EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – The UW-Eau Claire women's basketball team made a good comeback, but the 25th-ranked UW-Superior Yellowjackets hung on as they edged the Blugolds 56-53 on Ken Anderson Court in Zorn Arena tonight.
Down by 13 with less than nine minutes remaining, the Blugolds went on a 21-8 run to tie the game with one minute left at 51 points. During that stretch, Courtney Lewis (So.-Prairie Du Chien, Wis.) played a key role, scoring 14 of the Blugolds' 21 points.
But in the final minute, Superior used a 5-0 run to get back up by five. Leah Rempert (Sr.-Lake Geneva, Wis./Badger) made one last basket for Eau Claire and while the Blugolds attempted two more three-pointers at the end, neither would go in and Superior escaped with the three-point win.
While the Blugolds made the final minutes of tonight's game exciting, Superior had the momentum the majority of the night as the Yellowjackets never trailed. They opened the game with an 8-0 run, holding the Blugolds scoreless over the first three minutes and led by 11 points (30-19) at halftime. They reached their largest lead of the night at 15 points, three minutes into the second half.
The Blugolds shot 36.7 percent (18-for-49) from the field while the Yellowjackets went 23-for-55 (41.8 percent). Superior also edged the Blugolds in rebounding, 37-32, while both teams committed 18 turnovers. Off turnovers, Superior scored three more points (16-13).
Lewis led the game as she tied for a career-high 20 points while Rempert added 12. Lewis also tied for a team-high six rebounds with Rachel Egdorf (So.-Mishicot, Wis.).
Eau Claire is now 9-10 overall and 4-6 in the WIAC. Superior improves to 16-3 on the season and 8-2 in WIAC play, currently tied for first in the league. This is the first time since the 1986-87 season the Yellowjackets swept the season series against Eau Claire, as they also beat the Blugolds on Dec. 12.
Saturday the Blugolds will be home again, hosting UW-Whitewater in a doubleheader with the men. The game will get underway about 5 p.m.
-KM-