EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (blugolds.com) — The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire women's basketball team defeated Minnesota Morris 66-45 on Tuesday at Zorn Arena to pick up a third consecutive win. The Blugolds led from start to finish and rode a balanced attack to victory, highlighted by an 18-point, eight-rebound showing from Kylie Mogen (Sr. - Menomonie, Wis.).

The Blugolds built a 10-point lead midway through the first quarter by scoring 15 of the game's first 20 points. Mogen scored seven of those points, and Jessie Ruden (Sr. - Rochester, Minn./John Marshall) added five. However, the Cougars gave a push in the second quarter and used a quick 5-0 run to trim the lead to three early in the period. Lucia Hauge (So. - Hugo, Minn./St. Croix Lutheran Academy) answered with back-to-back baskets though. Minnesota Morris later cut the lead to four with 4:49 remaining in the half, but UW-Eau Claire closed the second quarter on a 14-3 run to pull away for good.

"In some of those spurts where things got a little tight, we had someone rise to the occasion," Blugolds coach Tonja Englund said.

UW-Eau Claire led by 10-plus points the entire second half. Ruden scored 10 points after halftime and finished the game with 15. She also had six rebounds and three assists.

Hauge tallied 12 points and six rebounds for the Blugolds. Tyra Boettcher (Sr. - Menomonie, Wis.) added nine points and nine rebounds. UW-Eau Claire shot 41% from the field and out-rebounded Minnesota Morris 42-30. The Blugolds forced 22 turnovers and created 27 points off those chances.

UW-Eau Claire travels to Holland, Mich., this weekend to participate in the Hope College Tournament. The Blugolds face Denison on Friday, Nov. 18, at 4 p.m. and Hope College at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 19.

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