OSHKOSH, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – While the UW-Eau Claire women's basketball team found itself down by just two points in the second half, the 17th-ranked UW-Oshkosh Titans were able to hang on to defeat the Blugolds 65-55 at the Kolf Sports Center tonight.
The game got off to a slow start with no scoring over the first two minutes. While the Titans led 4-0, three minutes into the game, the Blugolds hit two baskets and took their first lead of the night, 5-4, four minutes into the game.
Eau Claire led by one with 13 minutes to play in the opening half but the Titans then went on to outscore the Blugolds 15-3 over the next six minutes to take an 11-point lead (23-14). Oshkosh never trailed after that.
With a 14-point lead at halftime, the Titans had trouble scoring for the first five minutes of the second half. The Blugolds used a 12-0 run during the first five minutes to get back to within two points (35-33), but that was as close as they would get.
During the next six minutes, the Blugolds didn't score any points while Oshkosh went on a 12-0 run to get back up by 14. Eau Claire got as close as seven points after that, the last time with two minutes remaining.
Two Blugolds reached double figures in scoring with Teenie Lichtfuss (So.-Oshkosh, Wis./Lourdes) leading the way with 15 points. Abby Midtlien (Fr.-Chaseburg, Wis./Westby) finished with 13 points. Tying for a game-high with nine rebounds was Rachel Egdorf (Jr.-Mishicot, Wis.).
The Blugolds finished the game shooting 40.9 percent (18-for-44) from the field while Oshkosh was 18-for-45 (40 percent). Seven of the Titans' shots came from beyond the arc while the Blugolds had four three-pointers.
Eau Claire is now 6-17 overall and 4-10 in the WIAC while Oshkosh improves to 20-2 on the season and 11-2 in conference play.
The Blugolds will be off Saturday and will next play on Wednesday, Feb. 19 at home against UW-Platteville. Action will get underway at 7 p.m.
-KM-
