Titans’ Balanced Attack Too Much For Duhawks

UW-Oshkosh attempted 42 free throws while improving to 5-0 with a 76-67 triumph over the Loras College (Iowa) women's basketball team on Saturday (Nov. 23) in Kolf Sports Center.

The Titans went ahead early and led for the final 36 minutes. UW-Oshkosh had six different players score at least nine points, including Katelyn Kuehl who had 11 and Ashley Neustifter and Taylor Schmidt who tallied 10 each.

Loras College, which handed UW-Oshkosh its first defeat in the fifth game of last season, took a 6-4 lead on Lauren Byrne's three-pointer. Kuehl responded with a lay-up on the next possession to tie the score at six.

Schmidt made a long pass down the court to Kuehl, who finished at the hoop to put UW-Oshkosh ahead. That basket started a 12-0 scoring run for the Titans. Maggie Novak's three-pointer ended a streak and gave UW-Oshkosh an 18-6 advantage.

With 8:03 left in the half, Marissa Selner sank a pair of free throws for a 26-15 advantage.

The Duhawks (2-2) chipped away at their deficit, as Byrne hit a lay-up and Hailey Varner splashed a triple. Katie Langmeier connected on two foul shots to pull her team within 31-24 at the 4:35 mark.

Novak and Kendell Truttman knocked down consecutive three-pointers before halftime to give UW-Oshkosh a 42-30 lead.

The Titans held a double-digit cushion for the majority of the second half. Sarah Stecker counted a lay-in and trio of free throws to put UW-Oshkosh up, 51-36. Novak and Alicia Tollefson then followed with back-to-back triples to make it 63-45 with 11:05 to play.

The teams combined to shoot 45 free throws during the final 20 minutes. Victoria May scored eight straight Loras points to claw within 68-59. The Duhawks made it a 73-67 score with 1:30 left, but that was the best they could do.

UW-Oshkosh hit over 44 percent behind the arc for the third straight game. The Titans made 7-of-12 attempts (58 percent) from long range on their way to 45 percent (22-49) overall shooting. UW-Oshkosh converted 25 of its 42 free throws (60 percent).

Kuehl topped all players with eight rebounds, while Neustifter dished out five assists. UW-Oshkosh won both the rebounding battle, 33-32, and the turnover category, 11-17.

Loras College was led by May's 22 points and five rebounds. Langmeier added 13 points and six boards for the Duhawks, who shot 45 percent (22-49) from the field, 33 percent (3-9) from long range and 80 percent (20-25) at the charity stripe.

The Titans host Lakeland College on Tuesday (Nov. 26) in Kolf Sports Center.

By Jon Feyen