By Tommy McGowan, UWEC Sports Information
EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (blugolds.com) - The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire women's basketball team defeated UW-Oshkosh Wednesday night, 66-62. The game served as Cancer Awareness Night.
Neither team was able to build much of a lead in the first quarter. A jump shot from the Titans with less than a minute remaining made the score 21-20 at the conclusion of the quarter. The Blugolds had a great shooting period, shooting 57% from the field (8-14).
Eau Claire was able to build a six-point lead in the second, before going into halftime up 36-32. At the break, Katie Essen (Jr.-Farmington, MN/Rosemount) led the way for the Blugolds, with 10 points.
The UWEC offense cooled down in the third, allowing Oshkosh to retake the lead, before a jumper from Anna Graaskamp (Sr.-Eau Claire, WI/Memorial) sending the two into the fourth locked at 47.
The game remained tight all the way to the final buzzer. With the game tied at 58, Essen sunk a jumper, giving the Blugolds a lead for a moment until the Titans responded with a three. Eau Claire turned to Hallee Hoeppner (Sr.-Winona, MN) down the stretch, who hit a jumper and then sunk a pair of free throws to make the score 64-61. Graaskamp and Hoeppner would seal the game at the line, both with one more free throw.
Eau Claire finished the night shooting 45 percent from the field, while going 6-17 from three-point territory. They also missed just one free throw shot (14-15), giving them an advantage in the tight contest.
Hoeppner would lead all scorers with 22 points, going 7-13 from the field and 2-5 from three. Essen would finish with 14, while Jessie Ruden (Fr.-Rochester, MN/John Marshall) had 11. On the boards, Kelsey Bakken (Sr.-Marshall, WI) led all players with nine rebounds.
The Blugolds continue their hot streak, now winning nine of their last ten games. They now sit at 13-7 overall and 7-2 in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Next up for Eau Claire is a road trip to Stevens Point over the weekend. Follow the action on Blugold Game Day or on the 'UWEC Blugolds' app from your mobile device.
