LAS VEGAS, Nev. (Blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire women's basketball team dominated in their second game at the D3hoops.com Classic, defeating Pacific Lutheran University (Wash.) 83-55.
UW-Eau Claire took control from the opening tip and never gave up the lead. Hallee Hoeppner (Fr. – Winona, MN) drilled a three just ten seconds into the game and the Blugolds scored 11 straight points before the Lutes got on the board. At the end of the first quarter, Eau Claire held a commanding 20-7 advantage.
Despite some bursts from Pacific Lutheran in the second quarter, Eau Claire maintained their lead and took a 34-20 lead into the locker room. For the half, the Blugolds were 14-29 from the floor (48.3 percent) and 5-10 (50 percent) from three while the Eau Claire defense held the Lutes to 6-23 from the field (26.1 percent) and 0-9 from beyond the arc.
In the second half, the Blugolds picked up where they left off, cruising to an 83-55 win.
Anna Graaskamp (Fr. – Eau Claire, WI/Memorial) led all scorers with 17 points and also contributed nine rebounds, four assists and a block en route to being named to the All-Tournament Team.
Hoeppner and Kayla Hanley (Jr. – Chippewa Falls, WI) chipped in 14 apiece while Jenni LaCroix (Jr. – Verona, WI) and Arien Brennan (Sr. – Hayward, WI) came off the bench to score 11 and 10 points, respectively.
For the game, Eau Claire was 29-53 from the floor (54.7 percent) and 10-18 from three (55.6 percent) and held the Lutes to 30.5 percent (18-59) from the field and 17.4 percent (4-23) from behind the arc. The Blugolds also out-rebounded Pacific Lutheran 41-31.
Eau Claire (6-5) will open Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) play Wednesday, Jan. 4 at home against UW-River Falls.
Follow all the action this season on Blugold Game Day.