La Crosse, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse women's basketball team opened Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) play with a 71-57 home victory over UW-Oshkosh Saturday afternoon in Mitchell Hall. The Eagles, ranked 11th on D3hoops.com, improve to 10-2 overall. The Titans drop to 7-5 on the season.
It is UWL's first season-opening WIAC win since a 65-61 victory over UW-Whitewater on November 29, 2006. The Eagles had lost their previous 12 league openers.
Dani Craig had a game-high 20 points.
UWL led 13-12 with 2:40 left in the first quarter when it scored the final seven points to lead, 20-12. The Eagles took a 28-17 lead with 6:24 remaining in the second quarter on a
Emma Gamoke three-pointer. The Titans cut it to 30-24, but a free throw from
Lexie Higgins and three-pointer by
Carly Coulthart gave the Eagles a 34-24 lead. UW-Oshkosh cut it to 34-29 on a Abby Kaiser layup with :15 remaining, but
Dani Craig's jumper at the buzzer gave UWL a 36-29 halftime lead.
Craig's three-pointer with 8:15 left in the third quarter gave UWL a 41-30 lead. UW-Oshkosh cut it to six points later in the quarter before UWL took a 48-40 lead at the end of the period. Olivia Campbell's jumper for the Titans cut the Eagles' lead to 48-42 with 8:58 remaining in the fourth quarter, but UW-Oshkosh would get no closer the rest of the game. Campbell's layup with 4:48 left cut it to 59-50, but UWL scored the next seven points for a 66-50 lead with 2:54 remaining.
UWL shot 45.9% from the field, including 45.5% (10-of-22) from three-point range, and 55.6% (five-of-nine) from the field. Craig led the Eagles with 20 points, finishing seven-of-11 from the field, including three-of-five from three-point range. She was three-of-five at the line. Gamoke finished with 17 points, going seven-of-12 from the field, including three-of-five from three-point range.
Delaney Schoenenberger and
Ava Kramer each had eight points while Higgins finished with a game-high 10 rebounds.
UW-Oshkosh shot 41.8% from the field, including 26.3% (five-of-19) from three-point range, and 40.0% (six-of-15) at the line. Leah Porath led the Titans with 19 points and seven rebounds. Nikki Arneson added 12 points off the bench.
UWL returns to action Wednesday, January 8 at UW-River Falls at 7 p.m.
