Box Score EAU CLAIRE, Wis. - The UW-Eau Claire women's basketball team defeated UW-River Falls tonight in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Quarterfinal by a score of 73-43, and advance to the WIAC Semifinals against fourth seeded UW-Stout on Thursday.
River Falls got on the board first with a three pointer, but it would be their last of the game. The Blugolds used an 18-0 run in the first half to take control of the game. During that time the Blugolds got back-to-back three pointers from Heather Witt (Jr.-Kendall, WI/Royall) to make the score 14-5. Rachel Mueggenborg (Sr.-West Salem, WI) then started her night with a three pointer with 13:39 left in the first half, and the score would be 18-5. The Blugolds would close the 18-0 run with another Mueggenborg three pointer and a Heidi Arciszewski (Jr.-Thorp, WI) layup at the 11:19 mark. The Blugolds then went on a scoring drought and didn't score again until Arciszewski got a jumper with 6:08 left in the half. The Falcons would get the deficit to eight, but Mueggenborg added two three pointers to close the half with a 12 point Blugold lead, 31-19.
The Falcons started the half with a Kelli Hilt layup to cut the Blugold lead to 10, but the Blugolds answered with an Arciszewski jumper and Witt layup. Mueggenborg would get her fifth three pointer of the night at the 14:21 mark. Mueggenborg had her sixth three to get the Blugold lead to 19 points. The Blugold lead reached double digits with a Witt free throw. Mueggenborg tied her own record of seven threes with 9:11 left to play. The Blugolds then got five straight points from Kali Houselog (Sr.-Neenah, WI/St. Mary Central), and Mueggenborg broke her own record of seven threes with her eighth of the night and made the score 64-35. Mueggenborg wasn't done and had her ninth three pointer of the night with 4:29 left to play. The Blugolds got every player in the game tonight and they closed the game with a 73-43 victory.
Eau Claire shot 43 percent from the floor, 55 percent from three point range, and 73 percent from the free throw line. River Falls shot 34 percent from the floor, 7 percent from three point distance, and 67 percent from the line. Eau Claire outrebounded River Falls, 38-30 and had 14 offensive rebounds. River Falls was 1-14 from long distance compared to the last time these teams played when they were 12-22. The Blugolds were 11-20 from three point land.
Mueggenborg led all scorers with 29 points, which ties her career high. She was 9-11 from the three point distance and also had two free throws. Arciszewski added 12 points, six rebounds, two assists and two steals. Witt had 10 points, three assists, and two steals. Amanda Zenner (Sr.-Medford, WI) was top rebounder with nine boards. Caitlin Hunstock led the Falcons with nine points.
Next up is UW-Stout in the WIAC Semifinals at Zorn Arena on Thursday night with tip-off set for 7 p.m.
Eau Claire-River Falls Box Score
