CLAREMONT, CA - The UW-Eau Claire women's basketball team held a 36-30 halftime lead but was outscored 39-19 in the second half as Claremont-Mudd-Scripps would go on to earn a 69-55 victory here today at Ducey Gymnasium.

The loss was the second in as many nights for the Blugolds who now fall to 5-7 on the season. C-M-S is now 8-1 on the season after winning their third straight game.

The first half saw the Blugolds blister the net as they made 17-of-26 shots (65.4%) from the floor while holding the Athenas to 10-of-25 field goals (40.0%). They were four lead changes in the first 10 minutes of the game. Trailing 22-21 with 10:42 remaining the half the Blugolds went on a 15-8 run to end the half take a 36-30 lead into the locker room. Six different Blugolds scored during the 15-8 run. The Blugolds held a 12-3 advantage in points off the bench in the first half.

After opening the second half with a three-point shot by Rachel Mueggenborg (So.-West Salem/Southeast Missouri State) the Athenas went on a 17-2 run stretching almost seven minutes to take a 47-41 lead.

Both teams would trade baskets over the next six minutes as an Ashley Anderson (Fr.-Oakdale, MN/North St. Paul) cut the lead to 52-49 with 6:37 to play but the Blugolds were only able to score six points over the remainder of the game as the Athenas pulled away for the win

The big factor in the second half came from the free throw line as the Athenas made 12-of-16 free throws compared to 2-of-3 for the Blugolds. The Athenas also took advantage of Blugold turnovers and held a 14-4 advantage in the second half off Eau Claire turnovers.

The Blugolds committed 23 turnovers while the Athenas committed 20. The Athenas made 18-of-24 free throws compared to 2-of-3 for the Blugolds. The Blugold bench outscored the Athenas 24-3.

Brittanni Hakanson (Fr.-Wheeler/Boyceville) led the Blugolds with 12 points off the bench. Hakanson was the only double-digit scorer for the Blugolds. Anderson had a team-high five rebounds in 18 minutes.

Up next the Blugolds get back into Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) action when they travel to UW-Whitewater to take on the Warhawks on Tuesday, January 3. Action is set to begin at 7:00 p.m.

Eau Claire/Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Box Score