Titans Race Past Pioneers

UW-Oshkosh grabbed the lead with 14 unanswered points as it pulled away for a 74-56 women's basketball triumph over UW-Platteville on Thursday (Feb. 3) in Kolf Sports Center.

The Titans (11-10/6-6 WIAC) hit better than 87 percent of their free throws for the fourth straight game as they made 14-of-16 (88 percent). Laura Ebbens (Sr. • Appleton) paced the team with 18 points and six assists as the Titans shot 51 percent from the field (28-55).

The first three minutes of the contest belonged to Ashley Callahan. She buried two triples, a mid-range jumper and a lay-up to take a 10-2 lead. Ashley Wolf then drained an attempt from beyond the arc to make it 13-4 at the 15:34 mark.

As the Pioneers (5-15/1-10 WIAC) went scoreless for the next 3:36, UW-Oshkosh tallied 14 points. Michelle Boeder (Sr. • Oshkosh) brought the Titans within two before Katie Kitzke (So. • South Milwaukee) swished another three-point basket to gain a 14-13 advantage. A Kelsey Myklebust (Jr. • Wisconsin Dells) hoop completed the rally and made it 18-13 with 12:15 on the clock.

After Ebbens converted two buckets, Shelby Churchill (Sr. • Sheboygan) registered a jumper, a lay-in and three free throws to go up by 11. Closing a half in which the Titans shot 63 percent, Ebbens dropped in five late points to take a 38-26 lead at the break.

The Pioneers scored in the paint and at the charity stripe to make it interesting in the second half. Five different players got in the scorebook as UW-Platteville pulled within 44-39. Liz Lawinger connected on a jumper with 11:27 remaining that achieved the smallest deficit of four points (49-45).

UW-Oshkosh put the nail in the coffin with a 15-2 scoring run over six minutes. Myklebust sandwiched six points around two three-pointers from Boeder. The streak put the Titans ahead, 64-47, with 4:59 to go.

Boeder marked the Titans' final five points as she finished with 17. Myklebust added 14 points, to go along with Churchill's 12 points and 11 rebounds. UW-Oshkosh gained a 38-27 win on the boards to overcome its 25 percent long-range shooting (4-16).

The Pioneers had just one player break eight points as Callahan marked 21 points and six rebounds on 8-of-10 shooting. Brittany Brown added eight points and five boards for the Pioneers, who compiled 39 percent accuracy from the field, 24 percent marksmanship (4-17) from downtown and 80 percent efficiency at the foul line (8-10).

UW-Oshkosh has a quick turnaround as it visits UW-Stout on Saturday (Feb. 5) in Menomonie.