Isabella Samuels was one of 12 Titans to score against the Cardinals.
Isabella Samuels was one of 12 Titans to score against the Cardinals.

Titans Remain Unbeaten After Road Win Over Cardinals

Eight Titans scored five-plus points and three grabbed six rebounds apiece as the UW-Oshkosh women's basketball team defeated Saint Mary's University (Minn.), 61-36, on Thursday (Nov. 29) in Winona, Minn.

UW-Oshkosh (5-0) extended its undefeated season as the Titans never trailed Saint Mary's University (3-2) after the first 3:15 of the game. The Titans, who have started 5-0 for the sixth consecutive season, held the Cardinals to their lowest scoring output since Dec. 10, 2010 – a span of 211 games.

UW-Oshkosh has won all seven of its contests with Saint Mary's University, including a 70-61 decision in the most recent meeting during the opening round of the 2014 NCAA Division III Championship.

The Titans entered Thursday's contest ranked 15th in the NCAA Division III with a scoring margin of 25 points, averaging 73.5 points per game while holding its opponents to 48.5.

UW-Oshkosh has held its last four opponents under 45 points, including Saint Mary's University which entered Thursday's contest averaging 74.8 points per game.

Fifteen Titans received playing time against the Cardinals, including 12 who scored points and nine who collected rebounds.

Freshmen Brooklyn Bull and Brooke Freitag had a team-leading eight points apiece for UW-Oshkosh while Melanie Schneider and Karsyn Rueth both scored seven. Schneider also added six rebounds, two assists and a pair of blocks.

UW-Oshkosh's Olivia Campbell had six points, six rebounds, two steals and two assists while Leah Porath chipped in six points and a pair of assists.

Jessie Rabas had five points, four rebounds and two assists for the Titans and Chloe Pustina five points and two steals. Nikki Arneson contributed four points and a career-high six rebounds.

UW-Oshkosh owned advantages in assists (13-7), turnovers (9-23), blocks (6-2) and steals (14-3).

The Titans shot 34.4 percent (21-61) from the field, including 25 percent (6-24) from beyond the 3-point arc, and 86.7 percent (13-15) at the free throw line.

Saint Mary's University owned advantages in rebounds (39-36) and shot 25.6 percent (11-43) from the floor, 25 percent (4-16) from the 3-point zone and 71.4 percent (10-14) at the foul line.

Isabel Bettag came off the bench to score a game-high 11 points for the Cardinals while Rachel Kedl grabbed a team-leading eight rebounds.

The Cardinals opened the contest with a basket from Kedl, but the Titans answered with a layup from Porath. The teams were tied 6-6 before UW-Oshkosh scored 11 straight points to close the opening period with a 17-6 lead. The Titans shot 47.1 percent (8-17) from the field in the first quarter.

Saint Mary's University's Brooklyn Paulson owned the first points of the second period with a 3-pointer, but Pustina answered with a 3-pointer of her own to give the Titans a 20-9 lead. The Cardinals and Titans exchanged points for the majority of the second quarter as UW-Oshkosh tallied 19 points to Saint Mary's University's 16. The Titans went to intermission with a 36-22 lead.

The Cardinals started the third quarter with back-to-back baskets from Ewelina Schlomann and Paulson, but were held to just three more points the rest of the period. Saint Mary's University made just 2 of its 12 shots from the field during the third quarter and took a 45-29 deficit into the final period.

The Titans outscored the Cardinals, 16-7, in the fourth quarter behind 8-for-10 shooting at the free throw line.

UW-Oshkosh held its largest lead of 26 points (58-32) with 2:18 remaining in the game.

UW-Oshkosh hosts Finlandia University (Mich.) on Tuesday (Dec. 4) in Kolf Sports Center.

Written by Ally Gwidt, UW-Oshkosh Sports Information

Photo courtesy of Donny Nadeau, Saint Mary's University Sports Information