Titans Continue Rolling With Win Over Blugolds

UW-Oshkosh remained undefeated at home and clinched a WIAC Tournament spot with its 69-44 victory over the UW-Eau Claire women's basketball team on Thursday (Jan. 31) in Kolf Sports Center.

The Titans (17-3/9-2 WIAC) are now 7-0 at home, with those wins coming by an average of 14 points. UW-Oshkosh didn't trail for the final 35 minutes, including a double-digit lead for the last 14.

Katie Kitzke (Sr. • South Milwaukee) scored a game-high 13 points, while Katelyn Kuehl (So. • Fond du Lac) added 11 points and seven rebounds. UW-Oshkosh totaled 20 assists – their most during league play this season.

Megan Wenig (Sr. • Oshkosh) drained three-pointers 47 seconds apart to give the Titans a 13-6 lead. UW-Oshkosh connected on 7-of-11 shots to start the game. Kitzke recorded a pair of steals, turning one into a Kuehl lay-up that made it a 17-11 cushion.

UW-Eau Claire (9-12/4-8 WIAC) did its damage from downtown, nailing 6-of-8 triples in the first half. A three-ball from Courtney Lewis at the 5:36 mark tied it at 22.

Kitzke put the Titans ahead with a lay-up before tacking on a three-point play. UW-Oshkosh held a six-point advantage at halftime, and on the opening possession of the second period, Kitzke buried a three-pointer to lead, 35-26.

A jump shot by Leah Rempert pulled UW-Eau Claire within 41-33, but it would get no closer. Sarah Stecker (Jr. • Menasha) counted back-to-back hoops, including one after a perfect bullet pass from Wenig.

Alicia Tollefson (So. • Crystal Falls, Mich.) sank a three-ball and a jumper around the six-minute mark to seal the outcome with a 61-41 margin.

UW-Oshkosh had 11 different players score in the contest. Tollefson marked eight points, to go with five assists from Ashley Neustifter (Fr. • Oshkosh) and three steals by Kitzke. The Titans held a 34-26 edge in rebounds.

Rempert tallied 10 points to lead the Blugolds, while Teenie Lichtfuss marked seven points and three rebounds. UW-Eau Claire compiled 39 percent (18-46) shooting from the field, 50 percent (7-14) from long range and 25 percent at the foul line (1-4).

The Titans, who rank second nationally in foul shooting (78 percent), made 7-of-9 free throws (78 percent). UW-Oshkosh attained 48 percent (28-58) overall shooting, including 6-of-18 success on three-pointers (33 percent).

While UW-Eau Claire committed 18 turnovers, the Titans had a season-low nine.

UW-Oshkosh visits UW-Superior (17-4) this Saturday (Feb. 2).