Titans Win Clash Of Nationally Ranked Teams

Alex Richard scored a career-high 19 points and added 13 rebounds to lead the UW-Oshkosh women's basketball team to a 65-53 victory over Wheaton College (Ill.) in a clash of nationally ranked teams on Saturday (Dec. 10) in Kolf Sports Center.

UW-Oshkosh (6-0), ranked 10th in the NCAA Division III by D3hoops.com, never trailed 17th-ranked Wheaton College (6-2) and led by as many as 17 points during the fourth period.

The Titans held a 33-29 advantage at intermission and limited the Thunder to just 6-for-22 shooting (27.3 percent) during the second half. Wheaton College had its six-game winning streak snapped.

UW-Oshkosh had lost its previous three meetings with the Thunder, including a 61-58 decision in the most recent matchup in 2010.

Richard notched her fifth career double-double by making 9 of 15 shots from the field and finishing one rebound shy of matching her career high.

UW-Oshkosh committed just five turnovers and outrebounded Wheaton College, 42-31, including 16-3 on the offensive end. The Titans also owned advantages in field goal percentage (.385 to .383), assists (11-7) and steals (7-1).

Taylor Schmidt had nine points, two assists and two steals for the Titans, who also received eight points apiece from Eliza Campbell and Emma Melotik. Morgan Kokta rounded out the UW-Oshkosh starting lineup with six points, four rebounds and two steals.

UW-Oshkosh jumped out to an 8-2 lead behind four points from both Richard and Schmidt, but Wheaton College cut its deficit to 17-14 on a jumper by Katie McDaniels at the first-quarter buzzer.

The Thunder knotted the score at 23 on a 3-pointer by Kelly Thornton midway through the second period and again at 27 on a layup from Jordan Myroth. Clinging to a 30-29 edge, Melotik drilled a 3-pointer to provide the halftime score. UW-Oshkosh had an 8-1 advantage in turnovers at intermission.

UW-Oshkosh increased its lead to 48-37 on a 3-pointer by Kendell Truttman, and a layup by McDaniels cut the Titan advantage to 50-41 after three quarters. Wheaton College missed its first six shots from the floor during the third period.

UW-Oshkosh's Kylie made a 3-pointer for a 53-41 lead on the first possession of the final quarter, and the Titans owned a cushion of at least 12 points the rest of the way. UW-Oshkosh held its largest lead of 17 points at 60-43 on a 3-pointer by Kokta with 5:43 remaining.

Wheaton College's McDaniels led all players with 23 points and three assists while adding five rebounds. She connected on 8 of 11 shots from the field and all six of her attempts from the free throw line.

Thornton chipped in nine points on 3-for-3 shooting from behind the 3-point arc off the Thunder bench. Wheaton College starter Maggie Dansdill had seven points and Myroth, a reserve, chipped in six.

Devin Kyler tallied five points and a team-leading seven rebounds for the Thunder.

UW-Oshkosh remains at home to play Ripon College on Friday (Dec. 16) in Albee Hall.