2000-01 UW-Oshkosh Women's Basketball News

Steckmesser Named To All-WIAC First Team

Returning to the starting lineup after suffering a season-ending injury in the fifth game of last year, UW-Oshkosh junior guard Kristin Steckmesser has been named to the 2001 All-WIAC Women's Basketball Team.

Steckmesser, a first-team selection from Two Rivers, averaged 12.4 points, 3.9 assists, 3.8 rebounds and 1.6 steals per contest in helping the Titans to a 19-6 record and a share of the WIAC championship. Starting 24 of the Titans' 25 games this past season, Steckmesser led the team in scoring, steals, free throw percentage and three-point baskets.

Among her WIAC counterparts, Steckmesser ranked in the top 10 in six statistical categories. She was third in assists, fourth in both three-point field goals and free throw percentage, eighth in blocked shots and 10th in both scoring and steals.

Steckmesser led the Titans in scoring 11 times this past year, including a season-high 19 points in a 78-63 win over UW-Stout on Feb. 3. She also grabbed nine rebounds in the contest, also establishing a season best. In all, Steckmesser scored in double figures in 16 of the Titans' 25 games. She was an All-WIAC honorable mention selection in 1999.

Receiving honorable mention status from UW-Oshkosh were forward Amanda Dickerson and guards Melissa Schweitzer and Jamie Turtenwald. Dickerson, a junior from Marquette, averaged 11.6 points and 7.0 rebounds per game. She led the team and ranked third in the conference in rebounding. Dickerson paced the Titans in scoring eight times this past season, including a 31-point outburst in a 90-79 win over UW-Stout on Jan. 6. Schweitzer, a sophomore from Amherst, averaged 11.0 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game. She reached double-figure scoring in 13 of the 22 games that she played in. Turtenwald, a junior from West Allis, averaged 8.8 points, 4.6 assists and 3.0 rebounds per contest. She led the team and ranked second in the conference in assists. Turtenwald was also named to the league's five-member All-Defensive Team.

UW-Eau Claire's Vanessa Schley was named WIAC Player of the Year, while UW-River Falls' Cindy Hovet was named WIAC Coach of the Year. 

Titans Suffer First-Round Loss In WIAC Tournament

The UW-Oshkosh women's basketball team misfired for the fourth consecutive game and was extinguished from the WIAC Tournament with a 68-57 quarterfinal round loss to UW-Platteville on Monday (Feb. 19) night in Albee Hall. The setback marked the first time in the three-year history of the event that the Titans had failed to reach the championship game.

UW-Platteville (10-15) took control of its first clash with UW-Oshkosh in WIAC Tournament play quickly by jumping out to a 20-6 lead with 9:47 left in the first half. The seventh-seed Pioneers held a double-figure advantage over the second-seed Titans during the final 14:36 of the opening period, including a 35-18 count with 1:45 remaining.

UW-Oshkosh (19-6) rebounded from a 36-24 halftime deficit by scoring the first 14 points of the second half to take a 38-36 lead with 12:26 left in the game. The two combatants exchanged leads six times during the next five minutes before the Pioneers took the advantage for good at 49-46 on a three-point basket by senior forward Allison Rotramel with 7:05 left in the game. After allowing a basket to UW-Oshkosh freshman forward Abby Holler on the next possession, UW-Platteville concluded the final 6:06 of the game with a 19-9 scoring run, including 15 free throws in 18 attempts.

UW-Platteville, which snapped a 23-game losing streak to UW-Oshkosh with the win, was led in scoring by Rotramel's game-high 20 points and senior guard Laurie Buechel 's 13. Junior forward Crystal Stietz collected a game-high nine rebounds for the Pioneers, who dropped decisions of 66-61 and 73-61 to the Titans earlier this season. UW-Oshkosh was led in scoring by senior guard Jenelle Ristau's season-high 18 points.

UW-Oshkosh, which has lost four consecutive games for the first time since the 1985-86 season, watched its opponent shoot 30-plus free throws for the second straight game. The Pioneers made 22 of 34 attempts from the charity stripe after UW-Eau Claire made 30 of 39 tries in its win over the Titans last Saturday (Feb. 17). UW-Oshkosh attempted only 15 free throws against UW-Platteville and 13 against UW-Eau Claire.

In other quarterfinal round games in the WIAC Tournament, top-seed UW-Eau Claire defeated eighth-seed UW-Whitewater, 87-72, third-seed UW-Stevens Point defeated sixth-seed UW-La Crosse, 68-46, and fourth-seed UW-River Falls downed fifth-seed UW-Stout, 78-66. UW-Eau Claire will host UW-River Falls and UW-Stevens Point will host UW-Platteville in semifinal round games on Wednesday (Feb. 21).

UW-Oshkosh, which shared the WIAC regular season championship with UW-Eau Claire, must wait to Sunday (Feb. 25) to see if its season continues as a participant in the NCAA Division III Tournament. UW-Oshkosh has been invited to the NCAA post-season gala the past seven years, with a national title in 1996.

Titans Settle For Share Of WIAC Championship

Seniors Jessie Brantner and Vanessa Schley scored 22 points each to help the UW-Eau Claire women's basketball team rally from a five-point halftime deficit and defeat UW-Oshkosh, 78-67, on Saturday (Feb. 17) night in Zorn Arena. With the win, the host Blugolds gain a share of the WIAC championship with UW-Oshkosh and land the number one seed in the upcoming league tournament by virtue of their season sweep of the Titans.

UW-Oshkosh's WIAC championship is the ninth in school history. The Titans won outright conference titles in 1985, 1991, 1994, 1996, 1998 and 1999 and shared the league crown in 1992, 1995 and 2001. UW-Oshkosh settled for a share of this year's WIAC championship after losing its last three games, the Titans' longest losing skid since the 1985-86 season.

UW-Eau Claire (19-5 & 12-4 in the WIAC) evaporated its halftime deficit at the second half by scoring 12 straight points to take a 43-36 lead with16:51 left in the game. UW-Oshkosh immediately battled back with a 13-5 scoring run to take its last lead of the contest at 49-48 with 12:21 remaining. The Blugolds pulled away down the stretch, however, and held an advantage of at least six points over the Titans during the final 6:12 of the game.

Brantner, a guard, and Schley, a forward, shared game scoring honors with their 22 points, with Schley counting 19 for the Blugolds in the second half. Schley, who tallied a school-record 36 points in an 80-70 win over UW-Oshkosh last month, also grabbed a game-high nine rebounds. Senior forward Megan Murphy also contributed 15 points and seven rebounds for the Blugolds, who shot 51.2 percent (21-41) from the field and made 30 of their 39 free throw attempts (76.9 percent).

UW-Oshkosh was led in scoring by junior guard Kristin Steckmesser's 14 points and sophomore guard Melissa Schweitzer's 11. The Titans shot 47.4 percent (27-57) from the field, but made only six of their 13 free throw (46.2 percent) attempts.

UW-Oshkosh opens play in the WIAC Tournament on Monday (Feb. 19) by hosting UW-Platteville in Albee Hall. The second-seed Titans defeated the sixth-seed Pioneers by scores of 66-61 and 73-61 earlier this year.

Titans Upset By UW-La Crosse

Hampered by its worst shooting performance (31 percent) of the season, the UW-Oshkosh women's basketball team dropped a 52-47 decision to UW-La Crosse on Wednesday (Feb. 14) night in Mitchell Hall. The loss was UW-Oshkosh's first to UW-La Crosse in 26 meetings and denied the Titans the opportunity to gain the outright WIAC championship.

UW-Oshkosh travels to UW-Eau Claire on Saturday (Feb. 17) for another crack at claiming the undisputed WIAC title. A victory for the Titans would earn them that claim, while a loss would leave them settling for a share of league championship with UW-Eau Claire. Regardless of the outcome, UW-Oshkosh will host a quarterfinal round game in the WIAC Tournament on Monday (Feb. 19) at 7 p.m. in Albee Hall.

UW-Oshkosh (19-4 & 12-3 in the WIAC), which was awarded a share of the WIAC title last Saturday (Feb. 10), trailed UW-La Crosse the final 33:40 of the game after falling behind 9-7 with 13:40 left in the first half. UW-Oshkosh's only lead of the game, a 7-5 count, lasted only 15 seconds as the host Eagles went on a 15-5 scoring run to take a 20-10 advantage with 4:32 left before intermission. The Titans ended the first half with an 8-2 scoring run to trail 24-23 at the break.

In the second half, UW-La Crosse (11-12 & 6-9 in the WIAC) opened three nine-point advantages, with the latest being 48-39 with 5:16 left in the game. UW-Oshkosh then scored eight unanswered points, including five by senior guard Jenelle Ristau, to pull within 48-47 with 1:51 remaining. The eight points would be the last UW-Oshkosh would score, however, as UW-La Crosse ended the contest with five straight points.

Ristau came off the bench to lead UW-Oshkosh in scoring with 10 points. Wednesday's loss marked the first time this season that all five UW-Oshkosh starters were held in single-figure scoring. Junior forward Jill Murray paced UW-La Crosse in scoring with 23 points. The Eagles defeated the Titans despite shooting 38.8 percent (19-49) from the field, marking their 47th consecutive game under 50 percent. They also overcame 19 turnovers and a 40-35 deficit in rebounding.

Titans Clinch Share Of WIAC Crown Despite Overtime Loss

Tara Schmitt's layup with 0.3 seconds left in overtime lifted the UW-Stevens Point women's basketball team to a 70-68 victory over UW-Oshkosh on Saturday (Feb. 10) night in Albee Hall. The victory was UW-Stevens Point's first against UW-Oshkosh in 18 meetings.

Despite the setback, UW-Oshkosh clinches at least a share of the WIAC championship and has an opportunity to claim the league title outright with a victory at UW-La Crosse on Wednesday (Feb. 14). The Titans (19-3 & 12-2 in the WIAC) have won or shared eight WIAC championships since the 1990-91 season, including six in the past eight years.

UW-Stevens Point (17-5 & 9-5 in the WIAC) took a 27-24 lead at intermission after battling through six ties. The largest margin between the two teams in the opening period was three points, with UW-Stevens Point having the advantage of that count three times (18-15, 25-22 & 27-24) and UW-Oshkosh once (12-9).

UW-Stevens Point opened the second half with a 11-4 scoring run to lead 38-28 with 16:04 left in the contest. Trailing 44-34 with 13:04 remaining in the game, UW-Oshkosh began to chip away at the deficit and finally cut the margin to one point (62-61) with 42 seconds left following sophomore guard Brenda Utech's three-point basket. UW-Oshkosh's decision to not foul on UW-Stevens Point's ensuing possession paid dividends as the Titans got the rebound of a missed three-point shot with 11 seconds left and marched up court before junior forward Jenny Deuster was fouled in the act of shooting with 0.7 seconds remaining. Deuster made the first free throw to tie the game and missed the second for a 62-62 deadlock at the end of regulation.

In overtime, UW-Oshkosh took its first lead since the 2:54 mark of the first half on a basket by Deuster. The tally gave the Titans a 64-62 lead with 4:33 left in the extra period. UW-Stevens Point regained the lead at 66-64 and held a 68-65 advantage with 36 seconds left before senior guard Jenelle Ristau tied the game at 68-68 with a three-point basket with 3.4 seconds remaining. Going the length of the court, freshman guard Andrea Kraemer hit Schmitt with a perfect pass over a pair of UW-Oshkosh defenders and guided in the game-winning basket with 0.3 seconds left. The basket was Schmitt's only one of the contest in 23 minutes of playing time.

Junior guard Kristin Steckmesser led UW-Oshkosh in scoring with 18 points, while junior guard Jamie Turtenwald added 14 and Ristau 10. Freshman forward Cassandra Heuer paced UW-Stevens Point in scoring with 15 points, while Kraemer chipped in 14.

The game featured 56 fouls being called and resulted in UW-Stevens Point making 26 of 42 free throw attempts and UW-Oshkosh 19 of 27. In addition to benefiting from 26 UW-Oshkosh turnovers, UW-Stevens Point also got five rebounds off its own missed free throw tosses and made two baskets, including a three-point goal with the clock expiring when the ball was in the air.

The loss was only the fourth for UW-Oshkosh in its last 79 games played in Albee Hall. In addition, it was only the ninth setback for the Titans in their last 94 WIAC contests.

Titans Move Closer To WIAC Title

The UW-Oshkosh women's basketball team took care of its own business and received some help from UW-Stout on Wednesday (Feb. 7) night to increase its lead in the WIAC standings to two games. UW-Oshkosh defeated host UW-Whitewater, 61-46, to raise its conference record to 12-1, while second-place UW-River Falls slipped to 10-3 in league play following its 101-77 road loss to UW-Stout. The Titans can clinch at least a share of the WIAC title on Saturday (Feb. 10) night with a victory over UW-Stevens Point in Albee Hall.

UW-Oshkosh (19-2) led UW-Whitewater (8-12 & 3-11 in the WIAC) the entire duration of the contest, including double-figure advantages the final 19:19 of the game. The Titans even took a 1-0 lead prior to tipoff as the Warhawks were assessed a technical foul for failing to enter their starting lineup in the scorebook 10 minutes before the start of the game.

Benefiting from UW-Whitewater's pre-game miscue, UW-Oshkosh opened regulation play with leads of 11-2 and 15-4, with the latter coming 12:08 before intermission. UW-Whitewater cut the deficit to 18-15 with 5:39 left in the first half, but UW-Oshkosh countered with a 12-7 scoring run to lead 30-22 at the break.

UW-Oshkosh continued to remain in control in the second half, building its largest advantage of 18 points (61-43) with 1:36 left in the game. The closest the Warhawks got to the Titans during the final 15:43 of the game was 42-31 with 11:21 remaining.

Junior guard Kristin Steckmesser led UW-Oshkosh in scoring with 13 points, while junior guard Jamie Turtenwald added 11 and sophomore guard Melissa Schweitzer 10. Sophomore center Crystal Gassner came off the bench to grab a career-high 11 rebounds, while Schweitzer collected 10 to record her second career double-double. Sophomore guard Katie Rechlicz led UW-Whitewater in scoring with 16 points.

UW-Oshkosh shot 46.9 percent (23-49) from the field in the contest and outrebounded the Warhawks, 46-23. Although committing a season-high 27 turnovers, the Titans' did hold UW-Whitewater to just 30.9 percent (17-55) shooting from the field. Last month (Jan. 3), UW-Oshkosh defeated UW-Whitewater, 62-49.

Fast Start Keys Titans' Win Over Blue Devils

The UW-Oshkosh women's basketball team scored the first 20 points of the contest en route to a 78-63 victory over UW-Stout on Saturday (Feb. 3) night in Albee Hall. The victory, the second of the season for the Titans over the Blue Devils, assures league-leading UW-Oshkosh a home game in the first round of the upcoming WIAC Tournament (Feb. 19-24).

UW-Oshkosh (18-2 and 11-1 in the WIAC) held UW-Stout (15-6 and 8-5 in the WIAC) scoreless for the first 6:11 of the game, with the Blue Devils scoring a basket at the 13:49 mark to cut the Titans' advantage to 20-2. UW-Oshkosh took a commanding 47-20 lead to intermission after leading by 20 or more points the final 7:05 of the first half. Junior guard Kristin Steckmesser spirited UW-Oshkosh in the opening frame by scoring 11 points and grabbing four rebounds. The Titans shot 57.1 percent (16-28) from the field in the first half, while the Blue Devils shot just 29 percent (9-31).

UW-Stout refused to quit in the second half, staging a furious comeback to cut the Titans' lead to 51-37 with 12:24 remaining in the game. The Blue Devils scratched their way to within 10 points (70-60) with 1:09 left in the contest, but couldn't get any closer.

All five starters scored in double-figures for the Titans, with Steckmesser leading the way with 19 points. UW-Oshkosh also received 16 points from sophomore guard Melissa Schweitzer, 14 points from junior forward Amanda Dickerson, 12 points from junior forward Jenny Deuster and 11 points from junior guard Jamie Turtenwald. Dickerson contributed 14 rebounds to the Titans' winning performance, while Steckmesser added nine rebounds, three assists, three blocked shots and two steals.

Freshman forward Sara Kahl tallied 12 points, all in the second half, to lead UW-Stout in scoring, while junior guard Amy Zelinger counted 11. 

Titans Smother Yellowjackets

Leading from start to finish, including the last 23 minutes by over 28 points, the UW-Oshkosh women's basketball team exterminated UW-Superior, 94-42, on Saturday (Jan. 27) afternoon in Albee Hall. The victory keeps UW-Oshkosh in sole possession of first place in the WIAC standings with a 10-1 league record. UW-River Falls, second place in the conference standings with a 9-2 mark, remained on the heels of the Titans in the league race by edging UW-Whitewater, 68-65, on Saturday afternoon.

UW-Oshkosh dominated play against the Yellowjackets almost from the opening tip. After UW-Superior cut the UW-Oshkosh advantage to 4-3, the Titans scored nine unanswered points to lead 13-3 with 13:04 left in the first half. Following two baskets by UW-Superior, the Titans scored 14 unanswered tallies to lead 27-7 with 7:10 remaining before intermission. A few minutes later, UW-Oshkosh embarked on another unanswered scoring run, counting 13 straight points to extend a 31-10 lead to 44-10 with 2:48 left before the break. UW-Oshkosh (17-2) took a 49-19 lead at intermission by shooting 62.1 percent (18-29) from the field, grabbing a 24-8 rebound advantage, forcing 11 turnovers and holding UW-Superior to just 20 percent (5-25) shooting from the field.

The second half was equally impressive for the Titans as they outscored the Yellowjackets, 45-23. UW-Oshkosh, which ended the game with a 21-8 scoring run, shot 59.1 percent (13-22) from the field, 83.3 percent from the free throw line (15-18) and forced 12 turnovers during the final 20 minutes of the contest.

UW-Oshkosh registered five double-figure scorers en route to its 33rd straight victory over UW-Superior. Junior forward Jenny Deuster led the Titans with 14 points, including 12 on six of six shooting from the field in the first half. Other double-figure scorers for UW-Oshkosh were junior guard Kristin Steckmesser with 13 points and sophomore forward Deanne Bahti, junior guard Jamie Turtenwald and sophomore guard Sarah Veloskey with 10 points each. The 94 points scored by the Titans established a season high. Junior forward Amanda Dickerson led both teams by grabbing eight rebounds, while Deuster tallied six, all in the first half.

UW-Superior (2-16 and 0-11 in the WIAC) was paced in scoring by senior forward Sheri Domitrovich's 11 points. The Yellowjackets shot just 28.6 percent (14-49) from the field to become the 71st opponent of UW-Oshkosh in the last 77 games to shoot under 50 percent.

Titans Race Past Pioneers Down The Stretch

Playing from behind most of the contest, the UW-Oshkosh women's basketball team put together an impressive rally in the closing minutes to defeat UW-Platteville, 73-61, on Wednesday (Jan. 24) night in Albee Hall. The victory was the 73rd for the Titans in their last 76 games played in Albee Hall and kept UW-Oshkosh atop the WIAC standings with a 9-1 league record.

Despite holding just a 34-31 lead at intermission, UW-Platteville (9-9 & 5-5 in the WIAC) dominated play in the first half. The Pioneers scored the game's first seven points and built leads of 13-4 and 29-19 with 14:48 and 5:46 left in the opening stanza. UW-Oshkosh (16-2) ended the first half with a 12-5 scoring run to cut the deficit to three points at the break,

In the second half, UW-Platteville made the home crowd nervous by taking a 53-48 lead with 8:18 left in the game. Earlier in the half, UW-Oshkosh took its first lead of the game, a 42-41 count with 14:49 remaining.

After an exchange of leads, UW-Platteville took a 59-56 advantage with 3:53 remaining. That shining moment would be the last that the Pioneers would enjoy as the Titans scored 17 unanswered points to lead 73-59 with 25 seconds. UW-Platteville scored a basket, only its third in the final 8:18 of the game, with 19 seconds remaining to conclude all tallies. UW-Oshkosh's scoring run was highlighted by six points by junior forward Amanda Dickerson and five by junior guard Jamie Turtenwald.

Dickerson led UW-Oshkosh in scoring with 25 points, including 17 in the second half. Turtenwald added 12 points for the Titans who have now defeated the Pioneers 23 straight times. Dickerson also grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds to compile her fifth double-double of the year and the second in as many games. Senior guard Laurie Buechel led UW-Platteville in scoring with 22 points.

UW-Oshkosh shot 50.8 percent (30-59) from the field and won the contest despite having 18 turnovers. UW-Platteville shot 42.6 percent (23-54) from the field to become the 70th UW-Oshkosh opponent in 76 games to shoot under 50 percent from the field. The Pioneers opportunity for an upset was prevented by 27 of their turnovers, including eight in the final 3:53 of the game.

Titans Regain Sole Possession Of First Place

What was expected to be an intriguing matchup between two first-place combatants turned into a rout as the UW-Oshkosh women's basketball team defeated host UW-River Falls, 71-60, on Saturday (Jan. 20) afternoon in Karges Sports Center. The victory enabled UW-Oshkosh to regain sole possession of first place in the WIAC standings with an 8-1 record. UW-River Falls now has primary custody of second place in the league standings with a 7-2 mark.

UW-Oshkosh (15-2) made no doubt about the outcome early in its contest with the Falcons as it jumped out to a 33-12 lead with 4:10 left in the first half. Junior forward Jenny Deuster scored 10 of UW-Oshkosh's first 33 points, including eight within a five-minute span. The Titans took their 37-19 lead at intermission by making 15 of their 24 field goal attempts (62.5 percent) and all four of their free throw tries. The Falcons (13-4) shot just 36.4 percent (8-22) from the field in the opening half and missed all seven of their attempts behind the three-point line.

UW-River Falls, which has lost its last 24 meetings with UW-Oshkosh, erased a 20-point deficit midway through the second half by going on a 16-3 scoring spree to trail 59-52 with 3:39 left in the game. UW-Oshkosh held off the Falcons the remainder of the contest with a jump shot and a three-point basket by junior guard Jamie Turtenwald, four free throws by sophomore guard Brenda Utech and three free throws by junior guard Kristin Steckmesser.

UW-Oshkosh had all five of its starters score in double figures as Steckmesser tallied 16 points, junior forward Amanda Dickerson 13, Deuster and Utech 12 and Turtenwald 11. Dickerson grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds in the contest to record her fourth double-double of the year. UW-Oshkosh concluded the game shooting 53.3 percent (24-45) from the field and 78.3 percent (18-23) from the free throw line.

UW-River Falls had a pair of double-figure scorers as junior forward Andrea Long tallied 17 points and junior guard Sarah Pollock 15. The Falcons wound up shooting 54.2 percent (21-46) from the field and 63.6 percent (14-22) from the charity stripe.

Titans Suffer Rare Home Setback

UW-Oshkosh, which suffered only its third setback in the last 75 games played in Albee Hall, built three seven-point leads in the first half before settling for a 35-33 advantage at intermission. UW-Eau Claire (12-4 and 5-3 in the WIAC) ended the first half with a 17-12 scoring run after trailing 23-16 with 9:08 remaining.

In the second half, UW-Eau Claire took control of the contest by turning a 44-43 deficit into a 70-58 lead with 4:27 left in the game. The Blugolds' 27-14 scoring run included 20 points by Schley. UW-Eau Claire held a double-digit lead the final five minutes of the game.

UW-Eau Claire connected on 27 of its 32 free throw attempts (84.4 percent) and made 26 of its 65 shots (40 percent) from the field. UW-Oshkosh shot 51 percent (26-51) from the field and just 54.5 percent (12-22) from the free throw line. The Blugolds also committed a season-low nine turnovers compared to 20 for the Titans (14-2 and 7-1 in the WIAC).

In addition to Schley's 36 points, UW-Eau Claire also received 11 points from senior guard Jessie Brantner. UW-Oshkosh had four players in double-figure scoring as junior forward Amanda Dickerson, sophomore guard Melissa Schweitzer and junior guard Kristin Steckmesser each scored 16 points to lead the way. Steckmesser also added six rebounds and five assists.

Titans Pick Up Big Road Win At UW-Stevens Point

Trailing at intermission and overcoming 61 percent (11-18) shooting by UW-Stevens Point in the second half, the UW-Oshkosh women's basketball team rallied to register a 72-62 win over the host Pointers on Saturday (Jan. 13) afternoon in Berg Gymnasium. The win was the 14th straight for UW-Oshkosh (14-1) and kept the Titans in sole possession of first place in the WIAC standings with a 7-0 record.

UW-Stevens Point (11-4 and 3-4 in the WIAC) led the entire first half en route to a 30-28 advantage at intermission. The Pointers built five eight-point leads in the opening half, with the latest being 30-22 with 1:52 left before the break. Junior center Kari Groshek tallied 12 points and junior forward Carry Boehning 10 to lead UW-Stevens Point's scoring in the first half.

The hardwood battle featured nine lead changes in the second half, with UW-Oshkosh taking the advantage for good at 46-45 with 9:58 remaining in the contest. UW-Oshkosh then went on to score the next nine points to lead 55-45 with 7:34 left. The final eight points by the Titans, all scored in the last 50 seconds, were compiled from the free throw line. In all, UW-Oshkosh was 18 of 23 from the charity stripe in the second half.

UW-Oshkosh, which posted its 80th win in the last 87 WIAC contests, had four players in double-figure scoring. Sophomore guard Melissa Schweitzer led the way with 17 points, while sophomore guard Jamie Turtenwald added 15, junior guard Kristin Steckmesser 12 and junior forward Amanda Dickerson 11. The Titans also received nine points and a game-high 11 rebounds from senior guard Jenelle Ristau. Groshek scored 23 points to lead UW-Stevens Point, while freshman guard Tara Schmitt came off the bench to tally 16.

UW-Stevens Point, which has dropped its last 21 meetings with the Titans, shot 54.3 percent (25-46) from the field to become only the sixth opponent in UW-Oshkosh's last 73 games to shoot better than 50 percent from the field.

Titans Defeat Eagles For 25th Straight Time

A 69-49 win over UW-La Crosse on Wednesday (Jan. 10) night in Albee Hall gave the UW-Oshkosh women's basketball team its 25th straight victory over the visiting Eagles. UW-Oshkosh, which has won 79 of its last 86 WIAC contests, remains in sole possession of first place in the league standings with its 6-0 record.

UW-Oshkosh (13-1) bursted to a 26-9 lead with 8:02 left in the first half and never looked back. Junior guard Kristin Steckmesser scored seven points, senior guard Jenelle Ristau six and junior forward Amanda Dickerson five during the Titans' opening scoring run. UW-La Crosse ended the first half with four unanswered points to cut the deficit to 39-18 at intermission. UW-Oshkosh maintained a double-digit lead the entire second half, with the closest margin being 17 points at 46-29 with 11:57 left in the game.

Steckmesser led UW-Oshkosh to its 72nd win in the last 74 games in Albee Hall by scoring 14 points, grabbing five rebounds and dishing off three assists. Dickerson added nine points, five rebounds and one assist, while sophomore guard Melissa Schweitzer contributed nine points and two rebounds. Junior forward Jill Murray led UW-La Crosse (6-8 and 1-5 in the WIAC) in scoring with 11 points,

UW-Oshkosh shot 42.9 percent (21-49) from the field in the contest compared to just 37.5 percent for the Eagles. UW-La Crosse has now shot under 50 percent from the field in its last 38 games. Meanwhile, UW-Oshkosh has now held 67 of its last 72 opponents under 50 percent field goal shooting.

Titans Remain Atop WIAC Standings

Junior forward Amanda Dickerson tallied a career-high 31 points to help the UW-Oshkosh women's basketball team outscore UW-Stout, 90-79, on Saturday (Jan. 6) afternoon in Johnson Fieldhouse. The victory kept visiting UW-Oshkosh in sole possession of first place in the WIAC standings with a 5-0 record, one-game ahead of UW-Eau Claire's second-place ledger of 4-1.

Dickerson led the Titans to their 12th straight win by connecting on 13 of 17 field goal attempts and five of seven free throw tries. She swished the nets for 20 points in the second half on eight of 10 shooting from the field and four of six shooting from the charity stripe.

UW-Oshkosh (12-1) also had three other double-figure scorers in the contest as junior guard Kristin Steckmesser netted 18 points and sophomore guard Melissa Schweitzer and junior guard Jamie Turtenwald 14 each. Steckmesser scored 15 points in the first half as the Titans posted a 45-31 advantage at intermission.

UW-Oshkosh, which defeated UW-Stout, 98-61, the last time the two teams met, shot 62.7 percent (32-51) from the field in Saturday's contest. The Titans made 17 of 29 (58.6 percent) field goal attempts in the first half and 15 of 22 (68.2 percent) field goal tries in the second half. Added to the mix was three of eight (37.5 percent) shooting behind the three-point line and 23 of 38 (60.5 percent ) shooting from the free throw line. The Blue Devils (10-4 and 3-3 in the WIAC) shot 41.2 percent from the field, going 14 for 34 each half.

UW-Stout, which also yielded 90 points in its 90-76 loss to UW-River Falls on Wednesday (Jan. 3), was led in scoring by sophomore guard Tanya Halbach's 17 points.

Titans Move Into Sole Possession Of First Place

Ending the contest with a 19-6 scoring run, the UW-Oshkosh women's basketball team pulled away at the finish to defeat UW-Whitewater, 62-49, on Wednesday (Jan. 3) night in Albee Hall. The victory, coupled with UW-Eau Claire's 83-81 loss to UW-Stevens Point on Wednesday night, moved UW-Oshkosh into sole possession of first place in the WIAC standings with a 4-0 league record.

UW-Oshkosh and UW-Whitewater each dominated a 10-minute segment in the first half, with the Titans opening with a 15-9 scoring run and the Warhawks ending with a 17-9 scoring run. UW-Whitewater took a 26-24 lead at intermission by shooting 52.6 percent (10-19) from the field and outrebounding UW-Oshkosh, 17-8. The Titans shot just 34.6 percent (9-26) from the field in the first half.

In the second half, UW-Oshkosh (11-1) took a 42-35 lead with 12:07 left in the game before UW-Whitewater (3-6 and 0-5 in the WIAC) tied the contest at 43-43 with eight minutes remaining. The Titans dominated play down the stretch as sophomore guard Melissa Schweitzer tallied seven points and junior guard Jamie Turtenwald six during their game-ending 19-6 scoring run. UW-Oshkosh shot 61.9 percent (13-21) from the field and outrebounded UW-Whitewater, 22-6, in the second half. The Warhawks matched the Titans shooting from the field in the first by shooting just 34.6 percent (9-26) in the second half.

Schweitzer, Turtenwald and junior forward Amanda Dickerson each scored 15 points to lead the Titans to their 71st victory in their last 73 games played in Albee Hall. Turtenwald added five rebounds, five assists and three steals, while Dickerson grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds.

UW-Whitewater, which has lost seven of its last eight games to UW-Oshkosh, was led in scoring by junior guard Kelly Punzel's 13 points.

Titans Record Sweep Of Texas Foes

The UW-Oshkosh women's basketball team jumped out to a 15-5 lead and never looked back as it rolled to a 64-39 victory over McMurry University on Saturday (Dec. 30) night in Abilene, Texas.

The Titans, who defeated Hardin-Simmons University on Friday (Dec. 29) night in Abilene, have won 10 straight games since dropping the season opener to Concordia College. The victory was also the Titans' 38th in their last 46 non-conference contests.

Following a 2-2 tie, UW-Oshkosh (10-1) went on a 13-3 scoring run to lead 15-5 with 9:08 left in the first half. The Lady Indians (4-6) cut the deficit to 21-18 with 2:45 remaining in the opening period before the Titans scored 11 unanswered points to lead 32-18 at intermission.

UW-Oshkosh held McMurry University scoreless for the first 6:45 of the second half as it built a 44-18 lead with 13:15 remaining in the game. The 26-point advantage was the Titans' largest of the contest. UW-Oshkosh ended the game on a 9-2 scoring run after the Lady Indians cut the Titans' lead to 55-37 with 1:45 remaining.

Sophomore guard Melissa Schweitzer scored 12 points and grabbed a career-best 17 rebounds to lead the Titans, while senior guard Jenelle Ristau added 12 points, six rebounds and two blocked shots. Freshman forward Abby Holler came off the bench to tally 10 points and eight rebounds, both career highs. Sophomore center Corissa Thompson led McMurry University in scoring with 14 points.

UW-Oshkosh won the contest despite shooting 39.7 percent (23-58) from the field and committing 17 turnovers. The Titans' height advantage and aggressive defense pulled them through, however, as they posted a 53-30 rebounding edge while limiting the Lady Indians to just 23.2 percent (13-56) shooting from the field. UW-Oshkosh, which had a season-high 20 offensive rebounds, outrebounded McMurry University, 28-9, in the first half.

Strong Finish Lifts Titans To Ninth Straight Win

Scoring six unanswered points in the final 2:18 of the game, the UW-Oshkosh women's basketball team pulled away at the end to defeat Hardin Simmons University, 74-68, on Friday (Dec. 29) night in Abilene, Texas.

UW-Oshkosh (9-1) led throughout most of the first meeting between the two schools, with the only advantages for Hardin-Simmons University being at 1-0, 3-2 and 13-12. The Titans outscored the Cowgirls, 8-3, in the final 3:16 of the first half to lead 36-30 at intermission.

In the second half, UW-Oshkosh led 60-49 with 6:42 left in the game before the Cowgirls (6-3) tied the contest at 68-68 with 2:18 remaining. The Titans broke the 68-68 deadlock with a basket by junior guard Jamie Turtenwald with 1:44 left, a basket by junior forward Amanda Dickerson with 18 seconds left and a pair of free throws by junior guard Kristin Steckmesser with five seconds left in the game.

Steckmesser led UW-Oshkosh in scoring with 18 points, while sophomore guard Melissa Schweitzer added 17, Dickerson 13 and senior guard Jenelle Ristau 11. Turtenwald led the Titans with 10 assists, while freshman Deanna Bahti came off the bench to grab a team-best seven rebounds. Sophomore forward Kendra Anderson led Hardin-Simmons University in scoring with 21 points.

UW-Oshkosh shot 58.3 percent (28-48) from the field in the contest, while Hardin-Simmons University shot 42.9 percent (24-56). The Titans maintained their six-point halftime lead in the second half by limiting the Cowgirls to just 39.4 percent (13-33) shooting from the field.

Titans Win Eighth Straight Hardwood Battle

A 16-0 scoring run midway through the first half provided all the cushion the UW-Oshkosh women's basketball team needed Saturday (Dec. 16) night at the Schuldes Sports Center in De Pere as the Titans defeated St. Norbert College, 49-41. The victory was the eighth straight for UW-Oshkosh, which hasn't lost since dropping a 72-64 decision to Concordia College in the season opener.

St. Norbert College (4-4) scored the first four points of the game and took a 6-4 advantage with 16:57 left in the first half. The points would be the last that the Green Knights would score for the next 9:37 as UW-Oshkosh scored 16 unanswered points to lead 20-6 with 8:23 left before intermission. St. Norbert College cut UW-Oshkosh's halftime lead to 28-21 by outscoring the Titans, 6-2, in the final 3:14 of the first half.

In the second half, UW-Oshkosh outscored St. Norbert College, 8-1, during a span of nearly five minutes to lead 43-29 with 8:58 remaining in the game. The closest the Green Knights would get the rest of the contest would be 44-37 with 4:12 left.

Both teams were hampered by cold shooting from the field as the Titans made only 21 of 57 attempts for 36.8 percent and the Green Knights only 14 of 48 attempts for 29.2 percent. The two combatants also combined for 37 turnovers, with the Green Knights having 20.

Junior forward Jenny Deuster led UW-Oshkosh in scoring with 13 points, including eight in the first 4:56 of the game. Junior guard Kristin Steckmesser chipped in nine points, while sophomore guard Melissa Schweitzer and junior guard Jamie Turtenwald scored seven points each. Steckmesser also dished off a game-high seven assists, while junior forward Amanda Dickerson grabbed a team-high seven rebounds.

Senior forward Julie Schill led St. Norbert College in scoring with 17 points, including 10 in the second half.

20-Point Scoring Run Helps Keep Titans' WIAC Mark Perfect

Scoring 20 unanswered points midway through the second half, the UW-Oshkosh women's basketball team pulled away to defeat UW-River Falls, 60-47, on Saturday (Dec. 9) afternoon in Albee Hall. Tied at 36 with 13:08 left in the game, UW-Oshkosh tallied 20 straight points to take a 56-36 lead with 5:06 remaining.

The Titans (7-1 & 3-0 in the WIAC) soared out of the gates quickly, taking a 9-0 advantage five minutes into the game. Trailing the entire first half, including a 23-12 deficit, the Falcons flew back to take a 29-26 lead with 17:44 remaining in the contest. After UW-River Falls (7-2 and 1-1 in the WIAC) tied the contest at 36, the Titans responded to the Falcons' charge by recording their longest scoring run of the season. The Falcons closed a 21-point deficit by scoring the final eight points of the game.

UW-Oshkosh, which has won 70 of its last 72 games played in Albee Hall, had a pair of double-figure scorers. Junior forward Amanda Dickerson led the way for the Titans with 16 points, while junior guard Jamie Turtenwald tossed in 13. Dickerson, who played only four minutes in the first half due to foul trouble, also added three rebounds and one steal. Off the bench, senior guard Jenelle Ristau scored eight points, grabbed five rebounds, blocked two shots and recorded one steal in 19 minutes of playing time.

UW-River Falls, which has lost 23 straight games to the Titans, had three double-figure scorers as senior guard Mara Reif-Wenner tallied 14 points, junior center Andrea Long 13 and junior forward Tara Wakefield 11.

Titans Hold Off Pioneers, 66-61

Rallying from four seven-point deficits in the first half, the UW-Oshkosh women's basketball team held on to defeat UW-Platteville, 66-61, on Wednesday (Dec. 6) at the Williams Fieldhouse. The host Pioneers jumped out to advantages of 7-0, 9-2, 11-4 and 13-6 before the Titans went on a 27-13 scoring run to lead 33-26 with 2:05 left in the first half. UW-Platteville closed the scoring in the first half by netting nine unanswered points to lead 35-33 at intermission.

UW-Oshkosh led throughout most of the second half, taking the lead for good at 52-50 with 9:52 remaining in the contest. The Titans built leads of 61-54 and 63-56 before the Pioneers cut the deficit to 64-61 with 19 seconds left in the game. After a missed free throw by UW-Oshkosh with 17 seconds remaining, UW-Platteville junior forward Crystal Stietz missed a game-tying three-point field goal with two seconds left. The Titans closed the game's scoring with two free throws by junior forward Jenny Deuster with one second remaining.

UW-Oshkosh was paced to its 22nd straight victory over UW-Platteville by junior forward Amanda Dickerson and junior guard Kristin Steckmesser who both tallied 16 points. Dickerson also grabbed nine rebounds and recorded five steals, while Steckmesser added six assists and four rebounds. Other top performers for UW-Oshkosh were sophomore guard Melissa Schweitzer who scored 11 points and dished off four assists and Deuster who grabbed 11 rebounds and dished off five assists.

UW-Platteville, which was outrebounded 38-22 in the contest, was led by freshman center Tifanie Brady's effort of 18 points and eight rebounds.

Titans Coast To Victory In WIAC Opener

Jumping out to a 36-16 halftime lead the UW-Oshkosh women's basketball team went on to post a 64-46 victory over UW-Superior on Saturday (Dec. 2) at the Gates Fieldhouse in Superior.

The WIAC season opener for both teams saw UW-Oshkosh score the game's first six points en route to a 14-4 lead at the 11:22 mark of the first half. UW-Superior (2-3 and 0-1 in the WIAC) pulled to within 21-12 before the Titans went on a 15-4 scoring run in the final 5:13 of the first half to grab their 20-point halftime advantage.

UW-Oshkosh led by 20 or more points throughout most of the second half, including 25-point cushions at 44-19 and 50-26 with 16:56 and 13:03 remaining in the game, respectively. The closest margin between the two teams in the second half was 16 points when UW-Superior cut the deficit to 62-46 with 37 seconds left in the contest.

Junior forward Amanda Dickerson led UW-Oshkosh (5-1 and 1-0 in the WIAC) in scoring with 15 points, while junior guards Kristin Steckmesser and Jamie Turtenwald added nine points each. Senior center Sheri Domitrovich led UW-Superior in scoring with 16 points.

UW-Oshkosh cruised to the victory despite shooting 39.7 percent (25-63) from the field and committing 17 turnovers. The huge difference in the contest, however, was on the boards, where UW-Oshkosh had a 52-25 advantage. Junior forward Jenny Deuster led the Titans with 13 rebounds, while sophomore forward Deanne Bahti had six.

Titans Topple Wisconsin Lutheran College

Guards Jenelle Ristau and Jamie Turtenwald combined for 26 points, including 21 on three-pointers, to lead the UW-Oshkosh women's basketball team to a 51-46 victory over Wisconsin Lutheran College on Wednesday (Nov. 29) in Milwaukee.

Turtenwald, a junior, accounted for 13 points by hitting four of seven field goal attempts and one of two free throw tries. She was perfect shooting behind the three-point line by hitting all four attempts. Ristau, a senior making her first appearance for the Titans, tallied her 13 points on five of 10 field goal shooting, including three of six behind the three-point line. Ristau is a first-year transfer from Marquette University.

UW-Oshkosh (4-1) the led Crusaders nearly the entire contest, with the only deficits being 9-8, 11-10 and 15-13. Tied at 15, the Titans went on an 8-1 scoring run to lead 23-16 with 3:48 left in the first half. Ristau scored eight points and Turtenwald six as UW-Oshkosh led 25-21 at intermission.

In the second half, Wisconsin Lutheran College cut the Titans' lead to 30-29 with 13:22 left in the game. UW-Oshkosh responded to the charge by going on a 9-2 scoring run to lead 39-31 with 8:50 remaining. The Crusaders got to within two points twice during the closing minutes, 39-37 with 6:22 left and 41-39 with 4:25 remaining.

Senior center Sara Zondag paced Wisconsin Lutheran College (2-3) by scoring 15 points and grabbing 15 rebounds, both game highs.

Titans Crowned Holiday Classic Champion

Recording her second double-double in less than 24 hours, junior forward Amanda Dickerson led the UW-Oshkosh women's basketball team to a 74-57 victory over Illinois Wesleyan University on Saturday (Nov. 25) in the championship game of the UW-Oshkosh Holiday Classic held in Kolf Sports Center.

Dickerson, who scored 24 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in Friday's 84-57 win over Beloit College, tallied 14 points and grabbed 12 rebounds against Illinois Wesleyan University to receive the tournament's "Most Valuable Player" award. Her 38 minutes of playing time in the two games also featured 19 of 22 shooting from the field, four steals and two assists.

UW-Oshkosh (3-1) also received double-digit scoring from junior guard Kristin Steckmesser and sophomore guard Melissa Schweitzer, who compiled 16 and 14 points, respectively. Steckmesser also dished off eight assists and grabbed three rebounds. Freshman forward Brooke Bailey led Illinois Wesleyan University (1-3) in scoring with 14 points, while sophomore guard Emily Ettner added 12.

UW-Oshkosh took control of the championship game midway through the first half. After a 12-12 deadlock, UW-Oshkosh went on a 15-5 scoring run to lead 27-17 with 3:00 left in the opening period. The host Titans led the visiting Titans, 33-23, at intermission, primarily due to a 22-10 rebounding advantage.

In the second half, UW-Oshkosh limited Illinois Wesleyan University to just 30.3 percent (10-33) shooting from the field. UW-Oshkosh led by as many as 28 points in the second half, a 65-37 count with 7:28 remaining.

Saturday's consolation game saw Beloit College (1-2) defeat Manchester College, 87-80 in double-overtime. Manchester College, which missed its first nine field goal attempts and trailed 18-0 at the 13:28 mark of the first half, sent the game to overtime on junior center Missy Hoppe's two free throws (seven seconds left in regulation) and to the second overtime on sophomore forward Libby Borror's jump shot (four seconds left in the first overtime).

Junior guard Julie Wilke scored 26 points to lead Beloit College in scoring, while senior center Kynthia Wyatt added 24. Freshman guard Bridget Sanders led the Spartans (1-3) in scoring with 18 points.

In addition to Dickerson, others named to the all-tournament team were Wyatt of Beloit College, Bailey and Ettner of Illinois Wesleyan University and Steckmesser and junior guard Jamie Turtenwald of UW-Oshkosh. The tournament title was UW-Oshkosh's seventh in the nine-year history of the event.

Titans Roll To Championship Game Of Own Tournament

Amanda Dickerson recorded her fourth career double-double as the UW-Oshkosh women's basketball team cruised to an 84-57 win over Beloit College Friday (Nov. 24) night in Kolf Sports Center. The victory pits the Titans (2-1) into the championship game of their own tournament, a 2 p.m. contest on Saturday against Illinois Wesleyan University (1-2).

UW-Oshkosh led 40-28 at intermission as Dickerson scored 14 of her game-high 24 points and grabbed seven of her game-high 10 rebounds in the opening 20 minutes. The Titans shot 57.1 percent (16-28) from the field and committed only six turnovers in the first half.

UW-Oshkosh improved its advantage over the Buccaneers (0-2) to as many as 28 points in the second half by shooting 55.6 percent (20-36) from the field and forcing 11 turnovers. Junior guard Kristin Steckmesser led the Titans offensively in the second half by scoring 11 of her 15 points in that 20-minute period.

UW-Oshkosh concluded the game shooting 56.3 percent (36-64) from the field, including eight baskets in 16 attempts behind the three-point line. The Titans also held a 38-23 advantage on the boards and recorded seven blocked shots. Senior center Kynthia Wyatt led Beloit College in scoring with 21 points, including 13 in the first half.

Friday's victory was also the 100th coaching win for UW-Oshkosh head coach Pam Ruder. The fifth-year mentor has compiled a career coaching record of 100-16, with all the decisions at UW-Oshkosh.

In Friday's other contest in Kolf Sports Center, Illinois Wesleyan University defeated Manchester College, 88-74. The contest featured some impressive free throw shooting as Manchester College (1-2) made 34 of its 39 attempts (87.2 percent) and Illinois Wesleyan University 31 of its 36 attempts (86.1 percent). The shooting performance by the two teams at the charity stripe (65-75 for 86.7 percent) set a NCAA Division III record, eclipsing the previous combined mark of 86.5 percent (64-74) by Elizabethtown College and Moravian College in 1993.

Junior center Cindy Uphoff of Illinois Wesleyan University and junior center Sam Wideman of Manchester College each scored 20 points to take team scoring honors.

Titans Rebound From Season-Opening Loss With 66-59 Win

The UW-Oshkosh women's basketball team rallied from a 13-point deficit to defeat Augustana College (Ill.), 66-59, on Saturday (Nov. 18) afternoon in Decorah, Iowa. The victory was the Titans' 182nd in their last 204 games and evened their record at 1-1 after suffering a 72-64 loss to Concordia College (Minn.) in the season opener on Friday.

Augustana College (0-2) led 25-22 at halftime after building leads of 18-6 (11:07), 22-10 (6:51) and 25-12 (4:29) in the opening 20 minutes. UW-Oshkosh made the margin three points at intermission by going on a 10-0 scoring run during the final 4:29 of the first half.

UW-Oshkosh broke a 38-38 deadlock by scoring nine of the next 11 points to lead 47-40 with 8:22 left in the game. The Vikings closed to within two points (60-58) with 38 seconds remaining, but the Titans responded to the threat by ending the contest with a 6-1 scoring run.

Sophomore Melissa Schweitzer led UW-Oshkosh in scoring with 19 points, while junior Kristin Steckmesser added 18 points and junior Amanda Dickerson 10. Steckmesser also contributed four rebounds, three assists and three steals.

Brijan Knapp led Augustana College in scoring with 14 points. The Vikings lost the game despite shooting 64.7 percent (22-34) from the field, the highest performance against the Titans since the University of St. Thomas shot 66.7 percent (38-57) in the final game of UW-Oshkosh's 1990-91 season.

Concordia College Trips Titans In Season Opener

For only the sixth time in the last 27 years the UW-Oshkosh women's basketball team will begin a season with a 0-1 record. UW-Oshkosh suffered a rare season-opening setback on Friday (Nov. 17) in Decorah, Iowa, when it dropped a 72-64 decision to Concordia College (Minn.).

Concordia College (1-0) led 29-22 at intermission despite shooting just 26.5 percent (9-34) from the field. The Titans (0-1) were hampered in their first half performance by 25.9 percent (7-27) field goal shooting and 35 percent (7-20) free throw shooting. The first-20 minutes featured 30 fouls called.

UW-Oshkosh rallied from a 14-point deficit to take a seven-point lead in the middle of the second half. The Cobbers stormed back to take the advantage with five minutes left in the contest and eventually held on to post the eight-point win.

Sophomore Melissa Schweitzer and junior Kristin Steckmesser each tallied 14 points to lead the Titans in scoring. Schweitzer also grabbed a career-high six rebounds, while Steckmesser dished off five assists. UW-Oshkosh also received eight points and a career-high seven assists from junior Jamie Turtenwald and eight points and 11 rebounds from junior Amanda Dickerson. Sara Spears led Concordia College to its win over the Titans by scoring 25 points and grabbing 15 rebounds, both game-highs.