EAU CLAIRE - The UW-Eau Claire women's basketball team used a pair of 13-0 runs to defeat UW-Whitewater tonight by a score of 62-51 at Zorn Arena.

The win improved the Blugolds record to 9-4 overall and 3-1 in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC). The loss snaps a five-game winning streak for the Warhawks as they are also now 9-4 overall and 2-2 in the WIAC.

Eau Claire scored the first four points of the game with a pair of baskets by Michelle Burns (Jr.-Eau Claire, WI/North) and Amanda Zenner (Jr.-Medford, WI). The Blugolds took a 10-3 lead after an Amanda Zenner layup with 15:40 remaining in the first half.

After a couple baskets by Whitewater to make the score 10-7, the Blugolds would have their first 13-0 run of the game to take a 23-7 lead with 8:06 to play in the half. Michelle Burns had eight points during that stretch. However, the Warhawks did not go away as they would crawl back into the game out-scoring the Blugolds 12-4 in the final six minutes to make the halftime score 27-19 Blugolds.

The halftime stats were pretty even at the half. The biggest difference was that the Blugolds shot 39% from the field, while the Warhawks shot 23%. Both teams had 13 turnovers and the Blugolds slightly out-rebounded the Warhawks 23-21.

The Eau Claire lead remained around 10 points for the first nine minutes of the second half. The Blugolds took a 12-point lead with 11:08 remaining in the game. Whitewater then stormed back into the game with a 15-0 run and took their first lead of the game at 45-44 with 7:03 to go.

With the Whitewater lead at 47-44, the Blugolds used their second 13-0 run of the game which started with two Michelle Burns free throws and then a Burns' three-point play. Two three pointers by Rachel Mueggenborg (Jr.-West Salem, WI) and Heather Witt (So.-Kendall, WI/Royall) capped off the run as the Blugolds went up 57-47 with 3:17 to play. Eau Claire held on the rest of the way to defeat the Warhawks 62-51.

The Blugolds shot 48% in the half and finished at 43%. Whitewater shot 29% from the field. Eau Claire was 4-for-9 from beyond the arc and 8-of-11 from the free throw line.

Michelle Burns led all scorers with a career-high 29 points and a season-high 13 rebounds. Heidi Arciszewski (So.-Thorp, WI) was the only other Blugold to score in double-figures with 13 points. Lindsey Buechner had 16 points to lead Whitewater.

The home team has won the last six meetings between the two schools and the Blugolds are now 38-17 all-time against the Warhawks.

The Blugolds will now travel to Oshkosh to face the Titans on Saturday in the first game of a men's and women's doubleheader at the Kolf Sports Center. The tip-off is scheduled for 3 p.m.

Eau Claire-Whitewater Box Score

- JR -