Titans Battle 25th-Ranked Blugolds To The Final Minute

Callie Halama's 11 rebounds and Ellen Plendl's seven blocks helped UW-Eau Claire come away with a 52-47 women's basketball win over UW-Oshkosh on Wednesday (Jan. 11) in Kolf Sports Center. The Blugolds (13-3/6-1 WIAC) entered the night ranked 25th in the NCAA Division III by D3hoops.com.

The frontcourt duo impacted the outcome, as Halama scored a game-high 17 points and Plendl marked 10 points and nine rebounds. UW-Eau Claire posted a 43-32 edge in boards for the contest.

Plendl and Halama converted five straight free throws, following two offensive rebounds, to go ahead 50-37 with 4:39 remaining. The Titans (6-9/0-6 WIAC) then rallied with 10 unanswered points to make it a three-point margin. Kelsey Myklebust (Sr. • Wisconsin Dells) counted three foul shots to pull within 50-47 with 31 seconds left.

Nicole Christianson iced the victory with two shots at the charity stripe. Christianson totaled nine points and six rebounds for the Blugolds, who made 14-of-19 free throws (74 percent). UW-Eau Claire added 35 percent (18-52) overall shooting, including 33 percent from long range (2-6).

Both teams struggled to score early on, with just five total points in five minutes. UW-Oshkosh made 1-of-10 field goals before Katie Kitzke (So. • South Milwaukee) converted inside to pull within one (6-5). The Titans later tied the score at 10 on a lay-in by Shelby Serafin (Fr. • Amherst) at the eight-minute mark.

Down 17-14, the Blugolds went on a 25-8 scoring run over the next 12 minutes. Halama registered the last seven UW-Eau Claire points before halftime to gain a 24-23 lead. At the buzzer, Megan Wenig (Jr. • Oshkosh) nailed a half-court shot to close the period with a bang.

The visitors continued to roll, posting a 15-2 advantage to open the second half. Courtney Lewis finished a three-point play and Christianson buried a triple to make it 35-23. The Titans hit their first shot of the period after 6:42 had elapsed.

Kitzke sank a lay-up with the foul to obtain a 41-31 deficit at the 11:32 mark. Consecutive jumpers by Alicia Tollefson (Fr. • Crystal Falls, Mich.) and Ashley Winterfeldt (Jr. • Hortonville) then made it 45-37 before UW-Eau Claire extended its cushion.

The Titans compiled 31 percent (16-51) shooting, including 42 percent (5-12) behind the arc, and 10-of-16 accuracy (63 percent) at the foul line. Kitzke topped the squad with 12 points, as Myklebust gained 10 points, eight rebounds and three steals.

UW-Oshkosh plays seven of its next eight games on the road, beginning at UW-Stout on Saturday (Jan. 14).