, 64-59, UW-Oshkosh's sole loss on the current campaign.