By Travis Nyhus, UWEC Sports Information
OSHKOSH, Wis. (Blugolds.com) –The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire women's basketball team road record dropped under .500 (4-5), compared to a perfect mark in Zorn Area, with a 70-59 loss at UW-Oshkosh on Saturday afternoon.
Eau Claire started well with Kelsey Bakken (So. – Marshall, WI) finding the bottom of the net from deep on the Blugolds first possession of the game for the 3-0 lead.
Oshkosh took over the lead for the first time at the 6:00 mark of the first quarter on a 3-pointer.
With 1:32 remaining in the first quarter Jenni LaCroix (Sr. – Verona, WI) buried a triple to lead 16-11. At the end of one, Eau Claire held a 17-13 advantage.
The Titans came right back and stole the lead from the Blugolds as Eau Claire had an almost five minute field goal drought to start the second quarter. The Blugold defense did their part during the drought and the Kayla Hanley (Sr. – Chippewa Falls, WI) three-point play put Eau Claire up by two.
Oshkosh went on a run to go up eight with a minute before the half, but by the close of the quarter, Eau Claire made it 33-27.
Two minutes into the third quarter, the Titans went up 11, until Hanley found success from distance to cut the deficit to single digits.
Each time it appeared Oshkosh was ready to pull away, another Blugolds player knocked down a critical 3-pointer. This time, down by 10, it was Anna Graaskamp (So. – Eau Claire, WI/Memorial) with 5:36 left in the quarter.
Maddie Dunathan (Fr. – Hortonville, WI) was next as her bucket from beyond the arc made it 47-42 with 3:34 to go in the third.
At the end of the third quarter, Oshkosh was up by 10, 55-45.
A 3-pointer from the Titans gave them a 15-point advantage, two and half minutes in the final quarter.
It took until there was 3:27 left in the game for Eau Claire to get it back to a 10-point deficit. It proved to be too much as Oshkosh ended Eau Claire's two game conference winning streak.
Eau Claire shot 20 of 57 (40.4 percent) from the field, 7 of 16 (43. 8 percent) from deep and made half of their 12 free throw attempts. The Blugold had 11 of their 23 field goals assisted on.
Graaskamp led the way with 13 points and nine rebounds. Hanley also scored 13 and Bakken added 11 with each making two 3-pointers.
The Blugolds (12-5, 4-2) continue their three game road trip at 7 p.m. on Wednesday in River Falls.
Follow the action this season on Blugold Game Day.