Eau Claire, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse women's basketball team returned to action Wednesday night with a 76-58 loss at UW-Eau Claire in the season-opener for both teams.  It marked UWL's first game in 334 days due to the COVID-19 public health threat.

All eight teams in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) are divided into two divisions this year with UW-Oshkosh, UW-Platteville, UW-Stevens Point and UW-Whitewater in the East and UW-Eau Claire, UW-La Crosse, UW-River Falls and UW-Stout in the West.  Each team is scheduled to play two games against each divisional opponent, as well as two games against one cross-over opponent, for a total of eight games.  All eight teams will qualify for the WIAC Championship beginning March 1.  The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III Championships were canceled earlier Wednesday.

UWL's Lexie Higgins got the scoring going with a three-pointer with 7:44 left in the opening quarter. She hit her second three-pointer with 7:02 remaining to give the Eagles a 6-2 lead, but the Blugolds went on a 21-8 run to end the quarter and lead, 23-14. 

Kyah Steiner's layup just :03 into the second quarter cut the deficit to 23-16 before UW-Eau Claire scored 10 straight points for a 33-16 advantage with 6:46 remaining in the first half on a Jessie Ruden three-pointer. The Eagles cut it to 38-24 before Courtney Crouch's three-point play with :56 remaining gave the Blugolds a 41-24 halftime lead. 

UWL could get no closer than 14 points in the second half coming with 8:14 remaining in the third quarter on a Ava Kramer layup to make it 45-31. UW-Eau Claire led by as many as 23 points in the third quarter before taking a 67-45 advantage after 30 minutes.  

UWL shot 56.4% from the field, including 46.7% (seven-of-15) from three-point range, and 58.3% (seven-of-12) at the free throw line.  Shayley Vesel led the Eagles with 14 points while Higgins finished with 12 and Kramer 11. Vesel was five-of-five from the field, including two-of-two from three-point range, and two-of-two at the line. Kramer went four-of-six from the field, including two-of-two from three-point range. Steiner led UWL with four rebounds.

UW-Eau Claire shot 53.8% from the field, including 42.1% (eight-of-19) from three-point range, and 85.7% (12-of-14) at the line. Ruden led the Blugolds with 20 points while Katie Essen finished with 18 and Maizie Deihl 17. Jade Ganski had a game-high seven rebounds while Essen finished with five.

UWL returns to action Friday, February 5 hosting the UW-Eau Claire at 7 p.m.