Eagles Get Rare Triple-Double In Win Over Titans

UW-La Crosse's Danielle Frank blocked seven shots in the first 14 minutes on her way to a triple-double during the Eagles' 68-51 win over the UW-Oshkosh women's basketball team on Wednesday (Feb. 10) in Kolf Sports Center.

Frank's defense set the tone early in the contest, as she finished with 10 points, 10 rebounds and 10 blocks. Melissa Lang led UW-La Crosse (16-7/8-6 WIAC) in scoring with 15 points, while Stacie Van Handel pitched in 12.

UW-Oshkosh (7-16/2-12 WIAC) scored the first points of the game when Dannielle Bauer (Jr. • Dell Rapids, S.D.) swished a jumper at the 18:07 mark. Lindsey Litrenta then tied the game for the Eagles with her jumper a short time later.

The Eagles extended their advantage to 7-2 with 15:45 left in the opening half on five straight points from Lang. Dana Churchill converted a three-point play, starting a 13-0 UW-La Crosse run for a 20-4 cushion with 11:43 remaining.

After Bauer cut the Titans' deficit to 14 points (20-6), the Eagles had Frank and Lang tally back-to-back buckets. Litrenta knocked down a long trey, but Laura Ebbens (Jr. • Appleton) swished consecutive jumpers to pull the Titans within 27-10 at the 7:01 mark.

UW-La Crosse outscored the Titans, 10-0, in the next 2:44 of play, receiving six straight points from Van Handel to start the streak. The Titans then recorded six of the half's final nine points, cutting the Eagles' lead to 40-16 on a lay-up from Katie Kitzke (Fr. • South Milwaukee) as time expired.

The Eagles quickly built a 30-point (48-18) advantage 1:12 into the second period with a long jumper from Lang. The Titans answered with a lay-up from Kelsey Myklebust (So. • Wisconsin Dells) and a three-pointer from Kitzke to bring the lead down to 48-24.

Van Handel once again made a string of baskets to put UW-La Crosse up, 54-24, with 11:01 to go in the game. Soon after, Shelby Churchill (Jr. • Sheboygan) swished a three-pointer to help UW-Oshkosh crawl back within 54-29.

The two teams traded buckets for a stretch, with the Titans pulling to 57-34 at the 7:29 mark when Kitzke drained a jumper. After Sheila Opelt converted a three-point play, Megan Wenig (Fr. • Oshkosh) and Ebbens each made a lay-up for a 60-38 score.

UW-La Crosse held a 66-42 advantage with 3:06 to play when Kitzke drained a triple at the 2:44 mark. After Frank answered with a lay-up, Kitzke dialed in from long distance twice in the last minute of play, creating the game's final score.

The Titans were paced by 16 points from Kitzke, while Ebbens and Wenig each tallied eight. Churchill gathered nine rebounds and served up three assists.

UW-Oshkosh shot 34 percent (18-53) from the field, 66.7 percent (10-15) from the free-throw stripe and 33.3 percent (5-15) from behind the three-point line. The Titans corralled 29 rebounds and committed 11 turnovers.

UW-La Crosse shot 53.1 percent (26-49) from the field and 53.3 percent (8-15) from the charity stripe. The Eagles made 8-of-14 from three-point range (57.1 percent), gathered 33 rebounds and committed 12 turnovers.

The Titans face UW-Superior in the home finale on Saturday (Feb. 13).