Titans Take Care Of Knights In NCAA Postseason Opener

Emma Melotik matched her career high with 15 points to help UW-Oshkosh to a 63-55 victory over Calvin College (Mich.) during the first round of the NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Championship on Friday (March 3) in Kolf Sports Center.

UW-Oshkosh (25-3), ranked 13th in the country by D3hoops.com, took the lead for good at 28-26 on a 3-pointer by Eliza Campbell with 3:02 remaining in the third quarter. The Titans built their largest lead of 14 points at 59-45 on a Campbell layup with 4:11 left in the final period.

Calvin College (22-6) cut its deficit to 61-53 at the 2:07 mark, but the Knights attempted just one field goal and committed a pair of turnovers during the final two minutes of the contest.

UW-Oshkosh advances to host DePauw University (Ind.) in the second round of the NCAA postseason tournament at 7 p.m. on Saturday (March 4) in Kolf Sports Center. Eleventh-ranked DePauw University (27-2) won its opening-round game, 67-57, over 14th-ranked Gustavus Adolphus College (Minn.) (25-3) on Friday in Oshkosh.

In Friday's victory over the Knights, Melotik went 5-for-8 from 3-point range, while Campbell scored 15 points by making 4 of 8 shots from the field and all six of the team's free throw attempts.

Alex Richard contributed 10 points and a team-leading seven rebounds for the Titans, who also received six points off the bench from Isabella Samuels and a game-best four steals from Morgan Kokta.

UW-Oshkosh's Taylor Schmidt chipped in four points and a game-high five assists to move into seventh on the school's all-time scoring list with 1,257 career points.

The Titans, who have won at least one game in each of the last four NCAA postseason tournaments, held advantages in field goal (.453 to .395), 3-point (.429 to .353) and free throw (1.000 to .556) percentages to go along with edges of 16-7 in assists and 18-14 in turnovers. The Knights converted 15 of 27 shots at the foul line, while the Titans shot 9-for-21 from 3-point range.

UW-Oshkosh entered the contest ranked second in the country with 11.9 turnovers per game and 12th by limiting opponents to 49.7 points per contest. The Titans have held 21 teams to less than 56 points this season.

Calvin College, which held a 31-30 advantage in rebounds, went into the game ranked 13th in the country by holding opponents to a .243 3-point percentage and 14th with a +10.2 rebounding advantage per contest.

Melotik hit a pair of 3-pointers to give UW-Oshkosh a 6-1 lead before Calvin College scored eight straight points, including six from Rachel Warners, to claim a 9-6 advantage.

Madeline Staples and Schmidt made baskets on consecutive possessions to help UW-Oshkosh retake a 17-14 lead late in the first quarter, but the Knights' Bre Luurtesma converted a three-point play to toe the score at 17 at the end of the opening period.

The Titans tallied the first six points of the second quarter before Calvin College rallied to take a 26-25 edge with 3:25 left before halftime.

Campbell and Melotik drilled consecutive 3-pointers to give the Titans a 31-26 lead at intermission as the Knights missed their final four shots from the field during the final three minutes of the second period.

Richard and Schmidt drove for layups for the first four points of the second half, but Calvin College trimmed its deficit to 37-35 on a 3-pointer by Nicole Meyer with 4:09 to go in the third quarter.

Olivia Campbell and Melotik drained back-to-back 3-pointers to extend the Titans' lead to 45-37, and UW-Oshkosh entered the final period with a 48-39 advantage following another long-range jumper from Melotik.

Kylie Moe hit a 3-pointer to increase the UW-Oshkosh advantage to 55-43 with 6:15 to play.

UW-Oshkosh reserves outscored the Calvin College bench, 19-3, as just six Knights played more than two minutes.

Calvin College's Luurtsema paced all players by matching her season high with 22 points and pulling down a season-best nine rebounds. She connected on 8 of 18 shots from the floor and 5 of 10 attempts at the free throw line.

Ali Spayde and Warners added 14 and 12 points, respectively, for the Knights.

Calvin College's Anna Timmer, who went into the game ranked eighth nationally with 19 double-doubles and 12th with a .584 field goal percentage, was held to three points on 1-for-2 shooting from the field and four rebounds.

With the victory, UW-Oshkosh avenges its 91-71 loss at Calvin College during the second round of the 2015 Championship.

UW-Oshkosh, which won the 1996 national title, improves its record to 26-12 in 14 NCAA postseason appearances. Calvin College falls to 21-17 in 17 trips to the national tournament.

DePauw University handed UW-Oshkosh its first loss of the season by a 60-56 score on Dec. 20 in Puerto Rico. The Titans own an 12-1 record at home this season, while DePauw University, the 2007 and 2013 national champion, is 8-1 in road contests.

NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Championship Interactive Bracket