Milwaukee, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse women's basketball team improved to 3-0 on the season with a 59-36 victory over Saint Mary's College (Ind.) Saturday afternoon at the Paul F. Knueppel Classic at Wisconsin Lutheran College. The Belles of Saint Mary's (Ind.) drop to 2-2 on the year.

UWL has won its first three games of the season for the first time since winning its first six games in 2010-11. The Eagles went on to finish 20-8 in 2010-11 and earn a bid to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III Championships.

In the first-ever meeting between the teams, Saint Mary's (Ind.) scored the first eight points of the game before UWL scored the final seven points of the quarter to make it a one-point game. The Belles took a 15-10 lead with 4:14 left in the first half, but the Eagles went on a 7-2 run to force a 17-17 tie. Saint Mary's (Ind.) took a 21-19 halftime lead on an Olivia Lathers jumper with :01 left in the quarter.

UWL scored the first 17 points of the third quarter to take a 36-21 lead with 2:14 remaining in the period. Saint Mary's (Ind.) missed its first nine shots from the field and had five turnovers before Giavanna Paradiso's layup with 1:12 remaining to cut the lead to 36-23. UWL's Emma Gamoke's three-pointer with :11 left gave the Eagles a 39-25 lead after three quarters.

The Belles cut the lead to 41-33 with 6:47 left in the game, but the Eagles used a 18-3 run to end the game. UWL outscored Saint Mary's (Ind.), 40-15, in the second half, including 20-4 in the third quarter.

UWL shot 38.6% from the field, including 34.4% (11-of-32) from three-point range, and 80.0% (four-of-five) at the free throw line. The Eagles were nine-of-16 (56.3%) from three-point range in the second half.

Gamoke led UWL with 14 points while also finishing with seven rebounds and six steals. Dani Craig and Lexie Higgins each scored 13 points while Carly Coulthart had 12. Gamoke, Higgins and Coulthart combined for 39 points off the bench. Craig had seven assists and six rebounds.

Delaney Schoenenberger led UWL with eight rebounds.

Saint Mary's (Ind.) shot 22.9% from the field, including 13.3% (two-of-15) from three-point range, and 80.0% (12-of-15) at the line. The Belles shot 17.4% (four-of-23) from the field in the second half as they were held to 15 points.

Paradiso led Saint Mary's (Ind.) with 19 points and nine rebounds.

UWL returns to action Tuesday, November 20 at city-rival Viterbo University (Wis.) at 5:30 p.m.