LA CROSSE, Wis. (blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire women's basketball team wrapped up their final game of the Gunderson Hotel & Suites Thanksgiving Classic hosted by UW-La Crosse on Saturday as they took on Edgewood college. A roaring 23-9 start in the first quarter kept the Blugolds in front for the entirety of the game in their sixth straight win.
The Blugolds couldn't have asked for a better start to the game as they rattled off a 10-0 run in the opening three minutes to create a comfortable lead early. Complimenting the offense early was the team rebounding as UWEC gathered 11 of the 13 rebounds in the first ten minutes to keep the Eagles from establishing any rhythm.
The second quarter brought the same dominance as Eau Claire totaled a 47-19 lead at halftime. Jessie Ruden (Jr. – Rochester, MN/John Marshall) scored tallied all ten of her points in the second quarter, including four three-pointers. Courtney Crouch (Jr. – White Bear Lake, MN) and Tyra Boettcher (Sr. – Menomonie, WI) also hit double digit points in the first half as Crouch went 6 of 8 for 12 points and Boettcher earned ten points herself.
The second half featured 26 points from the Blugold bench and had 16 different players get time on the floor. Olivia Ganser (So. – Jefferson, WI) totaled a career high 11 points, while Braylin Smith (So. – Mequon, WI), Lucia Hauge (Fr. – Hugo, MN/St. Croix Lutheran Academy), and Evelyn Walker (Fr. – Madison, WI/La Follette) all had career highs in rebounds.
After the conclusion of the tournament, Ruden and Crouch were both named to the Gundersen Hotel & Suites Thanksgiving Classic All-Tournament Team.
With the dominant win to close out a stretch of nonconference game, the 6-0 Blugolds will turn their attention to Wednesday, December 1st when they begin Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) play. They start a four-game homestand with matchup against UW-Oshkosh at 7PM.
Follow the Blugolds all season long at Blugold Game Day or on our app, UWEC Blugolds.
