EAU CLAIRE - Sophomore transfer Missy Fremstad (Osseo/Osseo-Fairchild) scored a career-high 22 points to spark the UW-Eau Claire women's basketball team to a 76-67 win over Otterbein College of Westerville, Ohio in the opening round of the 15th Annual Thanksgiving Showcase at the W. L. Zorn Arena here Friday.

The Blugolds will take on Morningside College of Sioux City, Iowa in the championship game at 8 p.m. Saturday. Morningside advanced with an 81-49 win over Viterbo University in the other first round contest.

Fremstad, a 5-7 point guard, scored 14 in the first half as the Blugolds overcame six-point deficits on two occasions to take a 45-34 lead at the intermission. The Blugolds were down, 21-15, when they went on a 24-6 run during a 6:44 stretch that gave them a 39-27 advantage with 3:21 remaining. Fremstad scored eight during the run but had help from six teammates as Brittanni Hakanson added four, Michelle Burns and Heidi Arciszewski three apiece and Erin Voelker, Amanda Zenner and Rachel Mueggenborg a bucket each.

Otterbein stayed with the Blugolds in the first half by nailing 5 of 7 treys and 9 of 10 free throws but did themselves in with 11 turnovers while the Blugolds committed just five miscues. Eau Claire also had a 16-13 edge on the boards.

The Blugolds controlled the tempo in the second half until the final three minutes of the contest when Otterbein made a run, trimming a 16-point deficit to nine. After Otterbein made it 45-37 early in the half, the Blugolds built their largest advantage at 69-49 with 7:07 remaining. It was still a 16-point game (70-54) at 2:57 when Otterbein made a mini-run.

Fremstad, who transferred to UWEC this year from Minnesota State-Moorhead, had scored just seven points in her first three games as a Blugold. She hit 6 of 9 from the field including 3 of 4 treys and converted 7 of 9 free throws. She also had three steals, three assists and five rebounds without a turnover.

While Fremstad provided the spark, she had a solid supporting cast. Zenner had a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds, most of which came in the second half. Hakanson finished with 12 points as did Burns.

The Blugolds, who are now 3-1 for the season, shot 50 percent from the field for the game and also sank 20 of 27 free throws. Otterbein, which is winless in three starts, hit just 39.7 percent from the field (23 of 58) and was outboarded by the Blugolds, 38-32. The Cardinals handled the ball better in the second half with only seven miscues while Eau Claire committed 13 turnovers to give both teams 18 for the game.

Otterbein had three players in double figures with Laura Roth and Ana Gamble getting 15 apiece and Sarah Esterkamp 14. Katy Miller had a game-high 12 rebounds to go with eight points.

Otterbein will be paired against Viterbo in the third place game at 6 p.m. Saturday.

Eau Claire-Otterbein Box Score

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