MENOMONIE - The UW-Eau Claire women's basketball team was also defeated tonight by I-94 rival and eighth-ranked UW-Stout 82-62 in the conference opener for both teams.

The loss drops the Blugolds to 3-3 overall and 0-1 in the conference. The Blue Devils improve to 4-1 overall and 1-0 in the conference.

The Blue Devils jumped out to a 13-4 lead after they scored the first six points of the game. The Blugolds then went on an 8-0 run to cut the Stout lead to one. The Blue Devils, however, would again lengthen the lead to as much as 11 with just under seven minutes to play in the half. The Blugolds could only cut the lead down to seven as the score at the half was 33-26 in favor of the Blue Devils.

Both teams struggled from the field in the first half as the Blugolds shot 25.9%, while the Blue Devils shot 34.5%.

The difference in the second half was shooting. The Blue Devils gradually added on to their lead shooting 56.7% in the half, while the Blugolds shot just 33.3%. The Blugolds would only get as close as five after two free throws by Michelle Burns (So.-Eau Claire, WI/North) at the beginning of the half. Stout's lead would grow to as much as 21 points as the Blue Devils went on to win 82-62.

Rachel Mueggenborg (West Salem, WI/Southeast Missouri St.) led the Blugolds in scoring with 14 points. Ashley Anderson (Oakdale, MN/North St. Paul) also added 11 points off the bench. Liz Van Drasek (Albertville, MN/St. Michael-Albertville) had seven rebounds to lead the Blugolds.

Up next the Blugolds will host UW-La Crosse in the first of a men's and women's double-header to be held Saturday night in Zorn Arena. The tip-off is scheduled for 5 p.m.

Eau Claire-Stout Box Score

- JR -