GREENCASTLE, Ind. (blugolds.com) — The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire women's basketball team clinched the Amy Hasbrook Memorial Tournament title with a 65-51 victory over host DePauw University on Friday. The 15th-ranked Blugolds went 2-0 at the tournament to earn the championship.
The Blugolds rode a double-double from Jessie Ruden (Sr. - Rochester, Minn./John Marshall), who recorded 22 points and 10 rebounds. The guard was named the tournament MVP and earned a spot on the all-tournament team. Tyra Boettcher (Sr. - Menomonie, Wis.) added 12 points and five rebounds in the win over the Tigers and was also picked for the all-tournament squad.
Just like they did in their tournament-opening win over No. 10 Trine on Thursday, the Blugolds pulled away from their opponent in the second and third quarters. The Blugolds and Tigers were tightly knit in the opening period and entered the first intermission tied at 19. The game was tied at 25 midway through the second quarter, but from there the Blugolds found some separation. It came in the form of an 8-0 run to close the half and built a 33-25 lead at halftime. Bailey Reardon (Sr. - River Falls, Wis.) scored four points in that stretch.
UW-Eau Claire continued to pad its lead in the third quarter, going in front by as much as 20 in the late stages. They outscored DePauw 20-9 in the period. Boettcher, Kylie Mogen (Sr. - Menomonie, Wis.) and Courtney Crouch (Sr. - White Bear Lake, Minn.) all set the tone with consecutive 3-pointers early in the half. The Blugolds did more than enough in the final quarter to see out the victory, knocking down several free throws to keep the Tigers at bay.
Crouch scored 16 points for the Blugolds and passed three assists. Mogen and Reardon had six points apiece, and added four and seven rebounds, respectively. Lucia Hauge (So. - Hugo, Minn./St. Croix Lutheran Academy) had eight rebounds off the bench.
UW-Eau Claire limited DePauw to a 29% shooting percentage. The Blugolds out-rebounded the Tigers 45-38.
The Blugolds (11-2, 2-0) are back in WIAC action to begin the new year. They visit UW-Oshkosh on Wednesday, Jan. 7, at 7 p.m.
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