EAU CLAIRE, Wis. — Highlighted by
Brooklynn Birt scoring 12 straight UW-Eau Claire points in the third quarter, the Blugolds defeated Simpson College 68-47 on Saturday, kicking of their annual Tip Off Tournament at the Sonnentag. The Blugolds forced 21 turnovers, finished with 14 steals and held a 25-12 advantage in points off turnovers. They also outscored Simpson 40-20 in the paint and limited Simpson to five points in the fourth quarter as head coach Hannah Iverson earned her first win at the helm of the Blugold women's basketball.
Addy Verhagen scored the Blugolds' first five points, hitting a 3-pointer off a
Brooklynn Birt assist and a jumper off an assist from
Karsyn Bauman, and Bauman added a layup and free throw at 7:22 to make it 8-2. Simpson worked back through a Karsen Jacks 3-pointer and an Ella Anderson layup, cutting the score to 8-7, before
Mia Banks scored inside and Taylor Hansen answered with a 3-pointer to tie it 10-10 at 2:29. Banks made another layup, Verhagen stole the ball and assisted Banks on a fast-break layup, and Bauman followed her own steal with a transition layup as the Blugolds moved ahead 16-10. Simpson closed within 16-15 on Anderson's inside score, a free throw and Macy Price's layup, but
Kailey Tulachka made a free throw with seven seconds left to leave the Blugolds ahead 17-15 after the first quarter.
Mary Berg's 3-pointer at 8:45 gave the Blugolds a 20-15 lead, and
Brooklynn Birt later scored in the paint to make it 22-15. Simpson answered through Doryn Paup and Morgan Christian, cutting the margin to 22-19 before
Emma Hanson's steal set up a
Macie Miller fast-break layup and Hanson later assisted Banks on a 3-pointer for a 27-19 score. Simpson worked from the free-throw line in the closing minutes, with Karsen Jacks, Macy Price and Ella Anderson helping trim the deficit to 30-26. Verhagen and Bauman added late baskets for the Blugolds, and Brenna Johnson's layup with 31 seconds left closed the second quarter with the Blugolds ahead 32-28 at halftime.
In the second half,
Brooklynn Birt scored inside off
Addy Verhagen's assist at 8:57, and Bauman hit a 3-pointer off an assist from
Emma Hanson to put the Blugolds ahead 37-28 at 7:30. After Macy Price made two free throws for Simpson,
Abby Tassoul scored on an offensive rebound and Birt added a layup off an assist from Tassoul at 5:45 for a 41-30 score. Simpson got a free throw from Doryn Paup and a layup from Karsen Jacks, but Birt continued to supply the Blugolds' offense with consecutive inside baskets that moved the score to 47-34. Simpson added points at the line through the closing stretch, while Birt scored twice more in the final 1:03 before Ava Levings' layup at 0:00 left the Blugolds ahead 52-42 entering the fourth quarter.
Brooklynn Birt made a steal at 9:33, and Tulachka followed with a 3-pointer off
Addy Verhagen's assist to put the Blugolds ahead 55-42. Birt added a block and defensive rebound during a scoreless stretch for Simpson, and
Mary Berg hit 3-pointers at 6:59 and 5:30 as the Blugolds pushed the score to 61-43. Birt converted an offensive rebound into a layup, Simpson answered inside, and Miller hit another 3-pointer at 4:03 before Verhagen's jumper made it 68-46. Simpson added one late free throw, and the Blugolds closed out a 68-47 win.
Brooklynn Birt scored 20 points on 9-of-12 shooting and added six rebounds, three steals and a block. Verhagen finished with nine points, six assists and two steals. Bauman added 10 points, four rebounds and three steals. Hanson recorded four steals and four assists.
The Blugolds start their season 1-0 overallm while Simpson begins 0-1 overall.
UW-Eau Claire will continue the Tip Off Tournament on Sunday, November 8 when they host Carroll University at 1 p.m. at the Sonnentag Event Center.
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