Titans Maul Lions

UW-Oshkosh scored the first 17 points of the game and rolled to a 68-49 victory over the Finlandia University (Mich.) women's basketball team on Saturday (Nov. 19) in Stevens Point.

The Titans (3-0) did not allow a score until 6:16 into play. Meanwhile, six different players got in the UW-Oshkosh box score. Megan Wenig (Jr. • Oshkosh) finished off a three-point play to make it 7-0. A few plays later, Sarah Stecker (So. • Menasha) buried a lay-up and jump shot to make it 15-0 with 14:37 on the clock.

A trio of mid-range buckets stretched the margin to 26-5 midway through the opening half. UW-Oshkosh then swished five free throws and got a Nichole Paisar (Fr. • Leopolis) three-pointer to lead at the break, 36-9.

After shooting 4-for-25 in the first period, Finlandia (0-3) booked 44 percent accuracy during the second. The Lions' big spurt featured 12 unanswered points to pull within 54-31. Megan Turunen capped the streak with consecutive triples at the 10:10 mark.

Marissa Burke added some positives for Finlandia by tallying a steal, two lay-ups and two hoops behind the arc during the last four minutes. Her fast-break score with 41 seconds remaining brought the deficit under 19 points. Burke finished with a team-high 13 points, in addition to eight rebounds.

Katie Kitzke (Jr. • South Milwaukee) paced all players with 16 points. The Titans also received 10 points and four assists from Wenig. UW-Oshkosh, which shot 45 percent overall, got a productive nine points, six rebounds and six steals by Heather Conroy (Fr. • Wisconsin Dells). The victors also totaled 2-of-6 long-range shooting (33 percent) and 20-of-27 free throw accuracy (74 percent).

Finlandia compiled 32 percent shooting from the field, including 35 percent (8-23) from three-point range. The Lions also made three of their five foul shots (60 percent). Shaikiera Armstrong recorded a double-double with her 10 points and 10 rebounds.

The Titans, who are 3-0 for the second straight year, won the turnover battle by a 15-20 margin and the rebounding category by a 42-30 figure.

The weekend games with Alverno College and Finlandia University were part of the UW-Stevens Point Tip-Off Classic. Both Kitzke and Wenig were named to the All-Tournament Team.

UW-Oshkosh concludes its four-game road trip at Ripon College on Tuesday (Nov. 22).