Titans Construct Win Over Blugolds
Eliza Campbell had 15 points and eight rebounds to lead the nationally ranked UW-Oshkosh women's basketball team to a 70-59 win over UW-Eau Claire in a battle of the top shooting teams in the WIAC on Saturday (Jan. 20) in Kolf Sports Center.
UW-Oshkosh (14-2, 4-2 WIAC) took the lead for good during an 11-0 scoring run that turned a 22-20 deficit into a 31-22 advantage with less than one minute to play in the second quarter. The Titans went on to outscore the Blugolds in each of the last three quarters on the way to their sixth straight win over UW-Eau Claire.
UW-Eau Claire (12-5, 4-2 WIAC) pulled within 33-29 on the first possession of the third quarter, but UW-Oshkosh's Emma Melotik answered with a 3-pointer less than 30 seconds later, and the Titans led by at least five points for the remainder of the contest.
Jaimee Pitt added 13 points, four rebounds and two blocks off the UW-Oshkosh bench as Titan reserves accounted for 27 points, 16 rebounds and four blocks, including nine points and two blocks from Melanie Schneider, and six rebounds from Madeline Staples.
Titan starters Melotik and Olivia Campbell contributed 11 and nine points, respectively. Campbell, who went into the game with a league-leading 1.96 assist-to-turnover ratio, paced all players with four assists without committing a turnover. Melotik drained a pair of 3-pointers to increase her team-leading total to 38 on the year.
UW-Oshkosh held advantages in field goal percentage (.439 to .404), rebounds (38-35), turnovers (13-8) and blocks (5-3). The Titans, who owned a 23-11 rebounding edge during the second half, shot 16-for-27 (59.3 percent) from the free throw line while the Blugolds made just six of their 12 (50 percent) attempts at the charity stripe.
The Titans, ranked 15th in the NCAA Division III by D3hoops.com, entered Saturday leading the country with 10.2 turnovers per game and a 1.62 assist-to-turnover ratio. UW-Oshkosh was also pacing the WIAC in scoring (75.9), scoring defense (46.7), field goal percentage (.457), rebounding margin (+13.1), 3-point baskets (115) and 3-point field goal percentage (.381).
The Blugolds, who owned an 11-10 edge in assists on Saturday, went into the contest leading the league with 17.5 assists per game while ranking second in the conference with a .429 field goal percentage.
UW-Oshkosh took its first lead at 9-7 following a 3-pointer from Melotik with six minutes left in the first period. UW-Eau Claire scored nine of the next 11 points for a 16-11 advantage and took a 17-13 lead into the second quarter.
Kayla Hanley converted a three-point play to give the Blugolds a 22-20 advantage with 5:08 to play in the first half before Pitt sparked the Titans' 11-0 scoring run with an offensive rebound and layup that tied the score at 22.
UW-Oshkosh reclaimed for good at 23-22 as Melotik split a pair of free throws at the 3:15 mark of the second period. The Titans capped their 11-point outburst with consecutive layups from Staples, Eliza Campbell and Pitt that preceded two free throws by Pitt with 56 seconds left before intermission. The Titans outscored the Blugolds, 20-10, during the second period and owned a 33-27 lead entering the third quarter.
The Titans tallied seven straight points, including five by Melotik, to increase their advantage to 40-29 less than two minutes into the third quarter and went into the final period with a 55-45 lead.
Pitt drilled a 3-pointer to give the Titans their largest lead of 15 points at 60-45 with 7:36 remaining, and the Blugolds trailed by at least nine points the rest of the way.
Anna Graaskamp and Hanley led UW-Eau Claire with 13 points apiece. Graaskamp added a game-high nine rebounds.
Kelsey Bakken chipped in 11 points and five rebounds for the Blugolds.
The Titans have won each of their last six meetings with UW-Eau Claire by at least 11 points.
UW-Oshkosh concludes the first round of its 14-game WIAC schedule at UW-Stevens Point on Wednesday (Jan. 24).