Titans Bring Down Red Hawks With Precise Shooting

UW-Oshkosh shot 57 percent, including 5-for-5 by Brittany Mirsberger, during its 79-50 victory over the Ripon College women's basketball team on Wednesday (Nov. 20) in Ripon.

Mirsberger tallied a career-high 18 points in just 17 minutes. She made 7-of-8 free throws while also grabbing three rebounds and three steals.

The Titans improved to 4-0 for the third consecutive season. Katelyn Kuehl earned a double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds. Taylor Schmidt recorded 14 points, four rebounds and three assists, to go with 14 points from Sarah Stecker.

Playing for the fourth time in six days, UW-Oshkosh came out with great energy. Schmidt and Stecker hit back-to-back jump shots to take a 9-0 lead. The Titans didn't allow a point until 4:17 into the contest.

Kuehl made a perfect pass to Stecker, who finished a lay-up and the three-point play to go ahead, 12-4. Ripon's (0-3) Maddie Koster then sank a shot behind the arc to pull her team within five points.

Mirsberger showed her skills on both sides of the floor midway through the half. She blocked consecutive Red Hawk shots before running down to the offensive end. Mirsberger then lined up a triple in the corner and buried it to put the Titans up, 17-7.

UW-Oshkosh closed the first half with an 18-9 scoring run. Kuehl made three baskets, before Schmidt got her own rebound and put it back in while getting fouled. Maggie Novak swished a late three-pointer to make it 44-23 at the break.

The Titans held Ripon to one field goal in the opening seven minutes of the second half. Mirsberger made four straight foul shots to give her team a 60-28 lead – the largest of the night.

Jill VanEperen scored on two jumpers, two free throws and a lay-up during the final 6:28. She finished with 18 points and five rebounds to lead the Red Hawks.

Novak drained two late three-pointers to end up with nine points. UW-Oshkosh sank 4-of-9 attempts (44 percent) from downtown and 24-of-42 overall (57 percent). The Titans continued their success at the charity stripe, hitting 27-of-34 shots (79 percent).

Ripon totaled 33 percent accuracy (19-58) on the night, including 4-of-13 success (31 percent) beyond the arc. The Red Hawks made just 8-of-17 free throws (47 percent).

UW-Oshkosh owned the rebounding category, 39-27. The Titans have held their last seven opponents below 39 percent shooting from the field.

UW-Oshkosh welcomes Loras College (Iowa) to Kolf Sports Center on Saturday (Nov. 23).

By Jon Feyen