Hot-Shooting Titans Rout Spartans

The nationally ranked UW-Oshkosh women's basketball team produced its best shooting performance in more than a decade as the Titans defeated Manchester University (Ind.), 95-27, in the championship game of the Main View Tip-Off Tournament on Saturday (Nov. 18) in North Manchester, Ind.

UW-Oshkosh (2-0), ranked 11th in the NCAA Division III by D3hoops.com, shot 63.1 percent from the floor, committed just four turnovers and outrebounded Manchester University, 46-17. The Titans owned leads of 26-7 after the first quarter, 53-11 at halftime and 79-15 after three periods.

The Titans' .631 field goal percentage on 41 of 65 shooting is the program's best in the 302 games since connecting on 66.7 percent (30-45) of its field goals during an 80-69 win over UW-Whitewater on Feb. 15, 2006.

UW-Oshkosh recorded 30 assists, which is one shy of the program record last accomplished in 2002. The Titans also finished five field goals short of the school record of 46 set in 1984 while their 68-point margin of victory is the largest in program history.

Karsyn Rueth led 14 UW-Oshkosh scorers with 14 points on 6 of 7 shooting from the field in eight minutes played off the bench.

Eliza Campbell added 11 points for the Titans, who also received nine points from both Taylor Dagon and Olivia Campbell, and eight points apiece from Nikki Arneson and Emma Melotik.

Olivia Campbell registered a career-high six assists while Melanie Schneider had a career-best 11 rebounds for the Titans.

UW-Oshkosh shot 68.8 percent (11-16) from the floor during the first and second quarters before connecting on 57.9 percent (11-19) in the third period and 57.1 percent (8-14) during the fourth.

The Titans scored the first four points of the game and extended their lead to 20-4 on a jumper by Rueth with three minutes to play in the first quarter.

UW-Oshkosh held Manchester University scoreless for nearly eight minutes spanning the first two quarters before the Spartans' Beth Schaefer drove for a layup to cut their deficit to 43-9 at the 3:40 mark of the second period.

The Titans extended their lead to 59-13 after scoring 12 unanswered points during a stretch of more than five minutes during the third quarter.

Rueth completed a three-point play for a 69-15 UW-Oshkosh advantage with 4:13 left in the third period, and a layup by Dagon gave the Titans an 85-15 lead at the 8:22 mark of the fourth quarter.

UW-Oshkosh matched its largest lead of 70 points at 89-19 following a layup from Arneson with 5:18 to play.

Nicole Weaver had nine points to lead Manchester University (1-1).

Eliza Campbell was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player. Melotik and Chloe Pustina were also named to the All-Tournament Team for the Titans.

UW-Oshkosh began the season-opening tournament with a 77-48 victory over first-time opponent Otterbein University (Ohio) on Friday (Nov. 17).

Campbell paced UW-Oshkosh with 24 total points in the two games to go along with nine rebounds, six assists, three steals and three blocks.

Melotik totaled 20 points during the two contests while Pustina amassed 15 points, eight rebounds and six assists.

UW-Oshkosh conducts its home opener on Tuesday (Nov. 21) in Kolf Sports Center against Edgewood College.

Photo by Jim Campbell