EAU CLAIRE - The UW-Eau Claire women's basketball team saw an 18-point lead worn away but held off St. Norbert College in winning 79-75 here tonight at Zorn Arena.

The Blugolds held the lead for the first 37 minutes of the game when the Green Knights tied the game at 71 with 2:46 left. St. Norbert would grab a lead for the first time of the game at 73-71 with 1:49 remaining.

Eau Claire responded going on a 6-0 run. Michelle Burns (Fr.-Eau Claire/North) scored on a lay-up to tie the game at 73 and Liz VanDrasek (Jr.-Albertville, MN/St. Michael/Albertville) and Rachel Becker (Jr.-Gilmanton) added two free throws each to put the Blugolds up 77-73 43 seconds left.

The Green Knights had chances to tie the game in the final minute but Eau Claire forced two turnovers and added two Jessica Dickey (Sr.-White Bear Lake, MN/Cretin-Derham Hall) free throws to seal the win.

The game appeared to be over in the first half when the Blugolds hit four three pointers in the first eight minutes of the game to go up 21-3. St. Norbert whittled the lead down to 13 but Eau Claire pushed it back up to 18 on a Burns jumper. The Green Knights would again cut into the lead bringing the Blugold lead down to 13 by half.

St. Norbert maintained momentum in the opening minutes of the second half going on a 14-6 run and cutting the lead to five less than five minutes into the half. The Blugolds kept the Green Knights at bay until St. Norbert tied it at 71.

Becker led five Blugolds in double digit scoring with 16 points while Katie Murphy (Sr.-La Crosse/Aquinas) added 14 including four three-pointers. Becker and Murphy tied for the team lead in assists with six each.

Burns and VanDrasek each scored 13 while Dickey added 12. Burns led the Blugolds with eight rebounds. Eau Claire was an impressive 20 of 22 from the charity stripe with Becker hitting 10 of 11.

The Blugolds overcame St. Norbert's 54.2 shooting percentage by forcing the Green Knights into 20 turnovers. Eau Claire had their best shooting game of the young season shooting 45.6 percent for the game.

Eau Claire improved to 3-0 on the year with the win while St. Norbert fell to 1-2 this season.

The Blugolds will be in action next when they host the Thanksgiving Showcase Friday and Saturday at Zorn Arena. Eau Claire will play the second game Friday starting at 8 p.m.

Eau Claire-St. Norbert Box Score

- JL -