Eagles Take Contest From Titans

Rachael Salata scored six points in the final 99 seconds as UW-La Crosse earned a 63-54 triumph over the UW-Oshkosh women's basketball team on Saturday (Jan. 7) in Kolf Sports Center.

UW-La Crosse (11-3/4-1 WIAC) outscored UW-Oshkosh (6-8/0-5 WIAC) by a 14-4 margin to end the game. Down 50-49, Kassie Robinson sank two free throws to give the Eagles the lead. Salata then drilled a three-point shot to give UW-La Crosse a 54-50 advantage. The Eagles sealed their win by making 9-of-10 free throws. The Titans had four turnovers and three missed field goal attempts in the Eagles' game-ending scoring run.

Robinson totaled 16 points, seven rebounds and four assists for UW-La Crosse. The Eagles also received 12 points, 13 rebounds and five steals from Katie Ehlen, 12 points and five rebounds from Salata and 10 points and three steals from Briana Radowicz.

UW-Oshkosh got an impressive performance from Megan Wenig (Jr. • Oshkosh), who scored 19 points, grabbed five rebounds and dished off five assists. Wenig had the shot of the game as she banked in a first-half underarm shot from 35-feet out with one second left on the shot clock. The three-point basket was one of four made by Wenig in the contest.

The Titans also acquired eight points and 12 rebounds from Kelsey Myklebust (Sr. • Wisconsin Dells), eight points from Katie Kitzke (So. • South Milwaukee) and five points and one assist from Nichole Paisar (Fr. • Leopolis).

The two squads were separated by five points or less for the first 38 minutes of play. Following ties at 6, 11 and 13, the Titans mounted an 8-2 scoring run to pull ahead. Wenig finished off a three-point play and Kitzke made two free throws to give UW-Oshkosh a 21-16 lead. The Titans went to intermission with a 28-27 advantage.

UW-La Crosse went up early in the second half and fought off numerous UW-Oshkosh advances. Robinson and Mallory Cramer each made a basket to give the visitors a 35-30 lead. UW-Oshkosh answered with eight of the next 10 points, using two Melissa Franken (So. • St. Francis) foul shots to take a 38-37 lead with 10:28 left.

For a span of six minutes, the Titans missed all six of their shots while making four free throws. UW-Oshkosh's defense held UW-La Crosse scoreless during that span as the Titans tied the score at 47 with 3:18 remaining. Wenig then drained her fourth three-point shot to give UW-Oshkosh its final lead at 50-49.

UW-Oshkosh shot 37 percent (17-46) from the field and 77.8 (14-18) from the free-throw line. The Titans made 6-of-15 (40 percent) three-point shots while grabbing 36 rebounds and committing 24 turnovers.

UW-La Crosse shot 37.3 percent (22-59) from the field, 12.5 (2-16) behind the three-point arc and 63 (17-27) from the free-throw stripe. The Eagles collected 38 rebounds, including 17 on the offensive end, and committed 11 turnovers.

UW-Oshkosh has its third straight home game when it battles UW-Eau Claire on Wednesday (Jan. 11) in Kolf Sports Center.