EAU CLAIRE - The UW-Eau Claire women's basketball team snapped a three-game losing streak to give Carroll College its first loss, with a 66-61 come from behind victory today in Zorn Arena.

The win gives the Blugolds an overall record of 4-5, while the Pioneers fall to 6-1.

The Blugolds started out the game well, jumping out to an 8-2 lead. The Blugolds would maintain the lead until the Pioneers took their first lead with 4:17 remaining. The Pioneers would close out the final seven minutes of the first half outscoring the Blugolds 11-2 to go into halftime with a 28-22 lead.

Both teams scored more than half of their points in the paint in the first half with the Blugolds scoring 12 of their 22 points inside, while the Pioneers had 18 of their 28 points in the paint. Both teams shot under 43% in the half.

The Pioneers would extend that lead to 10 with 13:42 remaining in the game. The Blugolds would then outscore the Pioneers 11-2 over the next four minutes to cut the lead to one. The Blugolds would finally regain the lead with 4:15 remaining on a Michelle Burns (So.-Eau Claire, WI/North) jumper. After the Pioneers took the lead back, the Blugolds took the lead for good with 3:50 left in the half on a Heidi Arciszewski (Fr.-Thorp, WI) free throw.

With the UWEC up three with 39 seconds left, Burns hit a crucial three to put the game out of reach. The Blugolds were also hot from the line in the final two minutes going 6-for-6 as the Blugolds went on to win 66-61.

The Blugolds shot 51.6% in the second half, while the Pioneers shot just 40.6%. The Blugolds had 28 points in the paint in the second half.

Michelle Burns led all-scorers with 24 points in the game. Arciszewski had 16 big points off the bench for the Blugolds. Brittanni Hakanson (Fr.-Wheeler, WI/Boyceville) had 12 second half points off the bench to lead the comeback and had 14 points total in the game. She also had six rebounds for the Blugolds.

Up next the Blugolds will host Carleton College Tuesday night in the second game of a men's and women's doubleheader. The game is scheduled to begin after the men's game at approximately 8 p.m. in Zorn Arena.

Eau Claire-Carroll College Box Score

- JR -