EAU CLAIRE - In the first game of a men's and women's doubleheader the UW-Eau Claire women's basketball team lost a tough one tonight in overtime to conference foe UW-Oshkosh 63-59

The loss drops the Blugolds to 5-9 overall and 0-5 in Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) play. The victory gives the Titans a 10-4 overall record and a 4-1 conference record.

The Blugolds were in control for most of the first half. The Titans' first lead came at 12:44 in the first half when Titans went up 9-8. After that the Blugolds would go on a 6-0 run capped off by a Heidi Arciszewski (Fr.-Thorp, WI) jumper to put the Blugolds up five. The Blugolds would lead the rest of the first half and would lead by as much as nine. The score at the half was 24-16 in favor of the Blugolds.

The Titans turned the ball over 13 times in the half that led to 16 Blugold points. Both teams struggled from the field in the first half with neither team shooting over 36%.

The Titans would come out in the second half and outscore the Blugolds 13-4 the first five minutes of the half to regain the lead 29-28. From that point on, The Titans would not trail.

The Blugolds kept it close and tied the game up with 15 seconds left on a Brittanni Hakanson (Fr.-Wheeler, WI/Boyceville) layup. The Titans would answer right back with a three from Shannon Eggers to put the Oshkosh back up by three with eight seconds left. Following a timeout, the Blugolds would take it the length of the court and find Arciszewski for three and she buried it to send the game into overtime.

However, the Blugolds would not lead the entire overtime as the Titans scored the first three points of the period. The Blugolds would have one last chance to tie it, but missed with eight seconds left. Free throws by the Titans' Whitney Tyriver would seal the deal and the Titans went onto win 63-59.

The Titans shot 41% for the game, while the Blugolds shot 39%. The Blugolds forced 27 Oshkosh turnovers and outscored the Titans in the paint 38-22.

Heidi Arciszewski had a career-high 17 points to lead the Blugolds. Brittanni Hakanson added 12 points for the Blugolds. Liz Van Drasek (Sr.-Albertville, MN/St. Michael-Albertville) led the Blugolds in rebounds with six. The Titans' Brittany Herrick had 23 points to lead all scorers.

The Blugolds will host UW-Stevens Point on Wednesday night in Zorn Arena. It will also be Youth night at the arena. The action is set to begin at 7 p.m.

Eau Claire-Oshkosh Box Score

- JR -