MANKATO, Minn. (blugolds.com) — The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire women's basketball team extended its win streak to five with a 79-44 road victory over Bethany Lutheran on Tuesday. Four different players scored in double figures as the ninth-ranked Blugolds ran past the Vikings.
After a back-and-forth first period, the Blugolds pulled away in the second quarter. UW-Eau Claire held a 15-13 advantage entering the second period, where they outscored the Vikings 26-12. The Blugolds went on an 18-4 run midway through the quarter to turn a two-point lead into a 16-point advantage. Lucia Hauge (So. - Hugo, Minn./St. Croix Lutheran Academy) scored seven points in that stretch, and Bailey Reardon (Sr. - River Falls, Wis.) added six of her own. They helped UW-Eau Claire build a 41-25 halftime lead.
The Blugolds continued to run away from the Vikings in the second half. They held Bethany Lutheran to 10 points in the third quarter and nine in the fourth quarter to put the game out of reach.
Jessie Ruden (Sr. - Rochester, Minn./John Marshall) led all scorers with 16 points. She added six assists and three blocks for the Blugolds. Reardon and Hauge finished with 12 points apiece, and Reardon added six rebounds, three assists and two blocks. Kylie Strop (Jr. - River Falls, Wis.) scored 10 points, grabbed six rebounds and passed four assists. In all, the Bluoglds had seven players score at least five points.
Tyra Boettcher (Sr. - Menomonie, Wis.) had a game-high eight rebounds to surpass 300 in her UW-Eau Claire career.
The UW-Eau Claire bench scored 36 points. The Blugolds shot 54% from the field while holding Bethany Lutheran to a 23% shooting percentage.
The Blugolds have one more game before a two and a half week break. They visit Loras College on Saturday, Dec. 10, at 7 p.m. It's the Blugolds' last contest until Dec. 29.
Follow the Blugolds all season long at Blugold Game Day or on our app, UWEC Blugolds.
