EAU CLAIRE - The 9th-ranked UW-Eau Claire women's basketball team led 6th-ranked UW-Oshkosh throughout the game until giving up a layup with 8 seconds remaining to lose 63-61 here tonight at Zorn Arena.

Rachel Becker (Jr.-Gilmanton) hit a free throw to put the Blugolds up 61-59 with 1:56 left in regulation. The Titans hit a layup on the ensuing possession to tie the game at 61.

Each team had a possession and a chance to take the lead when the Titans took their first lead of the game. Shannon Eggers penetrated and scored with 8 seconds remaining and Eau Claire was unable to get a shot off before the buzzer.

The game was tied at 39 five minutes into the second half when the Blugolds went on a 7-1 run to take a six point lead. The Titans cut it back to three before Katie Murphy (Sr.-La Crosse/Aquinas) hit her third three-pointer to put Eau Claire back up six.

The Blugolds controlled the first half jumping out 3-0 on a Murphy three less than a minute into the game. Eau Claire would go on a 9-2 run minutes later to take an eight point lead on a Michelle Burns (Fr.-Eau Claire/North) layup. The Blugolds later went up a game-high nine points with 7:11 remaining in the first half on a Jessica Dickey (Sr.-White Bear Lake, MN/Cretin-Derham Hall) breakaway.

Joanna Leafblad (Sr.-Eau Claire/Memorial) hit a three with 23 seconds remaining in the half to put Eau Claire up eight but the Titans hit a jumper at the buzzer to send the game to halftime with the Blugolds leading 32-26.

Dickey paced Eau Claire with 15 points including 7 of 8 from the charity stripe. Murphy added 12 points and Burns 11. Becker and Becca Carstensen (Sr.-Eau Claire/Memorial) led the team with eight boards each while Murphy led in assists with four.

The Blugolds struggled shooting the ball in the second half hitting only 31 percent of their shots while allowing Oshkosh to connect on 50 percent. Eau Claire forced only seven turnovers but capitalized scoring 12 points off those turnovers.

The loss was the first of the season for the Blugolds dropping their record to 7-1 overall and 2-1 in the conference. The Titans improve to 7-0 overall and 3-0 in the conference and taking sole possession of first place in the conference.

Eau Claire will be in action next when they travel to La Crosse Saturday to take on the Eagles. The game is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m.

>Eau Claire-Oshkosh Box Score

- JL -