PLATTEVILLE, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – Three Blugolds scored in double figures as the No. 16 University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire women's basketball team defeated UW-Platteville on Monday night, 65-56.
Jessie Ruden (Jr. – Rochester, MN/John Marshall) tallied a team-high 16 points while Courtney Crouch (Jr. – White Bear Lake, MN) and Tyra Boettcher (Sr. – Menomonie, WI) added 15 and 13 points, respectively, as Eau Claire notched their 15th win of the season.
Eau Claire started out hot, shooting nearly 53 percent from the field and 60 percent from three in the first quarter to take an 21-16 lead, with seven points coming from Ruden. However, both teams turned cold in the second, with the Blugolds shooting 35.7 and 16.7 percent from the field and behind the arc, while holding Platteville to 11.8 and 12.5 percent. At the half, Eau Claire held a 32-23 advantage.
In the third, the Pioneers came out firing and cut the Blugold lead to just two, 39-37, at the 5:08 mark. But following an Eau Claire timeout, Jade Ganski (So. – Rothschild, WI/Newman Catholic) nailed a three to take back the momentum. From there, the Blugolds would lead by at least four points for the remainder of the game.
In the fourth, both teams would hit just 4 of 16 shots in the quarter and one three-pointer, but the early lead would prevail as the Blugolds would take home the nine-point victory.
For the game, Eau Claire finished 26-62 (41.9 percent) from the field and 7-21 (33.3 percent) from three while hitting 6 of 8 from the charity stripe. Platteville finished 31.1 percent (19-61) from the field, 28.6 (8-28) from three and 10-13 from the line.
Ganski filled in the stat line for Eau Claire, recording eight points and eight rebounds to go along with four blocks, two steals and an assist. Kylie Mogen (So . – Menomonie, WI) also had four blocks for the Blugolds.
Platteville's Maiah Domask led all scorers with 18 points and also pulled down a game-high 17 rebounds.
Eau Claire (15-4, 6-2 WIAC) will have a quick turnaround and will be back on the road Wednesday, traveling to Oshkosh to take on the Titans at 7 p.m.
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