SAN DIEGO, Calif. - The UW-Eau Claire women's basketball team suffered their second loss of the season, as they fell to Gustavus Adolphus College 60-65 at the San Diego Surf N? Slam tournament today.

The Blugolds started off the game slowly, scoring only two points in the first two and a half minutes while Gustavus scored five. Over the next five minutes, however, Eau Claire went on a 14-3 run to push their lead to eight, their largest lead of the game. The Blugolds were able to maintain the lead the rest of the half to go into halftime up 37-31. In the first half, the Blugolds went 14-for-31 (45.2%) from the field while the Gusties went 11-for-23 (47.8%).

In the second half, the Blugolds opened the scoring to increase their lead back to eight, but Gustavus then began to steadily chip away at that lead. The Gusties were able to take control of the game when they went on a 15-2 run, ending at 12:36. Gustavus would never look back and increased their lead to seven with just over five minutes remaining in the game. The Blugolds were able to close the gap to two with just over one minute remaining, but their comeback was stopped short.

Eau Claire ended the game shooting 40.7% from the field and 70.0% from the free throw line while Gustavus went 44.0% and 81.0%, respectively. The Blugolds tallied nine steals for the game, outrebounded Gustavus 34-33 and blocked two shots. Eau Claire also scored 21 points off turnovers compared to Gustavus' 13.

Three Blugolds ended the game in double-digit point totals. Heidi Arciszewski (Jr.-Thorp, Wis.) led the team in scoring with 14 points, while Amanda Zenner (Sr.-Medford, Wis.) and Michelle Burns (Sr.-Eau Claire, Wis./North) both chipped in 13. Zenner and Arciszewski led the team in rebounds, pulling down seven apiece. Heather Witt (Jr.-Kendall, Wis./Royal) led the game with five steals, tying her season high. Gustavus' Jess Vadnais led all scoring with 20 points.

The Gusties are now 4-1 on the season, while the Blugolds fall to 8-2. This was the first time Gustavus has ever defeated Eau Claire, in a series Eau Claire leads 3-1. The last time the two teams met, Eau Claire won 78-63 at Zorn Arena in 2001.

The Blugolds will play their second of three games at the San Diego Surf N? Slam tournament Friday at noon central time. Eau Claire will face the loser of the Ithaca (N.Y.) vs. Carroll College game which is being played at 2 p.m. central time Thursday.

Eau Claire-Gustavus Box Score

- KM -