MENOMONIE, Wis. (blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire women's basketball team was on the road for the Wisconsin intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Championship tournament semifinals on Wednesday. A postseason trip to neighboring UW-Stout brought the intensity and fans inside the Johnson Fieldhouse for a No. 2 vs. No. 3 matchup. The 3-seeded Blugolds got out to a fast start and never looked back as UWEC advanced to the WIAC Championship tournament finals with an 87-68 victory.
Jessie Ruden (Jr. – Rochester, MN/John Marshall) brought the offense for UW-Eau Claire as she recorded her__ 20+ point game of the season. The scoring was hot from the start as UWEC went on a 6-0 run late in the opening quarter to gain some momentum.
Courtney Crouch (Jr. – White Bear Lake, MN), a transfer from UW-Stout in 2020, came alive at her old stomping grounds as she tallied 21 points, two steals, and five drawn fouls to keep the Blugold offense cruising. The second quarter held similarities to the first as UWEC went 3 for 5 from beyond the arc. A plethora of defensive stops by the Blugolds held Stout to just 13 points in the second quarter for a 40-27 lead at halftime.
After the intermission, both teams came out strong by putting up their highest scoring quarters of the evening in the third. Crouch led the Blugolds with nine points as the team shot posted their most efficient shooting frame of the evening with a 66.7 team shooting percentage. Kylie Mogen (So – Menomonie, WI) scored nine of her 18 total points in the third to push Eau Claire to a 67-50 lead.
The final quarter brought even stronger defense from the Blugolds as they held UW-Stout to 38.9% from the field in the final quarter. With 14 points in the paint a limiting turnovers, UW-Eau Claire held on to their lead for the 87-68 win.
The Blugolds (20-7, WIAC 9-5) will travel to No. 1-seeded UW-Whitewater Warhawks on Friday, February 25th for the WIAC Championship tournament finals. Tip-off is scheduled for 7PM at the Kachel Gymnasium. Follow the Blugolds all season long at Blugold Game Day or on our app, UWEC Blugolds.
