EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – The UW-Eau Claire women's basketball team had little trouble getting by UW-Platteville in the final home game of the regular season, defeating the Pioneers 69-58 on Ken Anderson Court in Zorn Arena tonight.

While Platteville got out to a 5-0 lead within the first minute, the Blugolds took their first lead of the game two minutes later after outscoring the Pioneers 6-0. Six minutes into the game, the teams found themselves tied 10-10 but the Blugolds led the rest of the way.

During an eight-minute stretch in the first half, the Blugolds outscored the Pioneers 20-8 to get up by 12 points. Platteville cut the lead to six (32-26) with just over a minute left before halftime, but the Blugolds closed the half with two more baskets and led 37-26 at halftime.

The Pioneers hit the opening basket of the second half but the Blugolds answered to get back up by double digits. The closest the Pioneers got after that was nine points with less than 40 seconds remaining. The Blugolds led by as many as 19 points, four times during the final 11 minutes.

Teenie Lichtfuss (So.-Oshkosh, Wis./Lourdes) led the Blugolds in scoring with 15 points while three others reached double-figures. Madison Johnson (So.-Osceola, Wis.) finished the game with a double-double, pulling down 10 rebounds and picking up 10 points.

The Blugolds finished the game shooting 45.8 percent (27-for-59) from the field while Platteville went 20-for-62 (32.3 percent). Eau Claire also outrebounded the Pioneers 42-35.

Eau Claire improves to 7-17 overall and 5-10 in the WIAC while Platteville drops to 12-12 on the season and 6-9 in conference play. With the win, the Blugolds' hopes are still alive to make the WIAC Championship.

The Blugolds will end the regular season on Saturday, playing at 11th-ranked UW-Whitewater. Action will get underway at 3 p.m.

-KM-