LA CROSSE, Wis. (blugolds.com) — The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire women's basketball team concluded its 2023-24 season with an 87-68 loss at UW-La Crosse on Saturday afternoon. After recovering from an early deficit, the Blugolds couldn't rally a second time when the Eagles pulled away in the third quarter.
The Blugolds finished the season with a 10-15 record and a 4-10 mark in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC). UW-Eau Claire finished tied for seventh place in the WIAC standings, just short of a berth in the WIAC Tournament.
The Eagles (12-13, 5-9) clinched the final spot in the conference tournament with their victory. They got out to a hot start, scoring 30 points in the opening quarter to build a 15-point lead. The Blugolds pushed back in the second quarter, but another scoring surge in the third gave UW-La Crosse the final momentum swing.
UW-Eau Claire led 10-9 after the first three minutes of the game, but the Eagles outscored them 21-5 the rest of the first period. The big run came in the final three minutes of the quarter, where the Eagles embarked on a 9-0 spurt to close the period. They led 30-15 entering the second quarter.
The Blugolds managed to whittle the deficit down to four points late in the second quarter. They used a 13-4 run at one point, capped by a 3-pointer from
Lucia Hauge (Jr. - Hugo, Minn./St. Croix Lutheran Academy), to pull within 38-34 with under a minute left in the half. The Eagles carried a 41-34 lead into halftime.
The Blugolds cut the lead down to three points early in the third quarter, but never got any closer. After the deficit was three, the Eagles outscored the Blugolds 26-11 the rest of the quarter. They led 67-49 entering the final quarter and it was enough of a cushion to see out the victory.
Kylie Strop (Jr. - River Falls, Wis.) led UW-Eau Claire with 20 points, seven rebounds, five assists and three steals.
Brianna Nelson (Sr. - Augusta, Wis./Eleva-Strum) and
Kyla Overskei (So. - Maple Grove, Minn.) scored 11 points apiece, and Hauge finished with nine.
Kylie Mogen (Sr. - Menomonie, Wis.) and
Evelyn Walker (Jr. - Madison, Wis./La Follette) had six points each, and
Lauren Meudt (So. - Waunakee, Wis.) scored five. Walker also had eight rebounds.
UW-Eau Claire will use the offseason to prepare to make its debut in the state-of-the-art Sonnentag Event Center next season. The Blugolds will move on from their longtime home in Zorn Arena to the new arena ahead of the 2024-25 campaign.
