Titans Conclude Non-Conference Play Unbeaten
Eliza Campbell scored 15 of her game-high 17 points in the second half to lead the nationally ranked UW-Oshkosh women's basketball team to a 76-50 victory over Carroll University on Saturday (Dec. 30).
The Titans' final non-conference game of the regular season was played on a replica of the iconic MECCA basketball court in Menominee Nation Arena, the G League home of the Milwaukee Bucks.
UW-Oshkosh (10-0), ranked fifth in the NCAA Division III by D3hoops.com, scored the first six points of the game and led the entire way. The Titans held a 33-27 advantage in intermission and a 52-41 after three quarters before outscoring Carroll University, 24-9, during the final period.
The Titans own a 54-5 record in regular season non-conference games over the past six seasons.
Campbell shot 7-for-11 from the floor, including 6-for-7 in the second half, while adding four rebounds and two steals.
UW-Oshkosh's Jaimee Pitt matched her season high with 14 points on 5 of 7 shooting from the field. Emma Melotik chipped in 10 points for the Titans, who also received eight points from Leah Porath and seven from Isabella Samuels.
Madeline Staples contributed three points and a career-high nine rebounds off the bench while Olivia Campbell compiled six points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals. Chloe Pustina paced UW-Oshkosh with five assists.
UW-Oshkosh concluded the contest with advantages in field goal percentage (.443 to .354), rebounds (38-31), assists (15-12), turnovers (14-7), blocks (6-2) and steals (10-5). The Titans connected on 27 of 61 shots from the field, including 9 of 21 (42.9 percent) from 3-point range, and 13 of 17 (76.5 percent) at the free throw line.
After shooting just 35.3 percent (12-34) during the first half, UW-Oshkosh converted 15 of 27 shots (.556) from the floor after halftime.
The Titans went into the game leading the country in average scoring margin (40.7), turnovers per game (8.8) and assist-to-turnover ratio (2.27). UW-Oshkosh also listed second nationally in field goal percentage (.490), third in scoring defense (42.2), fourth in rebounding margin (15.9), and eighth in scoring (82.9), assists per game (19.9), and 3-point percentage (.400).
The Titans jumped out to a 6-0 lead behind a pair of 3-pointers from Melotik less than two minutes into the game. UW-Oshkosh extended its advantage to 18-6 on a 3-pointer from Leah Porath with 2:27 to play in the opening quarter before the Titans claimed a 20-10 lead as Eliza Campbell registered her only first-half points of the first half on a layup at the first-period buzzer.
Carroll University outscored the Titans, 16-13, during the second quarter, trimming its deficit to 22-18 on a layup by Delaney Sontag at the 6:47 mark of the period. The Pioneers became the third opponent to outscore UW-Oshkosh in a quarter this season.
A 3-pointer by Pitt gave UW-Oshkosh a 33-23 advantage with 97 second remaining in the first half, but pulled within 33-26 at intermission on a layup from Katie Rossetti with 12 seconds to go.
Olivia Campbell fed Samuels for a layup that increased UW-Oshkosh's advantage to 37-26 with 7:18 left in the third period, and the Titans led by at least 10 points for the remainder of the game.
UW-Oshkosh built its largest lead of 26 points when Porath knocked down a jumper to create the final score with 25 seconds left.
Sara Hartl and Rossetti led Carroll University with 11 points apiece. Brittany Wald added nine points and a team-leading eight rebounds, five assists and two steals for the Pioneers.
UW-Oshkosh opens WIAC play at 11th-ranked UW-Whitewater on Wednesday (Jan. 3).