Titans Take Down Knights For Season-Opening Victory

UW-Oshkosh made 23 free throws and grabbed 19 offensive rebounds during a 70-48 win over the Martin Luther College (Minn.) women's basketball team on Friday (Nov. 15) in Stevens Point.

The Titans (1-0), who won their season opener for the 31st time in 40 years, had four players score in double figures. UW-Oshkosh was led by 17 points and seven rebounds from Sarah Stecker and 14 points and 12 rebounds by Katelyn Kuehl.

Martin Luther College (0-1) got off to a fast start with Alex Anthon's lay-up and Hannah Hackbarth's three-pointer. Four minutes into the contest, Rebecca Engelbrecht knocked down a jumper to give the Knights a 7-2 lead.

UW-Oshkosh got its first four baskets inside, using three lay-ups by Stecker to tie the score at 8. Taylor Schmidt then sank five free throws to give the Titans a 13-8 lead. UW-Oshkosh's scoring run ended when Kuehl made a lay-in to give her team a 20-9 advantage with 6:55 on the clock.

Engelbrecht kept the Knights close with three hoops late in the half. Brittany Mirsberger finished in the paint just before intermission to give the Titans a 31-23 cushion.

Martin Luther College pulled within 39-32 on a basket by Anthon, but the Knights would get no closer. UW-Oshkosh increased its margin on back-to-back jumpers from Ashley Neustifter with 11 minutes to play.

After Engelbrecht converted two jumpers and two free throws, the Titans went on a game-clinching 22-6 run. Alicia Tollefson started the streak with a three-pointer. Neustifter added a lay-in and a jumper to put UW-Oshkosh ahead, 58-43.

UW-Oshkosh made 10 foul shots in the final 3:16. The Titans finished 23-of-31 at the line for 74 percent accuracy. UW-Oshkosh tallied 39 percent (23-59) success from the field, including 1-of-9 from three-point range (11 percent).

Schmidt earned all 10 of her points on free throws. Neustifter tacked on 14 points and five rebounds, while Stecker led the Titans with four assists.

The Knights received 15 points and seven rebounds from Engelbrecht, along with 12 points by Hackbarth. Anthon contributed eight points for Martin Luther College, which shot 33 percent (17-51) from the field, 23 percent (3-13) from long range and 61 percent (11-18) at the foul line.

Both teams committed 18 turnovers, but the Titans held a 46-33 advantage in rebounds.

UW-Oshkosh takes on Lake Forest College (Ill.) on Saturday (Nov. 16) in Stevens Point.

By Jon Feyen

Photo by Larry Radloff, D3photography.com