HOLLAND, Mich. (blugolds.com) – The No. 13 ranked University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire women's basketball team played their second game of the Hope College Tournament on Saturday as they faced the hosts, the No. 1 ranked Hope College Flying Dutch. After closing a first half two-point deficit, UW-Eau Claire fell short to the Dutch 89-77 during their first ranked game of the season.
The first quarter set the tone for the contest as Hope began with a 7-0 run. The Blugolds answered swiftly with buckets from Jessie Ruden (Sr. – Rochester, Minn./John Marshall) and Courtney Crouch (Sr. – White Bear Lake, Minn.) to close the gap to 7-5. Both sides went back and forth through the opening frame. Kylie Mogen (Sr. – Menomonie, Wis.) found Eau Claire's first lead of the day with a three pointer to make it 14-13. Bailey Reardon (Sr. – River Falls, Wis.) extended the lead to 17-15 with a layup and free throw with 2:34 left in the first. The Flying Dutch answered with a 7-4 run to close out the first quarter and put UWEC at a one-point deficit. Mogen tallied seven of her 17 total points to lead all players after ten minutes of play.
The second quarter started in Eau Claire's favor as the opening frame deficit was neutralized by a 7-2 run by Mogen, Ruden, and Tyra Boettcher (Sr. – Menomonie, Wis.). The Blugolds defense held strong as they forced five turnovers in the second quarter to keep Hope to 14 points. Tyra Boettcher led the defense in rebounding during the second frame with four of her six total rebounds in the second. Despite keeping the Flying Dutch to their lowest scoring quarter, the Blugolds answered with 13 of their own to enter halftime down, 36-34.
Jessie Ruden broke out in the third quarter with 12 of her 22 total points as she knocked down five of her seven shot attempts, including one three and one free throw. A seven-point deficit with 2:47 remaining in the third was answered with a 9-2 run by the Blugolds to tie the game at 60 after 30 minutes of play. Courtney Crouch added three of her six total assists in the third and Kylie Strop (Jr. – River Falls, Wis.) added four of her ten total points to close the gap before the final quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Kyla Overskei (Fr. – Maple Grove, Minn.) drained a three pointer in the opening minute to give Eau Claire a 63-62 lead. After an answer by Hope, Kylie Strop leveled the score at 65-65 with a layup at the 9:01 mark. From there, the Flying Dutch found themselves with a 9-2 run to put UWEC at a seven point deficit that couldn't be reached. The Blugolds kept in it with a 4-0 run late, but ultimately fell to the top ranked team in the nation, 89-77.
Kylie Mogen and Jessie Ruden were named to the Hope College All-Tournament Team.
The Blugolds (4-1-0 WIAC 0-0) will be back at home at Zorn Arena on Tuesday, November 22nd as they host St. Norbert College. Tip off is scheduled for 6PM.
Follow the Blugolds all season long at Blugold Game Day or on our app, UWEC Blugolds.
