Titans 11-0 After Balanced Victory Over Sabres

UW-Oshkosh won its 15th straight regular-season home game with a 65-44 women's basketball victory over Marian University on Wednesday (Dec. 18) in Kolf Sports Center. The Titans (11-0) are ranked 21st in the NCAA Division III by D3hoops.com.

All 12 Titans played between 8-21 minutes in the contest, with each making a contribution. Alex Richard grabbed 10 rebounds and Marissa Selner six for a career high. UW-Oshkosh totaled a 44-21 rebounding edge that included 16 offensive boards.

Katelyn Kuehl paced the Titans with 14 points, while Maggie Novak and Sarah Stecker both tallied 11. Ashley Neustifter counted five assists. Morgan Kokta and Alicia Tollefson each grabbed three steals.

Marian University (3-6) held an early lead after making 5-of-7 shots to start the game. Sarah Olewinski made a lay-up to tie the score at 12. The Sabres then missed nine of their next 10 shots.

UW-Oshkosh took the lead and pulled away with a 15-2 run in which seven different players scored. Novak swished a three-pointer to start the streak, while Stecker sank three free throws. Alissa Schuh knocked down a pair of throws at the foul line to give the Titans a 27-14 lead with 5:41 left in the half.

Ahead 37-26 at intermission, UW-Oshkosh scored eight straight points to begin the second stanza. Kuehl had two buckets during the streak, including a strong drive to the hoop that made it 43-26.

With 12:16 remaining, Novak banked in a short shot to give her team a 51-31 lead. It was Novak's first points of the season inside the arc, as she scored her previous 66 from three-point range. Novak ranks among the national leaders with a .561 three-point shooting percentage.

The closest Marian University would get was a 58-41 score with 4:42 remaining.

The Sabres entered the contest making 8.5 three-pointers per game, ranking 10th in the NCAA Division III. UW-Oshkosh's tight defense held them to 3-for-13 accuracy (23 percent).

Marian University shot 33 percent (16-48) from the field overall and 82 percent at the foul line (9-11). The Sabres committed 16 turnovers.

The Sabres' Sarah Albert paced all players with 15 points. Marian University also received eight points from Amelia Mirsberger, four rebounds from Olewinski and four steals by Dani Huray.

The Titans finished with rates of 40 percent (20-50) from the field, 23 (3-13) from long range and 79 (22-28) on free throws.

UW-Oshkosh is off until a Dec. 29 contest against Simpson College (Iowa) in Wisconsin Dells.

By Jon Feyen