EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (Blugolds.com) –The UW-Eau Claire women's basketball team earned a hard-fought battle in Zorn Wednesday night, defeating UW-Superior 64-59.
After a fast-paced scoring affair in their last meeting, one in which the Blugolds ended up losing, expectations called for the same type of show—the teams did not disappoint.
It took only five seconds for the first points, a brief prelude to a scoring frenzy. Eau Claire built an early lead, pushing it to nine during parts of the first half.
They held a five-point lead at half time, but momentum seemed to have shifted when Superior rattled off five consecutive points to start the half and tie up the game.
The Blugolds thwarted the run, reclaiming the lead and pushing it to a game-high 12 points. Superior, however, refused to quit and fought back to a tie with just under five minutes remaining.
Again, the Blugolds were able to halt an impending momentum shift and build up a slim four-point lead going into the final two minutes of the game.
Up only two with a mere 17 seconds remaining, Ellen Blacklack (So. Winona, Minn.) stepped up to the free-throw line; calm and cold-blooded, she drove home the final nail in the Superior coffin. When the clock turned to zero, Eau Claire had won 64-59.
Blacklock scored nine on the day, going 7-8 from the field and chipping in six rebounds and five blocks.
The Blugolds had one of their best shooting nights on the season, shooting 42.2 percent from the field, while going 9-19 from three and an incredible 17-18 from the free-throw line.
Teenie Lichtfuss (Jr. Oshkosh, Wis.) lead the team in scoring with 16, and Abby Midtlien (So. Chaseburg, Wis.) added a season-high 15 points.
Courtney Lewis (Sr. Prairie du Chien, Wis.) was solid as always, finishing with 12 points, seven rebounds, and six assists—leading the team in the last two categories.
Superior's Sally Linzmeier tallied a game-high 28 points.
With the win the Blugolds improve to 12-8 (7-4 WIAC) and continue to find success against the best teams in the conference.
They will return to the hardwood on Saturday, Feb. 7 against Whitewater.
-MF-
