Box Score EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire women's basketball team was back at Zorn Arena on Sunday as the Blugolds hosted the #3 ranked Trine University Thunder in their third nonconference game of the year. In the first meeting all time between the two programs, UW-Eau Claire gained an early lead that held for almost the entirety of the game and resulted in a 72-66 victory.
Box Score
Bailey Reardon (Jr. – River Falls, WI) sent the teams into the first timeout with a three pointer in the first five minutes to post a 14-4 lead off an 8-0 run for UWEC. Reardon's bucket beyond the arch marked her 7th point in the opening five minutes of play. She would finish the first quarter with 11 points.
In the second quarter, both teams struggled to start as possessions were handed back and forth with turnovers and missed opportunities. The Blugolds totaled five of their eight turnovers in the second frame but kept the Thunder shooters at bay to maintain an eight-point lead going into halftime.
After the half, the home squad came out firing as they posted their most efficient shooting (53.8%) in the third quarter. Jessie Ruden (Jr. – Rochester, MN/John Marshall) took control from the point guard position as she posted ten of her 15 points in the third period of play to give EC a 51-41 heading into the final ten minutes of play.
The Thunder would come storming back in the 4th as they closed the double-digit deficit to a tie game at 63-63 with just 2:13 left in the contest. Tyra Boettcher (Sr. – Menomonie, WI) took matters into her own hands and rattled off the next eight points for Eau Claire to bring their lead back to a two-possession game and a lead of five with under a minute to go. Courtney Crouch (Jr. – White Bear Lake, MN) sealed the win for UW-Eau Claire with the team's final two free throw and a defensive rebound with seconds remaining to complete the upset.
Along with Reardon's fast start, she gathered nine rebounds (4 off., 5 def.) and a team high 17 points. Ruden and Ellie Clayton (Sr. – Lakeville, MN/Farmington) combined for seven assists in the UWEC win.
The Blugolds will travel for the first time of Tuesday, November 23rd when they continue their nonconference play against St. Norbert College. Tip off from Mulva Family Fitness & Sports Center in De Pere, WI is scheduled for 7PM.
Follow the Blugolds all season long at Blugold Game Day or on our app, UWEC Blugolds.
