Titans Cut Down Foresters In Overtime

UW-Oshkosh never trailed during overtime and held on for a 64-58 women's basketball triumph over Lake Forest College (Ill.) on Saturday (Nov. 16) in Stevens Point.

The Titans (2-0) made eight free throws in the extra period, including four by Katelyn Kuehl. She finished a perfect 9-for-9 at the stripe while recording 11 points and nine rebounds. UW-Oshkosh improved to 2-0 for the fourth consecutive season.

Kuehl knocked down two foul shots with 3:47 remaining to give UW-Oshkosh a 56-54 lead. Ashley Neustifter then nailed a jumper to put her team up by four. The Titans clinched the game on two free throws by Sarah Stecker with 1:06 left. Stecker totaled a game-high 16 points, in addition to collecting six rebounds.

Lake Forest College (0-2) had the edge early, using two hoops from Danielle Canulli to take a 6-0 lead.

The Titans stormed back with a 15-2 scoring run that started with Neustifter's three-pointer. Morgan Kokta then drained a triple to put UW-Oshkosh ahead, 11-10. Stecker added a lay-up midway through the half to make it 17-10.

UW-Oshkosh allowed just one score in the final 5:16 of the first half. Meanwhile the Titans tallied eight points, including three-pointers from Kokta and Maggie Novak. The scoreboard showed a 33-20 UW-Oshkosh lead at halftime.

The Foresters opened the second stanza with eight straight points, as Michelle Ricolcol buried a three-pointer to pull her team within 33-28. UW-Oshkosh stabilized the game with a three-point play by Kuehl and a jumper from Stecker.

With eight minutes to go, the Titans held a 43-37 lead. Lexi Leneau kept Lake Forest College around with back-to-back jumpers. The Foresters then went ahead, 48-45, on a deep jumper by Abby Wiedman with 3:05 on the clock.

Taylor Schmidt made five free throws in the last 34 seconds of regulation, but it was two foul shots by Wiedman with 0:05 left that forced overtime.

Neustifter contributed 10 points and seven rebounds for the Titans, while Kendell Truttman totaled five assists and Kokta four steals. UW-Oshkosh shot 33 percent (19-58) from the field, 21 percent (5-24) behind the arc and 68 percent (21-31) at the charity stripe.

Canulli and Sam Schuring, who also had five assists, each scored 12 points to lead Lake Forest College. Leneau added eight points and nine rebounds.

The Foresters made just 2-of-16 three-point shots (13 percent) while shooting 39 percent (24-62) from the field. They sank 8-of-11 free throws for a 73-percent rate.

UW-Oshkosh won the turnover category, 12-17, but the Foresters posted a +13 advantage in rebounds.

The Titans have their home opener against Northland International University on Monday (Nov. 18) in Kolf Sports Center.

By Jon Feyen