OSHKOSH - The UW-Eau Claire women's basketball team attempted just 11 free-throws while UW-Oshkosh went to the line 28 times, resulting in a 64-54 Eau Claire loss here tonight at Kolf Sports Center.

The Blugolds fall to 15-9 on the season and 8-7 in Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play. Eau Claire is still fighting for the fourth seed and a home playoff game when the WIAC Playoffs start next Monday. UW-River Falls topped conference leading UW-Stevens Point tonight, moving them to 9-6 in the conference and giving the Falcons sole possession of the fourth seed. Oshkosh moves to 20-4 on the season and 11-4 in conference action. With the win the Titans clinch a home playoff game and are now tied atop the conference standings.

A Rachel Becker (Jr.-Gilmanton) lay-up started the game but the Titans responded with a shot from downtown for a 3-2 lead. The Blugolds would never regain the lead or tie the game the rest of the way. A pair of Jessica Dickey (Sr.-White Bear Lake, MN/Cretin-Derham Hall) three-pointers coupled with a Michelle Burns (Fr.-Eau Claire/North) basket cut the Oshkosh lead to just one at 15-14 midway through the first half.

The rest of the half belonged to the Titans. Oshkosh ended the final 9:29 of the first half on an 18-0 run as the Blugolds missed 10 field goal attempts and committed seven turnovers during the span. Eau Claire shot just 5-of-23 (21.7 percent) in the first half and headed to the locker room trailing by a score of 33-14.

The Blugolds did all they could to get back in the game in the second half but had as much as a 20-point deficit to overcome. They used a 7-0 run midway through the half to get the score to 48-38 and then used a 9-3 run later in the half to cut the score of 55-52 with 3:32 left in the game. The comeback was not to be complete, however, as the Titans sank seven-of-eight free-throw attempts down the stretch to earn the 64-54 victory.

Eau Claire finished the game 20-of-56 (35.7 percent) from the floor while the Titans shot 19-of-51 (37.3 percent). The noticeable difference statistically came in the free-throw category, where the Blugolds were 8-of-11 (72.7 percent) while Oshkosh converted on 21-of-28 (75 percent) attempts.

Dickey led the way for the Blugolds with 13 points but was just 5-of-14 from the floor. Joanna Leafblad (Sr.-Eau Claire/Memorial) finished with 10 points for Eau Clare. Burns, who came into the game averaging 11.6 points per game, was limited to just four points but did grab a game-best eight rebounds. Becker finished with seven points, five assists and four rebounds in the loss.

Three Titans finished in double digits, led by Brittany Herrick with 12 points. Whitney Tyriver and Laurie Turtenwald each scored 10 points in the win.

The Blugolds will fight for playoff seeding in their final regular season game of the season this Saturday at River Falls. The game is set for 3:00 p.m.

Eau Claire-Oshkosh Box Score

- DN -