Titans Best Blugolds

The UW-Oshkosh women's basketball team used a 17-4 second-half run to take control during a 67-58 win over UW-Eau Claire on Wednesday (Jan. 27) in Kolf Sports Center.

Megan Wenig (Fr. • Oshkosh) swished a three-pointer with 12:23 left, giving UW-Oshkosh (7-12/2-8 WIAC) a 43-42 lead. After a pair of free throws from Laura Ebbens (Jr. • Appleton), the Titans earned a 48-43 advantage when Michelle Boeder (Jr. • Oshkosh) knocked down a triple.

Following a lay-up from Katie Kitzke (Fr. • South Milwaukee), UW-Eau Claire (7-12/6-4 WIAC) cut its deficit to 50-45 on Tessa Feyereisen's jumper with 9:01 to play. Soon after, Shelby Churchill (Jr. • Sheboygan) scored the next four points for a 54-45 Titan advantage.

Kitzke buried two free throws to put UW-Oshkosh up, 57-46, with 7:04 to play. Ellen Plendl then converted a lay-up and Sarah Bingea a jumper as the Blugolds pulled within nine (59-50). The Titans led by at least eight points for the final 2:18 of play.

UW-Eau Claire opened the game with a 13-6 advantage after knocking down six of its first eight shots from the field. Boeder hit a three-pointer at the 12:49 mark to pull the Titans closer, while Wenig drilled consecutive three-pointers. The Blugolds held a three-point margin (22-19) with 7:47 left in the opening period.

Plendl helped UW-Eau Claire build a five-point advantage (29-24) on two free throws. Bingea then knocked down a jumper to give the Blugolds a 31-27 cushion at the 2:09 mark. Wenig responded by hitting from the paint and Kitzke converted a free throw to pull the Titans within one (31-30) at the half.

The Titans, who snapped a six-game losing streak to the Blugolds, were led by a career-high 20 points from Wenig and a season-best 16 points with eight rebounds from Churchill. UW-Oshkosh also obtained 12 points from Kitzke and nine points and five assists from Boeder.

UW-Eau Claire was led by 16 points and four assists from Mesick. Plendl and Bingea contributed 13 points each for the Blugolds, with Plendl corralling nine rebounds and blocking three shots.

UW-Oshkosh shot 48.8 percent (20-41) from the field and 18-of-24 from the free-throw stripe (75 percent). The Titans made 9-of-18 from three-point range (50 percent) while gathering 27 rebounds and committing a season-low 10 turnovers.

UW-Eau Claire posted shooting marks of 40.4 percent (23-57) from the field, 30.8 percent (4-13) behind the three-point line and 61.5 percent (8-13) from the foul line. The Blugolds gathered 33 rebounds and committed 11 turnovers.

UW-Oshkosh travels to UW-River Falls on Saturday (Jan. 30).