OSHKOSH - The UW-Eau Claire women's basketball team did not score in the final 3:35 of the contest, while UW-Oshkosh scored its final 11 points from the free throw line on its way to defeating the Blugolds by a score of 48-42 today at the Kolf Sports Center.

The loss drops the Blugolds overall record to 9-5 overall and 3-2 in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC). The Titans improve to an overall record of 7-5 and a WIAC record of 3-2.

The Titans led from the start of the contest, building a 16-6 lead with 12:04 remaining in the first half. Eau Claire then went on a 10-1 run to get back within one point with 8:29 to go in the half. The Blugolds tied the score at 22-22 after an Amanda Zenner (Jr.-Medford, WI) jumper with 2:58 left to play in the first half. Both teams then traded baskets and went into halftime with the score tied at 24-24.

Amanda Zenner had nice first half for the Blugolds, leading the team with eight points. Eau Claire shot a little better than Oshkosh, shooting 39% from the field, while the Titans shot 35%. The Titans out-rebounded the Blugolds 19-17 in the half.

The Blugolds still did not capture their first lead of the game until the 14:19-mark of the second half when Amanda Zenner hit a jump shot to give Eau Claire a 32-31 lead. Eau Claire's last field goal came with 12:20 remaining in the game when Michelle Burns hit a jumper. The Blugolds grew their lead to four after two Michelle Burns (Jr.-Eau Claire, WI/North) free throws with 10:44 remaining in the game.

A Becky Knapp layup for the Titans with 8:31 remaining would be Oshkosh's last field goal of the contest. After two Titans free throws tied the score at 39-39, the Blugolds would get three free throws over the span of three minutes by Heidi Arciszewski (So.-Thorp, WI), Heather Witt (So.-Kendall, WI/Royall), and Michelle Burns to give Eau Claire a 42-40 lead with 3:35 left to play. That would be the last points of the game for the Blugolds. Oshkosh then went to the line eight times in the final 3:12, going 8-for-8 as the Titans defeated the Blugolds 48-42.

The Titans went 11-for-12 in the second half from the free throw line. The Blugolds shot just 21% in the second half, while the Titans stayed at 35%. The Titans out-rebounded the Blugolds 39-32 in the game.

Brittanni Hakanson (So.-Wheeler, WI/Boyceville) led the Blugolds with 12 points. Amanda Zenner pitched in 10 points for Eau Claire. Hakanson and Michelle Burns each had eight rebounds to lead the team. Oshkosh's Whitney Tyriver led all scorers with 21 points. She was 6-for-6 from the line at the end of the game.

The Blugolds have now lost seven in a row against the Titans and are 26-41 all-time against Oshkosh.

The Blugolds will be on the road again on Wednesday night when they face UW-Stevens Point. The tip-off for that game is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Eau Claire-Oshkosh Box Score

- JR -