Titans Overcome Tigers In Wittenberg
WITTENBERG, Ohio- The UW-Oshkosh women's basketball team overcame an early 8-0 deficit to defeat Wittenberg University (Ohio) 68-55 in its final game of the Wittenberg Holiday Classic on Wednesday (Dec. 20).
Kennedy Osterman (Sr. • Pewaukee) led Oshkosh with 15 points, shooting 50.0 percent (three-of-six) from the field, 33.3 percent (one-of-three) from three and made eight free throws on eight attempts, a career-high. She also registered eight assists (another career-high) and four rebounds. Bridget Froehlke (Jr. • Wrightstown) scored 14 points with four made three-point attempts and added two blocks, two steals, four rebounds and four assists. Kayce Vaile (Sr. • Greendale) was a point shy of her second double-double of the season, ending with nine points and 13 rebounds (three offensive).
The Titans shot 37.7 percent (23-of-61) from the field, including 30.0 percent (nine-of-30) from three and 92.9 percent (13-of-14). They also recorded 23 points off the Tigers' 17 turnovers, pulled down 29 rebounds (seven offensive), 17 assists, seven block and ten steals. 28 of their points came from the bench and 16 came on second chance opportunities.
Wittenberg jumped out to a quick 8-0 lead, but the Titans quickly erased the deficit with a 10-0 run to take a 14-13 lead that forced the Tigers to call a timeout at 1:49. Oshkosh kept the Tigers off the board while Kate Huml (So. • Janesville) made a layup and Osterman made all three of her free throws after being fouled on a three-point shot as time expired in the opening quarter.
After Wittenberg scored 11 seconds into the second quarter, the Titans scored seven-straight to further extended their lead to 26-15 with 6:30 to go. Sarah Hardwick (So. • Fond du Lac) recorded four consecutive points on a layup and two later free throws and Froehlke made her fourth three of the game for a 16-point lead before the Tigers converted a layup to make the score 39-25 headed into halftime.
The teams traded points to open the third period before Hardwick made a layup and Mallory Lindsey (So. • Mineral Point) sunk back-to-back three pointers, increasing Oshkosh's lead to 19 points, the largest of the game. Wittenberg responded with a five-point spurt and worked to bring the gap down to 56-40 by the end of the quarter.
A layup less than a minute into the fourth quarter for the Tigers started a run that was completed after almost five minutes later with two free throws, bringing Wittenberg to just 12 points down. Froehlke made another three before a 5-0 Wittenberg spurt which Osterman ended with a three of her own. Osterman followed two successful Tiger free throw attempts with four on consecutive fouls. Oshkosh was outscored 4-2 in the last 30 seconds of play, bringing the final split to 13 points.
The Titans will return home to face Rockford College (Ill.) and Ripon College on Dec. 29-30 in the BSN Winter Classic at the Oshkosh Arena at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., respectively.