MILWAUKEE (blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire women's basketball team fell to Wisconsin Lutheran College 62-52 on Saturday at Time of Grace Center. The Blugolds couldn't quite overcome a difficult shooting night, although they were never out of the contest altogether.
The Blugolds fell in an early hole and spent the rest of the game trying to dig out of it. They fell behind 14-5 by the end of the first quarter after shooting 12% from the floor in the opening period. The Warriors closed the first quarter on a 10-0 run.
UW-Eau Claire pushed back to make it a one-possession game on multiple occasions, but Wisconsin Lutheran had an answer each time.
Kyla Overskei (So. – Maple Grove, Minn.),
Olivia Pekron (Jr. – Forest Lake, Minn.) and
Kylie Mogen (Sr. – Menomonie, Wis.) teamed up to start the second quarter on a 7-0 spurt and cut the Warriors' lead to 14-12, but Wisconsin Lutheran immediately countered with an 8-0 run. The Warriors led the rest of the half.
The Blugolds slowly chipped away at the lead by holding Wisconsin Lutheran to six points in the third quarter. It slashed the Warriors' advantage to seven points entering the final period at 40-33.
Brianna Nelson (Sr. – Augusta, Wis./Eleva-Strum) and Pekron hit 3-pointers as part of an 8-3 run early in the final quarter to pull the Blugolds within three at 45-42 with eight minutes left. It set off another Wisconsin Lutheran run though, with the Warriors scoring seven of the next eight points to pull away. UW-Eau Claire didn't get any closer than within two possessions of the lead the rest of the way.
Overskei and Pekron shared the team lead with 14 points apiece. Pekron recorded the first double-double of her career by also grabbing 12 rebounds. Mogen also notched a double-double – the fourth of her career – with 12 points and 14 rebounds.
Kylie Strop (Jr. – River Falls, Wis.) and Nelson added five points each.
UW-Eau Claire out-rebounded Wisconsin Lutheran 48-35.
The Blugolds will return to the court on Wednesday, December 13, at UW-Superior. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. in Superior.
