Titans 6-0 After Freezing Muskies

UW-Oshkosh continued its best start in nine years with a 59-41 women's basketball triumph over Lakeland College on Tuesday (Nov. 26) in Kolf Sports Center.

The Titans improved to 6-0 largely thanks to a +20 rebounding margin. UW-Oshkosh played suffocating defense, forcing Lakeland College to miss its first eight shots of the game.

Sarah Stecker scored 11 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for her second career double-double. The Titans also used 13 points and five rebounds from Katelyn Kuehl, 11 points by Brittany Mirsberger and seven rebounds from Alex Richard.

The Muskies (1-2) couldn't make a field goal until the 6:17 mark of play. Meanwhile, Kuehl scored a put-back and two free throws to give the Titans a 13-3 lead. Maggie Novak connected from downtown with 11:45 on the clock to make it 18-3.

Leah Eisner made consecutive lay-ups to pull Lakeland College within 23-12. UW-Oshkosh was able to maintain its double-figure cushion with three straight jumpers by Taylor Schmidt, Stecker and Alicia Tollefson.

Kuehl added five more foul shots, as Tollefson buried a mid-range jumper, to give the Titans a 34-16 halftime advantage.

Battling in the paint, Stecker scored her team's opening five points of the second period. Mirsberger then hit a lay-up and a free throw to give UW-Oshksoh a 46-25 lead with 12:18 remaining.

Stecker increased the Titans' lead to 54-28 with a lay-up and two free throws. UW-Oshkosh finished 17-for-25 at the line for 68-percent accuracy.

UW-Oshkosh totaled 40 percent (20-50) shooting from the field, including 2-for-13 success (15 percent) behind the three-point arc. The Titans turned the ball over 15 times.

Lakeland College compiled 34 percent (15-44) shooting overall, while making 2-of-16 three-pointers (13 percent) and 9-of-11 free throws (82 percent). The Muskies committed 14 turnovers.

Eisner led the visitors with 14 points, five rebounds and five steals. Lakeland College also had Lexie Greenheck grab eight rebounds.

UW-Oshkosh is off until it hosts UW-Platteville in the WIAC opener on Dec. 4 in Kolf Sports Center.

By Jon Feyen

Photo by Steve Frommell