EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (blugolds.com) — The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire women's basketball team fell in its final game at historic Zorn Arena on Wednesday, dropping a Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) clash to UW-Stevens Point 60-52. The Blugolds battled in the finale at their longtime home, but couldn't knock off the Pointers.
Save for a few moments early in the first quarter, the Pointers (15-9, 4-9) led for most of the first half. The Blugolds (10-14, 4-9) rallied in the third quarter, closing the gap and taking a lead with 16 minutes left in regulation. UW-Stevens Point was able to respond though, pulling ahead late in the third period before holding on in the fourth.
The game was the women's basketball team's final contest at legendary Zorn Arena. The longtime home of the Blugolds will be retired after this season as the basketball programs move to the state-of-the-art Sonnentag Event Center next season. The Blugold women fielded several WIAC championship teams at Zorn and brought the NCAA Tournament back to the arena in 2022, winning a tournament game on Ken Anderson Court that year. The Blugolds hosted several national tournament games at Zorn over the years.
"It's bittersweet," Blugolds head coach
Tonja Englund said. "We're super excited to get into Sonnentag and what that's going to do for our program, but obviously tonight we're reflecting. I heard from so many alumni today that texted me memories of playing in this building, and a lot of our fans that were here tonight are people I've seen for 24 straight years that have come through thick and thin. Obviously we wanted to send Zorn out with a win...for our seniors, especially, we wanted to get a win for them, but I know they have great memories in this building."
Kylie Mogen (Sr. - Menomonie, Wis.) had a double-double for UW-Eau Claire in Wednesday's defeat, tallying 10 points and 11 rebounds while also making a career-high six blocks.
Kylie Strop (Sr. - River Falls, Wis.) had a team-high 11 points and six assists.
UW-Stevens Point used an 11-2 run midway through the opening quarter to build an early lead, and held that advantage through the rest of the first half. The Pointers led 20-15 at the end of the first quarter and 32-28 at halftime. UW-Eau Claire opened the second half with a 7-0 run to go ahead 35-32 with 6:30 left in the third. However, UW-Stevens Point outscored the Blugolds 7-0 across the next three minutes to take the lead for good.
UW-Eau Claire was able to pull within two points of the lead late in the third quarter, but that was as close as they would get.
Brianna Nelson (Sr. - Augusta, Wis./Eleva-Strum) and
Evelyn Walker (Jr. - Madison, Wis./La Follette) had eight points apiece. Walker also had seven rebounds. Both teams shot 36% from the field.
The Blugolds honored their three seniors — Mogen, Nelson and Strop — with a post-game ceremony thanking them for their dedication to the program.
"We were striving for a win tonight, but despite getting the loss I think that there's so much that we bring to this team," Mogen said. "I think something very unique about us three seniors is that we're all transfers. We've all transferred into this program at different kind of points in our life to kind of find a fit that felt like home. I know talking to the other two that this has always been the place that's felt like home to us."
Despite the loss, UW-Eau Claire is still in contention for a spot in the WIAC Tournament. The Blugolds, Pointers and UW-La Crosse are all tied for sixth place in the WIAC standings, with the top six teams qualifying for the tournament. The No. 6 seed will be determined on Saturday, February 17, when UW-Eau Claire travels to visit UW-La Crosse for a 3 p.m. tip-off. The Blugolds can clinch a spot in the WIAC Tournament with a victory over the Eagles and a UW-Stevens Point loss to UW-Oshkosh on Saturday. If the Pointers defeat UW-Oshkosh, they will clinch the No. 6 seed regardless of the result of the Blugolds-Eagles game. If the Titans beat the Pointers, the winner of the Eau Claire-La Crosse game gets into the tournament.
