Titans Capture WIAC Tournament, Clinch NCAA Berth
UW-Oshkosh is going to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 14 years after defeating UW-Superior, 75-69, in the championship game of the WIAC Women's Basketball Tournament held Saturday (March 1) in Kolf Sports Center.
The Titans (24-3), ranked 14th in the country, will learn their assignment for the 2014 NCAA Division III Championship on Monday (March 3).
Katelyn Kuehl's 18 points and 11 rebounds led UW-Oshkosh to victory. The Titans shot 50 percent (24-48) from the floor, including a season-high 67 percent (6-9) from three-point range.
It was a tight game early, with a 9-9 score after seven minutes of play. UW-Superior (16-12) opened up a five-point lead, but the Titans came back to tie it at 19.
UW-Oshkosh went ahead, 36-34, on Morgan Kokta's three-pointer late in the first half. The Yellowjackets took a 39-38 lead to intermission.
Kuehl and Sarah Stecker made baskets early in the second period to put the Titans ahead, 50-44. Ashley Neustifter then buried one from downtown to make it 56-49 with 14:54 remaining.
Sally Linzmeier tallied the next six points to close the gap for the Yellowjackets.
Trailing 58-56 with 10:16 left, the Titans rose to the occasion by scoring 11 straight points. Kokta and Alicia Tollefson each nailed a three-pointer before Marissa Selner's traditional three-point play put UW-Oshkosh up, 67-58.
UW-Superior pulled within four points (70-66) at the 2:12 mark, but the Titans made their free throws down the stretch to hold on.
Other Titans with double-digit scoring were Selner with 14 points, Stecker with 13 and Kokta with 10. Taylor Schmidt posted seven assists, while Neustifter counted six. UW-Oshkosh finished with 78 percent (21-27) shooting at the foul line.
The Yellowjackets shot 44 percent (24-55) from the field, 40 percent (8-20) from long range and 81 percent (13-16) at the charity stripe.
Brynn Liljander came off the bench to score 21 points. Linzmeier scored 20 points while totaling six steals, five rebounds and four assists.
UW-Oshkosh captured the rebounding category, 36-23.
By Jon Feyen