Titans Shoot Down Red Hawks

Megan Wenig (Jr. • Oshkosh) hit 10 free throws and tallied a career-high 22 points in UW-Oshkosh's 71-55 victory over the Ripon College women's basketball team on Tuesday (Nov. 22) in Ripon.

The Titans opened the season 4-0 for the first time since 2004. Wenig added five assists for UW-Oshkosh, which hit 53 percent (19-36) of its field goals and 50 percent of its three-point tries (8-16). Kate Kitzke (Jr. • South Milwaukee) tacked on 19 points for the Titans.

Leading the entire game, UW-Oshkosh opened the night with a deep jumper from Kelsey Myklebust (Sr. • Wisconsin Dells). Wenig and Ripon College's (0-3) Erin Lind then traded three-pointers to make it 8-7.

The Red Hawks would pull within 10-9 before the Titans took over. UW-Oshkosh marked 14 of the next 16 points, forcing Ripon to miss five straight shots. Kitzke, Wenig and Heather Conroy (Fr. • Wisconsin Dells) each made two foul shots to give their squad a 24-11 lead at the 6:42 mark.

The Titans booked the final eight points of the half and held Ripon scoreless for 4:44. Kitzke connected on a two-point jumper and a three-point attempt. Wenig then drained three at the charity stripe for a 34-14 halftime cushion.

With the margin in double digits for the last 27:06, the Red Hawks got as close as 58-48 with 4:48 remaining. That score came after Lind drilled consecutive jumpers and Sia Gonyo buried a three-pointer.

UW-Oshkosh clinched the contest with free throws, where they finished 25-of-30 for 83 percent accuracy. The Titans dominated the rebounding battle (36-21) while receiving seven points, seven rebounds and two steals from Conroy.

The charity stripe hurt Ripon, as it sank just 12-of-26 opportunities (46 percent). The Red Hawks also compiled 36 percent (20-56) shooting, including 25 percent behind the arc (3-12). Lind paced the team with 14 points and seven rebounds, while Gonyo totaled 10 points and Brittany Johnson three steals.

The Titans have their home opener against Loras College (Iowa) on Saturday (Nov. 26).