INDIANOLA, Iowa - Despite a 16-0 run late in the second half, the UW-Eau Claire women's basketball team came up short, falling 70-63 to Simpson College (Iowa) in the second round of the 2008 NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Championships here tonight.

After the Simpson College Storm got up on the Blugolds by 23 points, their largest lead of the game, Eau Claire closed to within seven following the 16-0 run that lasted from 7:08 to 1:05 in the second period. The Blugolds then proceeded to score four more, while the Storm scored two to close the lead to five with 34 seconds remaining in the contest. The Storm would hold on though to take the seven point victory and advance to the NCAA Division III Sweet 16.

The Storm controlled the game tonight, with the Blugolds only tying the score up once early in the first. Simpson led the rest of the game, including completing a 20-4 run with just under eight minutes remaining that proved to be too much for Eau Claire to overcome.

Simpson shot 40.3 percent from the field tonight, while the Blugolds shot 34.3 percent. Eau Claire and the Storm were almost evenly matched in rebounding and steals, with Simpson holding a slight edge. Simpson pulled down 44 rebounds to Eau Claire's 43, and nine steals to the Blugolds' seven. Eau Claire did manage to grab two more offensive boards, with 11 to Simpson's nine.

Heidi Arciszewski (Jr.-Thorp, Wis.) had 10 points for the Blugolds tonight, the third highest on the team, but in doing so reached the 1,000-point milestone for her career. She is now one of only 14 Blugolds to have achieved the milestone. She now has 1,003 career points.

Rachel Mueggenborg (Sr.-West Salem, Wis.) led the game in scoring tonight with 17 points. She also added six rebounds and led the game with three steals. Hannah Mesick (Fr.-Chatfield, Minn.) was second on the team with 11 points and was tied with Amanda Zenner (Sr.-Medford, Wis.) and Heather Witt (Jr.-Kendall, Wis./Royall) for first on the team with seven rebounds. Michelle Burns (Sr.-Eau Claire, Wis./North) tied for first on the team with three assists and contributed five points.

The Blugolds end their season with a 23-7 overall record. This season's trip to the NCAA Championships was the first since 2003. Four Blugolds ended their careers tonight including Burns, Zenner, Mueggenborg and Kali Houselog (Sr.-Neenah, Wis./St. Mary's Central).

Eau Claire-Simpson Box Score

- KM -