NORTHFIELD, Minn. - The UW-Eau Claire women's basketball team led the entire game tonight for a victory against Carleton College. The Blugolds won by 23 points, for a 76-53 score. The non-conference win puts the Blugold's record at 8-1 overall. This game puts Carleton's record at 5-2.

The Blugolds went on a 10-0 run to start the first half. Amanda Zenner (Sr.-Medford, WI) had two jumpers and Heather Witt (Jr.-Kendall, WI/Royall) had two three pointers before the Knights went on a small run to cut the Blugolds' lead to one. Heidi Arciszewski (Jr.-Thorp, WI) and Brittanni Hakanson (Jr.-Wheeler, WI/Boyceville) had baskets, but the Knights answered with a jumper and three pointer to make the score tied at 16 with 10:58 left. Missy Fremstad (Jr.-Osseo, WI/Osseo-Fairchild) scored five straight points with a jump shot and three pointer. Rachel Mueggenborg (Sr.-West Salem, WI) then went on a three point shooting spree. Mueggenborg scored nine straight points on three behind the arc shots. Zenner added another jumper to make the Blugolds' lead 14 with 5:47 left in the half.

The Knights answered with a layup and jumper, but Michelle Burns (Sr.-Eau Claire, WI/North) added two layups to make the score 36-22, in favor of the Blugolds. To close the half Heidi Arciszewski made two free throws and Burns had a layup with eight seconds left to make the score 40-25 at halftime.

The Blugolds hot 62% from the field, 60% from long range and 100% from the line with two free throws. The Knights shot 42% from the field, 17% from three point land, and 60% from the free throw line.

The Knights opened up the half with a layup, but Heidi Arciszewski followed up with a layup. About a minute later Arciszewski added another jumper in the lane to make the score 44-29, with the Blugolds' lead at 15. The Knights went on a 5-0 run with a three pointer and two free throws, but Michelle Burns had a three to make the Blugolds' lead 13 points. The teams then sloppy defense with six fouls together called against the Blugolds and Knights. Burns added another jumper, and Rachel Mueggenborg had another three to make the score 53-38 with 12:31 left in the game.

The teams then kept exchanging baskets and fouls till the 8:02 mark when Amanda Zenner scored off a layup and then added two free throws to make the lead 17 with 5:50 left to play. Heather Witt then added a three pointer. Kali Houselog (Sr.-Neenah, WI/St. Mary Central) came down the next trip with a jump shot, and Brittanni Hakanson added a layup to make the lead 22 with 3:36 left in the game. The Knights answered with a layup, but Heidi Arciszewski had two free throws, and Zenner added another basket to make the score 74-51 with 1:59 left to play. Jodi Lindner (So.-Neillsville) scored the last Blugold points off free throws to give the Blugolds the biggest lead of the night with 25 points. The final score would be 76-53 in favor of the Blugolds.

The Blugolds finished the game shooting 56% from the floor and 82% from the free throw line. The three pointer was huge tonight for the Blugolds. They made nine threes off of 16 attempts. The Knights shot 40% from the field, 22% from long range, and 73% from the line. The Blugolds outrebounded the Knights 29-15, with 10 offensive rebounds for the Blugolds. The Blugolds forced 19 turnovers, but had 23 turnovers themselves.

Amanda Zenner led the balanced Blugold attack with 14 points, five rebounds, and three assists. Heidi Arciszewski added 13 points, five rebounds, and three assists. Arciszewksi also went 5-6 from the free throw line. Rachel Mueggenborg had 12 points off four three pointers. Mueggenborg shot 4-8 from three point range. Michelle Burns chipped in 11 points, and Heather Witt finished with nine points, going 3-3 from long range. Carleton was led by Hannah Oken-Berg with 13 points and Annie Isler with 11 points.

Next up for the Blugold is the San Diego Surf N?Slam Tournament in San Diego, California. The tournament starts on December 27 and runs to December 29. The tournament field includes Pt. Loma Nazarene (CA), Car