Titans Smother V-Hawks

The UW-Oshkosh women's basketball team produced its best defensive scoring effort in more than 10 years during a 79-32 victory over Viterbo University on Tuesday (Dec. 1) in La Crosse.

UW-Oshkosh (5-0) limited NAIA member Viterbo University to just 23.8 percent (10-42) from the field on the way to allowing its fewest points since an 88-23 victory over Concordia University Chicago on Nov. 22, 2005.

The Titans, ranked sixth in the NCAA Division III by D3hoops.com, shot a season-high 58.5 percent (31-53) from the floor and held advantages of 34-25 in rebounds, 24-11 in turnovers, 16-4 in assists and 7-3 in steals.

Eliza Campbell led UW-Oshkosh with a season-high 16 points and a career-best nine rebounds off the bench. She made 7 of 14 field goals and added two assists.

Twelve Titans entered the scoring column as UW-Oshkosh received 49 points from its reserves, including 12 by Chloe Pustina and six by Isabella Samuels.

The UW-Oshkosh starting lineup combined to shoot 73.6 percent (14-19) from the floor in limited action.

Marissa Selner made all three of her field goals and led UW-Oshkosh's starters with 10 points. Alex Richard registered eight points and seven rebounds, while Ashley Neustifter and Taylor Schmidt had six points apiece. Neustifter notched a game-high five assists and two steals.

UW-Oshkosh tallied the first six points of the contest and held Viterbo University scoreless for more than four minutes before Lauren Busse nailed a jumper with 5:45 to go in the first quarter.

The Titans closed the opening period with 14 unanswered points over the last 4:28 for a 22-4 lead. The V-Hawks committed two turnovers and missed all four field goal attempts to end the first stanza.

Viterbo University pulled within 24-10 in the first minute of the second quarter on two 3-pointers by Kiley Lorenz. A 3-pointer by Arissa Geiser later cut the V-Hawks' deficit to 30-15, but UW-Oshkosh held Viterbo University scoreless for nearly 11 minutes during a stretch that spanned the second and third quarters. The 19-0 run gave UW-Oshkosh a 49-15 lead with just under six minutes left in the third period.

The Titans went up, 37-15, on a three-point play by Campbell with four minutes to go in the first half, and a layup by Samuels gave UW-Oshkosh a 42-15 lead at intermission. A 3-pointer by Lorenz ended the V-Hawks' drought and created a 49-18 score with 5:34 left in the third quarter.

UW-Oshkosh started the fourth period with 10 unanswered points before Viterbo University (1-8) got its first basket of the quarter with 5:21 remaining. The Titans outscored the V-Hawks, 19-4, in the final quarter and established their largest lead of 47 points on Lauren Peterson's basket with 14 second left.

Lorenz led Viterbo University with nine points while Britney Hattamer collected seven rebounds for the V-Hawks.

After losing the first meeting, UW-Oshkosh has defeated Viterbo University six straight times, including a 90-44 decision last season in Oshkosh.

UW-Oshkosh hosts Mount Mary University on Friday (Dec. 4) in Kolf Sports Center.