EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire women's basketball team opened the NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Tournament with a first-round matchup against North Central University (Minn.) on Friday. With a strong first quarter and career highs set by Kylie Mogen (So. – Menomonie, WI) and Jade Ganski (So. – Rothschild, WI/Newman Catholic), the Blugolds rolled past the NCU Rams, 61-46, to advance to the second round.
With a roster full of players making their NCAA Tournament debuts, UW-Eau Claire was ready to answer the call from the get-go. Despite a 4-0 run by NCU to begin the contest, UWEC rallied behind the crowd in Zorn and kept the Rams to just three made shots in quarter one. Jade Ganski led the charge by scoring Eau Claire's first 13 points by herself. Eau Claire's 20-2 run to close out the first was led by Ganski's three 3-pointers, two free throws, and a jumper from outside the paint. Ganksi recorded a career high 20 points on the night.
The second frame held a deadlocked 12-12 score between the two teams fighting to stay alive. Following her hot start, Ganski gathered five of her seven total rebounds in the second. Tyra Boettcher (Sr. – Menomonie, WI) led the Blugold scoring efforts before half with five of her eight total points in the second period.
After halftime, the momentum shifted in favor of the visitors as NCU brought their deficit down to just 12 points. The Rams two three-pointers and five steals were quarter highs during the contest as they outscored UWEC 12-10 in the frame.
The final quarter sealed the deal for the Blugolds as Courtney Crouch (Jr. – White Bear Lake, MN) and Kylie Mogen combined for 13 of the 19 total UWEC points. Crouch posted nine of her 14 total points in the final ten minutes. Mogen controlled the glass during the entirety of the game with a career high 18 rebounds (2 off., 16 def.) and had a quarter high six in the final frame.
The Blugolds (22-7, WIAC 9-5) advance to the second round of the NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Tournament and will host Millikin University on Saturday, March 5th. Tip off from Zorn Arena is scheduled for 5PM CST.
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