EAU CLAIRE - The UW-Eau Claire women's basketball team was defeated tonight by undefeated UW-La Crosse by a score of 72-63 in the first game of a men's and women's doubleheader held in Zorn Arena.

The difference in the game was free throw shooting. The Blugolds made seven of their eight attempts, while the Eagles shot four times as many free throws as the Blugolds going 23-for-33 at the line.

The first half was closely contested as there were three ties and four lead-changes. The biggest lead for either team in the half was six by the Eagles near the end of the half. The Eagles went into halftime with 29-25 lead.

Both teams struggled shooting in the first half as the Blugolds shot 39.3% and the Eagles shot 34.4%.

The Eagles would lead the whole second half as the Eagles out-scored the Blugolds 20-11 in the first ten minutes of the half to extend their lead to 15. The Blugolds would cut the lead down to six with 1:32 remaining, but that is as close as they would get as the Eagles went on to win 72-63.

The Eagles shot 66.6% in the second half, while the Blugolds shot just 48.4%.

Michelle Burns (So.-Eau Claire, WI/North) led all scorers for the Blugolds with 19 points. She went 8-for-13 from the field. Rachel Becker (Sr.-Gilmanton, WI) added 10 for the Blugolds and had four assists.

The loss drops the Blugolds to 3-4 overall and 0-2 in conference play. The Eagles improve to 7-0 overall and 2-0 in the WIAC.

Up next the Blugolds will travel to face UW-River Falls Wednesday night. The game is scheduled for a 7 p.m. tip-off.

Eau Claire-La Crosse Box Score

- JR -