La Crosse, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse women's basketball team fell, 60-48, Saturday afternoon in a match-up of first-place teams in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC). The Eagles, ranked 23rd on this week's D3hoops.com Top-25 Poll, drop to 15-2 overall and 4-2 in the conference while the Titans, ranked 12th on D3hoops.com, improve to 15-2 overall and 5-1 in the league.
UW-Oshkosh led throughout the first half, including 13-4 with 1:17 left in the first quarter on a Chloe Pustina three-point field goal. UWL cut the lead to 13-9 at the end of the quarter on a
Delaney Schoenenberger three-pointer and
Dani Craig jumper. The Titans led by as many eight points in the second quarter, including 22-14 with 2:40 remaining when the Eagles ended the half on a 8-2 run to cut the lead to 24-22.
Ava Kramer scored on a layup with 1:05 left and hit a three-pointer with :21 remaining to make it a two-point game.
UWL took its first lead of the game at 38-37 with 1:31 remaining in the third quarter after Schoenenberger's three-point field goal. The Eagles maintained their 38-37 lead after three quarters. Craig's layup with 7:16 remaining gave UWL a 44-42 advantage, but UW-Oshkosh used a 15-2 run to take a 57-46 lead. Pustina's three-pointer with 6:11 left gave the Titans a 45-44 lead and UW-Oshkosh would never trail the rest of the game. UWL cut the lead to 49-46 with 4:39 remaining on a Craig jumper, but Jessie Rabas' three with 4:10 left gave the Titans a six-point lead at 52-46. UW-Oshkosh scored its final eight points of the game at the line as UWL went one-of-nine from the field to end the game.
UWL shot 28.8% from the field, including 23.8% (five-of-21) from three-point range, while converting all nine of its free throw attempts. Kramer led the Eagles with 13 points and six rebounds off the bench while Schoenenberger finished with 10 points. Craig had eight points while
Carly Coulthart finished with seven points and five rebounds.
It is UWL's first loss at home on the season (7-1).
UW-Oshkosh shot 32.1% from the field, including 28.6% (six-of-21) from three-point range, and 58.8% (20-of-34) at the line. The Titans were 12-of-24 (50.0%) at the line in the second half. Pustina led UW-Oshkosh with 15 points while Melanie Schneider finished with 10 points. Both players totaled six rebounds. Karsyn Rueth finished with a game-high nine rebounds.
UWL returns to action Wednesday, January 23 at UW-River Falls at 7 p.m.
