TACOMA, Wash. (Blugolds.com) - Despite a strong finish in the first half, the Blugolds were unable to capitalize on the momentum in the second half and ended up falling 49-36 to the University of Puget Sound (Wash.) at Memorial Fieldhouse tonight.

Eau Claire (3-9) got down by nine points early in the contest but used a 13-3 run to take the lead with just over seven minutes to play in the half. Over the final nine minutes of the half, the Blugolds allowed just two points to go into the locker room down by just one (18-17).

Puget Sound (8-1) started the second half strong and held the Blugolds scoreless for more than five minutes to build up a 10-point lead. The Blugolds were never able to get back in the game as they cut the Loggers' lead back to single digits just five times the rest of the way. Puget Sound had its largest lead of the game with five minutes left, up by 15.

The Blugolds were once again plagued by turnovers, committing 25 to Puget Sound's nine. The Loggers scored 20 points off the turnovers.

Eau Claire led the game in shooting and rebounding as it went 14-for-42 (33.3 percent) from the floor while Puget Sound was 19-for-62 (30.6 percent). The Blugolds had 38 rebounds to Puget Sound's 33.

Ellen Plendl (So.-Chippewa Falls, Wis./McDonell) led Eau Claire with 10 points while Hannah Mesick (Jr.-Chatfield, Minn.) picked up 13 rebounds to lead the game.

The Blugolds will be back in action tomorrow night when they face Pacific Lutheran in Tacoma. Action will get underway at 6 p.m. Pacific (8 p.m. Central).