Titans Trap Bearcats

Six players in double-figure scoring led the UW-Oshkosh women's basketball team to an 85-67 victory over Baruch College (N.Y.) on Tuesday (Dec. 29) in Phoenix, Ariz.

Laura Ebbens (Jr. • Appleton) paced UW-Oshkosh (4-7) in scoring with 15 points. The Titans also received 13 points each from Michelle Boeder (Jr. • Oshkosh), Shelby Churchill (Jr. • Sheboygan) and Katie Kitzke (Fr. • South Milwaukee) and 12 from both Heidi Baerenwald (So. • Appleton) and Megan Wenig (Fr. • Oshkosh).

Churchill complimented her scoring by grabbing 15 rebounds and dishing off five assists. It was the fifth career double-double for Churchill.

UW-Oshkosh also benefited from the seven assists by Ebbens, five rebounds by Baerenwald and the four assists and three rebounds by Wenig.

Baruch College (6-3), a first-time opponent of UW-Oshkosh, was led by the 17 points and 12 rebounds of Megan Bouwens. The Bearcats also received 16 points and seven rebounds from Kalea Davis and 16 points, eight assists and seven rebounds from Monique Salmon.

UW-Oshkosh shot 58.2 percent (32-55 from the field, including a blistering 75 percent (18-24) in the second half. The Titans shot 50 percent (5-10) behind the three-point line and 94.1 percent (16-27) from the free-throw stripe. UW-Oshkosh collected 36 rebounds while committing 20 turnovers.

Baruch College shot 38 percent (21-71) from the field, 18.8 percent (3-16) behind the three-point arc and 76.9 percent (10-13) from the free-throw line. The Bearcats grabbed 35 rebounds while turning the basketball over 18 times.

Baruch College opened the contest with a 13-10 lead. UW-Oshkosh then scored 10 straight points, including five by Kitzke to take a 20-13 advantage with 9:59 left in the first half.

The Bearcats cut the Titans' lead to 33-25 with 2:22 left in the opening period, but UW-Oshkosh stormed to the break with a 38-25 advantage after getting five points from Wenig and two from Kelsey Myklebust (So. • Wisconsin Dells).

UW-Oshkosh's lead stayed around 15 points until the Titans scored five straight points to take a 66-46 lead with 8:50 to play. The Titans increased their lead to 79-54 before the Bearcats closed the final 4:44 of action with a 13-6 scoring run.

UW-Oshkosh led by 11-plus points the final 21:39 of the game.

The Titans tangle with Keene State College (N.H.) on Wednesday (Dec 30) in Phoenix, Ariz.