EAU CLAIRE, Wis. - Controlling the majority of the game offensively, the sixth-ranked UW-Eau Claire women's basketball team won its sixth Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference game 55-51 against UW-River Falls today at Zorn Arena.

The win improves the Blugolds' record to 14-1 overall and 6-1 in conference play, while the Falcons drop to 9-6 overall and 3-4 in the WIAC. Eau Claire also remains unbeaten at Zorn Arena, where they've lost just four times in nearly four seasons of play.

Eau Claire managed to build a large lead early in the game, thanks in part to River Falls shooting just 19.4 percent from the field in the first half. The Blugolds created a double-digit lead at the 14:01 mark in the first on a layup by Heidi Arciszewski (Sr.-Thorp, Wis.). Eau Claire took a 14 point lead, its largest of the game after a Missy Fremstad (Sr.-Osseo, Wis./Osseo-Fairchild) gave the Blugolds a 19-5 lead with 10:20 to go in the first. River Falls would cut into Eau Claire's lead in the final minutes of the half, giving the Blugolds a 25-21 lead going into the locker room at halftime.

Coming out of halftime, the Blugolds managed to maintain their lead all but once for the rest of the game. The Falcons attempted a comeback, tying the game at 37 with 11:32 left to play in the second half, but a layup from Hannah Mesick (So.-Chatfield, Minn.) gave the Blugolds back the lead, one they would hang on to for the remainder of the game.

Eau Claire shot 34.4 percent from the field in the first half and 47.8 percent in the second half. Mesick led the way for the Blugolds, with game-high 16 points to go along with four rebounds. Arciszewski and Heather Witt (Sr.-Kendall, Wis./Royall) both had solid overall performances. Arciszewski dropped 14 points, a game-high nine rebounds and five assists, while Witt scored 15 points, four rebounds and a game-high five steals.

The Blugolds are on the road for the next two contests. On Wednesday, Eau Claire travels to UW-Stevens Point to take on the eighth-ranked and first place Pointers. Eau Claire played Stevens Point earlier this season in the annual Thanksgiving Showcase, handing the Pointers their only loss of the season, 60-54. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.

Eau Claire-River Falls Box Score

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