Titans Get Defensive In WIAC Postseason Win Over Pointers
UW-Oshkosh produced a record-setting defensive performance as the Titans defeated UW-Stevens Point, 38-21, in a matchup of nationally ranked teams during the semifinal round of the WIAC Women's Basketball Championship on Thursday (Feb. 25) in Kolf Sports Center.
UW-Oshkosh (21-5), the two-time defending league tournament champion, clinched a berth into the WIAC Championship finals for the third consecutive season and ninth time overall. The Titans entered Thursday's contest ranked 15th in the NCAA Division III by D3hoops.com and UW-Stevens Point 17th.
Second-seeded UW-Oshkosh will play top-seeded UW-River Falls (22-4) at 3 p.m. on Saturday (Feb. 27) in River Falls for the WIAC's automatic berth into the 64-team NCAA Division III Championship that begins next week. The Falcons reached the final with a 53-47 home decision over fifth-seeded UW-Eau Claire (14-13) on Thursday.
In Thursday's win, UW-Oshkosh established a new WIAC Championship record for fewest points allowed, eclipsing the previous low set during UW-Eau Claire's 92-23 victory over UW-Superior in the 2000 quarterfinals. The 21 points were the second fewest allowed by the Titans in program history. UW-Oshkosh set the school record for points allowed earlier this season with a 67-19 win over Mount Mary University on Dec. 4.
UW-Stevens Point (20-7) was held to a .184 (9-49) field goal percentage. The Pointers did not record a single assist and missed all 11 of their attempts from 3-point range.
UW-Oshkosh, which swept all three games against the Pointers this season, ended the game shooting a season-low 26.4 percent (14-53) from the field, but the Titans held advantages in rebounds (42-38), assists (11-0), turnovers (15-13) and steals (7-3). UW-Stevens Point entered the contest leading the conference in rebounding margin (+7.8).
Titans Alex Richard and Marissa Selner led all players with eight points apiece. Selner snared a team-leading eight rebounds, while Ashley Neustifter contributed six points, four boards, four steals and three assists.
UW-Oshkosh, which never trailed, scored the first eight points of the game before the Pointers snapped a string of six straight missed field goals to cut their deficit to 8-2 at the 4:44 mark of the first period.
Richard hit a jumper at the first-quarter buzzer to provide the Titans with a 14-4 advantage. UW-Oshkosh extended its lead to 18-4 early in the second period on a jumper by Selner, but UW-Stevens Point responded with eight consecutive points to pull within 18-12 with 1:36 to go in the second quarter.
A 3-pointer by Kendall Truttmann ended the Pointer run and gave UW-Oshkosh a 21-12 lead at intermission.
UW-Stevens Point made 3 of 14 shots from the floor during the third period and 1 of 12 during the final quarter as UW-Oshkosh maintained a lead of at least 11 points for the last 7:41 of the contest. The Titans held their largest lead of 17 points when Morgan Kokta made a pair of free throws to create the final score with 1:16 remaining.
The Pointers pulled within 29-21 early in the fourth quarter, but they were held scoreless for the last eight minutes of the game.
Allie Miceli paced the Pointers with six points and a game-high nine rebounds.
UW-Oshkosh also defeated UW-Stevens Point by scores of 60-46 on Jan. 16 in Oshkosh and 61-59 on Jan. 30 in Stevens Point.
UW-Stevens Point, which won six straight WIAC Championship titles from 2008-13, has lost six of its nine meetings with UW-Oshkosh in the league tournament.