RIPON, Wis. - Down 27-23 at halftime, the UW-Eau Claire women's basketball team scored 46 points in the second half, while allowing Concordia University (Wis.) only 20 to defeat the Falcons 69-47 at the Ripon College Tip-off Tournament at Wyman Gymnasium today.

The win improves the Blugolds' record to 2-0 on the season while Concordia drops to 0-2. Last night the Blugolds kicked off their 2008-09 campaign with a 64-43 win over Ripon College.

The game was back and forth in the first half as neither team led by more than six points anytime before the end of the half. The lead changed three times in the first and was also tied three times but Concordia found itself on top at the half by four points.

The second half did not start much better for Eau Claire as Concordia got up by 10 less than three minutes in. However, the Blugolds went on a 9-0 to cut the Falcons' lead to one and then two minutes later went on a 20-1 run that lasted more than four minutes to make the score 56-41. With only five minutes remaining, Eau Claire allowed Concordia only six more points while the Blugolds put up 13 more, making the final 69-47.

For the game Eau Claire shot 58 percent from the field, going 18-for-27 (66.7 percent) in the second half alone. The Blugolds also ended the game 7-for-9 on free throws (77.8 percent), including a 7-for-7 performance in the second half. Concordia only shot 26.9 percent from the field (7-for-26) in the second half and ended the game shooting 31.4 percent overall.

Heidi Arciszewski (Sr.-Thorp, Wis.) had a game-high 26 points and earned All-Tournament Team honors, while Hannah Mesick (So.-Chatfield, Minn.) put up 18 for the Blugolds. Missy Fremstad (Sr.-Osseo, Wis./Osseo-Fairchild) and Jodi Lindner (Jr.-Neillsville, Wis.) each pulled down seven rebounds, while Mesick added six. Arciszewski also had a game-high four assists and added five rebounds.

For Concordia, Pearl Wallace led the team with 13 points and Krista Mayyou scored 11. Jenna Ferron grabbed seven rebounds.

Eau Claire will be back on the court for its home opener this Tuesday when St. Norbert comes to town. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. Next Friday and Saturday Eau Claire will host their annual Thanksgiving Showcase.

Eau Claire-Concordia Box Score

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