RIPON, Wis. - The UW-Eau Claire women's basketball team hit the ground running in the 2008-09 season opener, picking up a 64-43 victory over Ripon College at the Ripon College Classic tonight.

The Blugolds, who are currently ranked 22nd in the USA Today/ESPN Top 25, shot 51.1 percent from the field for the game and 50 percent from three-point land to secure its first victory.

Ripon opened the game with a bucket at the 18:36 mark to take a 2-0 lead. That would be the last lead the Red Hawks would enjoy, as the Blugolds promptly eliminated the deficit and took a 35-15 lead into halftime. Despite committing 28 turnovers, the Blugolds were able to clamp down on Ripon and led by as many as 25 points midway through the second half.

In all, 13 Blugolds saw playing time, with three players registering double-digit point totals on the night. With a double-double of 16 points and 11 rebounds, senior Heidi Arciszewski (Thorp, Wis.) led Eau Claire's scoring output. Hannah Mesick (So.-Chatfield, Minn.) also scored 16 points to go along with six rebounds. Heather Witt (Sr.-Kendall, Wis./Royall) had a solid night overall, scoring 14 points, dishing out eight assists and making five of the team's 12 steals.

Erin Lind led Ripon with 11 points and four rebounds.

Next up for the Blugolds is Concordia University (Wis.) tomorrow afternoon. Concordia dropped its game to top-ranked UW-Whitewater in an earlier contest at the Ripon College Classic, 67-59. The game is slated to begin at 1 p.m. at Wyman Gymnasium.

Eau Claire-Ripon Box Score

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