Titans Thump Cardinals In Season Debut

Isabella Samuels led four Titan double-digit scorers with a career-high 16 points as the nationally ranked UW-Oshkosh women's basketball team began the 2017-18 season with a 77-48 victory over Otterbein University (Ohio) on Friday (Nov. 17) at the Main View Tip-Off Tournament in North Manchester, Ind.

UW-Oshkosh (1-0), ranked 11th in the NCAA Division III by D3hoops.com, led for the final 32:45 en route to winning its ninth straight season opener. The Titans committed just six turnovers and shot 50.9 percent (28-55) from the field, including 53.3 percent (8-15) from 3-point range.

Eliza Campbell recorded 13 points, four rebounds, three assists and three steals for the Titans.

UW-Oshkosh's Emma Melotik added 12 points while Chloe Pustina had 11 points and a team-leading five rebounds.

The starting quartet of Campbell, Melotik, Pustina and Samuels combined to shoot 69 percent from the floor as Campbell made six of her eight field goal attempts, Melotik three of four, Pustina four of seven and Samuels seven of 10.

UW-Oshkosh's fifth starter, Olivia Campbell, contributed a team-high five assists and four rebounds while reserves Melanie Schneider and Jaimee Pitt chipped in seven and six points, respectively.

The Titans concluded the contest with advantages in field goal percentage (.509 to .400), rebounds (40-24), assists (21-12), steals (6-3) and turnovers (9-6). UW-Oshkosh converted 13 of 22 free throws while first-time opponent shot 3-for-5 at the foul line.

UW-Oshkosh, which has advanced past the first round in each of the past four NCAA tournaments, ended last season ranked second in the country with 11.8 turnovers per game and 13th with 50.5 points allowed per contest.

The Titans raced out to a 7-2 lead before Otterbein University claimed itas first advantage at 9-7 midway through the first quarter. UW-Oshkosh reclaimed the lead for good at 12-11 on a 3-pointer from Schneider at the a 2:45 mark of the opening period. Schneider's jumper sparked a string of eight unanswered points by UW-Oshkosh, including five from Pustina, to end the quarter.

A 3-pointer by Madeline Staples gave UW-Oshkosh a 27-17 lead in the second quarter. Otterbein University cut its deficit to 32-27 with under a minute left in the opening half, but a Melotik 3-pointer and a three-point play by Pustina provided the Titans a 38-27 advantage at intermission.

UW-Oshkosh limited the Cardinals to 9 of 32 shooting (28.1 percent) from the floor during the second half and owned a lead of at least 11 points for the final 20:21 of the contest.

Karsyn Rueth drilled a 3-pointer to increase the UW-Oshkosh advantage to 62-41 late in the third quarter. The Titans held the Cardinals scoreless for a stretch of nearly seven minutes until a layup trimmed the Otterbein University deficit to 67-43 with 6:13 left in the game.

UW-Oshkosh built its largest lead of 30 points at 75-45 following a layup by Schneider with 1:46 remaining.

Otterbein University's Ali Cartnal led all players with 17 points.

Bryn Mangold registered a game-high six rebounds for the Cardinals (0-1), who also received eight points off the bench from Alex Schaffer.

UW-Oshkosh plays in the Main View Tip-Off Tournament championship game against host Manchester University on Saturday (Nov. 18).

Photo courtesy of Jim Campbell