WAVERLY, Iowa (Blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire women's basketball team had their first road game of the season on Saturday, traveling to Iowa to take on Wartburg College. The Blugolds had an early lead but eventually fell to the 10th ranked Knights, 65-47.
Newcomers Anna Graaskamp (Fr. – Eau Claire, WI/Memorial) and Hallee Hoeppner (Fr. – Winona, MN) got things rolling early for the Blugolds, scoring all of Eau Claire's 14 points as they held a 14-12 edge after the first quarter.
The Knights went on a 5-0 run to start the second quarter, but Elly Boles (Jr. – Prescott, WI) knocked down two jumpers to bring the Blugolds back. The Knights hit shots to maintain the lead until Hoeppner struck again from behind the arc to tie it at 23. Kayla Hanley (Jr. – Chippewa Falls, WI) then drained a jumper from the top of the key for a 25-23 lead but Wartburg answered with a jumper to tie it again. The lead would go back and forth until the Knights hit a free throw at the end of the second quarter to take a 28-27 lead into the locker room.
Maddie Dunathan (So. – Hortonville, WI) and Hoeppner hit layups to start the second half and give Eau Claire the 31-28 lead. The two squads would trade baskets until the 6:35 mark of the third quarter where the Knights went on an 11-4 run to finish the quarter and give Wartburg a 46-39 lead heading into the fourth quarter. The final quarter would be all Knights as they out-scored the Blugolds 18-8 to take the 65-47 win.
Graaskamp led all scorers with 16 points while Hoeppner also scored in double digits, adding 13. Dunathan added a team-high seven rebounds while Graaskamp added six.
The loss snaps a three-game win streak for Eau Claire. The Blugolds will be back in action Tuesday as they travel to Superior to take on the Yellowjackets at 7 p.m.
Follow all the action this season on Blugold Game Day.