EAU CLAIRE - The UW-Eau Claire women's basketball team finished unbeaten at home during the regular season (11-0) with a convincing 64-41 victory over UW-Oshkosh tonight at Zorn Arena.

The Blugolds have won 15 straight games at Zorn Arena and will host a Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) quarterfinal game February 19th, due to a UW-River Falls loss today. The Blugolds can finish no worse than fourth in the WIAC. Eau Claire is tied for second with UW-Whitewater and still has chance, with two games remaining, to share the conference regular season title as UW-Stout lost today to UW-Stevens Point 74-71.

The win gives Eau Claire a 10-4 WIAC record and a 16-7 overall record. The Blugolds snap a seven-game losing streak to Oshkosh. The Titans fall to 4-10 in the conference and 8-13 overall. The Titans have lost five straight games and eight of their last nine.

The Blugolds would never trail in today's contest. Heather Witt (So.-Kendall, WI/Royall) began the game with a three-pointer and Amanda Zenner (Jr.-Medford, WI) followed that with a jumper as the Blugolds went up 5-0. The Titans kept the game within five points for the first 12 minutes of the first half, but the Blugolds would go on a 9-0 run and take a 24-13 lead with 4:28 remaining in the half.

The Titans cut the lead back down to four points with 1:29 remaining, but three free throws by Heidi Arciszewski (So.-Thorp, WI) made the score 31-24 Eau Claire at halftime.

Oshkosh shot 52% in the first half and the Blugolds shot just 44%. Eau Claire crashed the offensive boards and had six offensive rebounds in the half that led to five, second-chance points.

After Titans scored the opening basket of the second half, the Blugolds went on a 7-0 run to extend their lead back to 12 points. Michelle Burns (Jr.-Eau Claire, WI/North) had five of the seven points during the run. Oshkosh would be unable to get the margin below 10 the rest of the game.

The Blugolds quietly grew its lead the rest of the half, climbing it as high as 24 with 1:42 remaining after a pair of Brittanni Hakanson (So.-Wheeler, WI/Boyceville) free throws. The Blugolds ended up winning by a final score of 64-41.

The Titans were held to just 36% shooting in the second half to finish 44% for the game. Eau Claire shot 42% for the game, but out-rebounded Oshkosh 39-29, including 14-5 on the offensive glass. The Titans also committed 19 turnovers that led to 20 Blugold points.

Heidi Arciszewski scored 13 points to lead the Blugolds. Michelle Burns scored nine points in the second half for a total of 11 points. Ashley Anderson (So.-Oakdale, MN/North St. Paul) had another solid performance off of the bench with 10 points and six rebounds. Anderson has scored in double-figures in five of the last six games. Brittanni Hakanson led Eau Claire with eight rebounds. Whitney Tyriver led the Titans in scoring with 13 points.

The Blugolds will travel to Superior to face the Yellowjackets on Wednesday. The tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Eau Claire-Oshkosh Box Score

- JR -