HOLLAND, Mich. (blugolds.com) — The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire women's basketball team won its fourth consecutive game to start the season by defeating Denison 82-56 at the Hope College Tournament on Friday. The 13th-ranked Blugolds built a double-figure lead in the first quarter and never looked back in a start-to-finish showing.
UW-Eau Claire outscored Denison 18-7 in the opening period. The Blugolds closed the quarter on a 12-2 run, and stayed comfortably in the lead the rest of the way. Courtney Crouch (Sr. - White Bear Lake, Minn.) scored half of the Blugolds' points in that stretch.
UW-Eau Claire's lead grew to 17 points by halftime, and the Blugolds led by at least nine for the remainder of the contest. They closed on a high note, outscoring Denison 26-11 in the fourth quarter to finish off the victory.
The Blugolds got 20 points from Jessie Ruden (Sr. - Rochester, Minn./John Marshall) and 13 more from Crouch. The UW-Eau Claire bench had a big afternoon, highlighted by 12 points apiece from Kyla Overskei (Fr. - Maple Grove, Minn.) and Bailey Reardon (Sr. - River Falls, Wis.). Overskei also had five rebounds. Lucia Hauge (So. - Hugo, Minn./St. Croix Lutheran Academy) added nine points and nine rebounds for the Blugolds. Kylie Mogen (Sr. - Menomonie, Wis.) had seven points and eight rebounds.
UW-Eau Claire out-rebounded Denison 50-31 and scored 34 points in the paint. The Blugolds nabbed 10 steals on defense and shot 46% from the field on the other end of the court. They were also 12 of 14 from the free throw line.
The Blugolds continue their stint at the Hope College Tournament on Saturday at 2 p.m. Central. Hope is the top-ranked team in Division III by d3hoops.com.
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