They were fighters trading punches, each barrage returned in kind.
Eau Claire came up one punch short.
It was a back and forth first half, the Blugolds striking first and striking often.
"We built a really good lead in the first half and came out and played really well offensively," said head coach Tonja Englund. "We shot the ball really well in the first half and stuck to our game plan."
But as is the case in a battle of talented teams, a lead will wax and wane with each shot.
And so it did, rising to 12 points, falling to just a few.
But despite a volley of threes from Superior, Eau Claire was able to maintain their lead.
Until the last minute of the first half that is, when the Yellowjackets connected on yet another three, claiming the lead.
They would never relinquish it.
Some runs you cannot survive and Superior had one to start the second half.
The Yellowjackets came running out of the gates, using their fast paced offense to score seven points in less than a minute and a half.
The Blugolds fought hard, and at times looked primed for a run of their own, but Superior proved a tough foe.
Eau Claire again displayed glimpses of the offense they want to play; great ball movement led to great opportunity, and they were able to capitalize.
However, these traits flashed inconsistently, with Superior rejecting interior passes and running the floor with precision and effectiveness.
Senior Courtney Lewis (Prairie du Chien, Wis.) scored 13 points to lead Blugold scorers, and Teenie Lichtfuss (Jr. Oshkosh, Wis.) contributed 11 points and seven assists.
Rachel Egdorf (Sr. Mishicot, Wis.) put up nine points and five rebounds while Kristin Sahr (Sr. Stillwater, Minn.) and Ellen Blacklock (So. Winona, Minn.) both pitched in eight points.
Eau Claire (4-5, 1-2 WIAC) will be back in action this weekend as they travel to Waukesha to take on Carroll University Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m.
-MF-
