Titans Improve To 19-4 By Conquering Falcons
UW-Oshkosh used precise passing and clutch foul shooting to book a 66-64 win over the UW-River Falls women's basketball team on Saturday (Feb. 9) in Kolf Sports Center.
The Titans (19-4/11-3 WIAC) remained in the hunt for a bye in the conference tournament, which begins on Feb. 20. UW-Oshkosh recorded 18 assists on 23 baskets, while also posting a season-low eight turnovers.
Katie Kitzke (Sr. • South Milwaukee) led all players with 22 points. She made 9-of-10 free throws, as UW-Oshkosh finished 14-of-15 at the charity stripe (93 percent).
Katelyn Kuehl (So. • Fond du Lac) was a strong inside presence with 11 points, five rebounds and five assists. The Titans used 12 points and five boards by Sarah Stecker (Jr. • Menasha) and eight points and five assists from Ashley Neustifter (Fr. • Oshkosh).
UW-River Falls (13-10/7-7 WIAC) held a 15-11 lead after nine minutes thanks to seven points by Jessie Van Wyhe. The Titans responded with Kitzke, who buried consecutive three-pointers to put UW-Oshkosh ahead, 19-17.
A lay-up from Ashley Winterfeldt (Sr. • Hortonville) extended the margin to 32-24, and the Titans took a 34-26 lead to halftime.
The game's only double-digit cushion (37-27) was after a Kitzke three-ball early in the second period.
UW-River Falls put together an 18-6 run to take the lead. Hailey Siegle knocked down a pair of deep jumpers and then marked a mid-range hoop and lay-in. Van Wyhe sank a jump shot with 11:45 remaining that put the Falcons up, 45-43.
Neustifter drained a triple 90 seconds later to regain the lead for UW-Oshkosh, which held it the rest of the night. Stecker then made a lay-up and two free throws for a 57-49 advantage at the 5:52 mark.
With nine seconds left, Nikki Guhr canned a jumper to pull within 64-62. Kitzke nailed five free throws in the last 47 seconds, including a pair with 0:07 remaining to seal the outcome.
The Titans shot well all over the court with 48 percent accuracy (23-48) from the field and 55 percent marksmanship from downtown (6-11).
UW-River Falls won the rebounding category, 27-24, while shooting 52 percent (28-54) from the field, 33 percent (5-15) from long range and 75 percent at the foul line (3-4). The Falcons, who lost for the first time in five games, committed 12 turnovers.
Van Wyhe paced the visitors with 17 points and four assists. Brittany Gregorich tacked on 10 points and six rebounds, to go with 12 points by Siegle.
UW-Oshkosh visits UW-Whitewater on Wednesday (Feb. 13). The winner of that contest will hold the WIAC lead with one game to play.
By Jon Feyen