DECATUR, IL - The UW-Eau Claire women's basketball team cruised to a 77-55 victory today against Webster University in the second game of the Coaches vs. Cancer Tournament held at Millikin University.

The game started out close for the first 13 minutes before the Blugolds went on an 11-0 run with just under seven minutes to play in the first half to give UWEC a 16-point lead. The Blugolds shot 53% in the first half on their way to a 39-22 halftime lead. The Blugolds defense held Webster to just 43% shooting in the half.

Webster could only get as close as 12 points in the second half as the Blugolds shot just under 50% in the second half and went 8-for-8 from the free throw line to go on to win 77-55.

The Blugolds' Brittanni Hakanson (Fr.-Wheeler, WI/Boyceville) led all scorers with 20 points off the bench. Brittanni Hakanson also had eight rebounds to lead the Blugolds. Michelle Burns (So.-Eau Claire, WI/North) added 18 points for the Blugolds and went 8-for-10 from the free throw line. Liz Van Drasek (Sr.-Albertville, MN/St. Michael-Albertville) was the third Blugold in double-figures with 10 points.

The Blugolds as a team shot 83% from the free throw line only missing three of their 18 attempts. Both teams shot well from three, with the Blugolds going 4-for-8 from beyond the arc, while Webster went 4-for-9. Both teams, however, combined for 44 turnovers. The Blugolds had 33 points of Webster turnovers. The Blugolds bench scored 36 points compared to just seven for Webster.

The victory gives the Blugolds a 1-0 record to start the season, while Webster falls to 0-2.

Up next for the Blugolds is the third and final game of the Coaches vs. Cancer Tournament where they will face number one-ranked and host Millikin University. The action gets underway at 3 p.m. tomorrow in Decatur, IL.

Eau Claire-Webster box score

- JR -