Women's Basketball

UW-Oshkosh and UW-Stout Punch Tickets To NCAA Women’s Basketball Final Four

MADISON, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and UW-Stout are headed to the NCAA Division III Women’s Basketball Final Four after both teams posted national quarterfinal victories on March 15.
 
It will be the first time that two Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference schools have reached the women’s or men’s basketball Final Four. The semifinals and championship will be held at the Cregger Center in Salem, Va., on March 20 and 22. UW-Oshkosh will make its first Final Four appearance since 1996 – and third overall - while UW-Stout’s appearance is its first. UW-Stout will face defending national champion New York University (N.Y.) (29-0) in a semifinal contest starting at 5:00 p.m. (eastern), while UW-Oshkosh will meet Smith College (Mass.) (30-2) at 7:30 p.m. (eastern).
 
UW-Oshkosh (27-4) advanced to the Elite Eight with a 63-43 triumph over Illinois Wesleyan University (28-2) in Bloomington, Ill. UW-Oshkosh led from start-to-finish and held Illinois Wesleyan to its lowest scoring output since the 2021-22 season. Avery Poole led four UW-Oshkosh players in double figures with 13 points. Sammi Beyer contributed 13 points, while Alex Rondorf and Kayce Vaile each had 10.
 
UW-Stout (23-7) secured its Elite Eight appearance with a 62-56 triumph over UW-Whitewater in the sectional semifinal in Scranton, Pa. It was just the second time in history that two WIAC schools have met in the Sweet 16. Raegan Sorensen had a game-high 25 points and added 13 rebounds and four steals, while Anna Mutch tallied 19 points.
 
The Blue Devils took control early, holding a 27-21 lead at halftime. UW-Whitewater fought back in the third quarter, outscoring UW-Stout 18-16 to trim the deficit, but the Blue Devils responded in the fourth, using a 19-point final period to seal the win.
 
Kacie Carollo led the Warhawks with 23 points and 13 rebounds, while Katie Hildebrandt added another double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds. Maggie Trautsch contributed 10 points.
 
UW-Whitewater completed the 2025 campaign with a 24-7 record and won their fourth WIAC tournament title. The Warhawks advanced to the Sweet 16 for the fourth consecutive year.
 
In UW-Oshkosh’s 60-53 triumph over Baldwin Wallace University (Ohio) (29-2), the Titans led wire-to-wire and opened the game on a 17-2 run to take a 21-9 lead after the first quarter. UW-Oshkosh’s advantage ballooned at 17 points with 6:41 remaining in the first half and the Titans led 35-21 at halftime.
 
The Yellowjackets outscored UW-Oshkosh 13-8 in the third quarter and the Titans took a 43-34 lead into the final 10 minutes.
 
Baldwin Wallace cut the deficit to six points with 7:42 to go in the contest and got within three points twice in the fourth quarter, as late as 11 seconds on the clock. The Titans then reached bonus shooting and put the game out of reach with 2-for-2 trips to the line for both Sammi Beyer and Kayce Vaile.

Beyer finished with a game-high 18 points off the bench, while Vaile contributed 14 points and six rebounds. Kate Huml added 10 points.
 
In UW-Stout’s 81-77 win over The University of Scranton (Pa.), Raegan Sorensen matched a career high with 33 points to help the Blue Devils overcome multiple lead changes and a late push from the Royals.
 
After trailing by two at the end of the first quarter, UW-Stout took control in the second, outscoring Scranton 23-15. The Blue Devils extended their lead to as much as nine in the third before Scranton mounted a comeback, but clutch baskets down the stretch sealed the victory.
 
With the game tied at 77-77 in the final minute, Amanda Giesen knocked down a contested jumper as the shot clock expired to put UW-Stout ahead for good. Sorensen then iced the game at the free-throw line.
 
Giesen finished with 22 points, five rebounds and three steals, while Anna Mutch added 12 points.
 
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