Orange, Calif. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse women's basketball team opened its two-game California trip with a 74-48 victory at Chapman University (Calif.) Wednesday night at Hutton Sports Center. The Eagles improve to 10-2 on the season while the Panthers fall to 5-6.
Chapman (Calif.) scored the first basket of the game on Julia Strand's jumper, but it would be the Panthers' only lead of the day.
Alana Gilles tied it with a jumper for UWL and
Lauryn Milne connected on a three-point field goal to give the Eagles a 5-2 lead. UWL led, 17-7, when it ended the first quarter on a 8-3 run to lead 25-10.
UWL outscored Chapman (Calif.), 19-8, in the second quarter to take a 44-18 lead. The Panthers trailed, 32-16, when the Eagles went on a 12-2 run to end the half.
The Panthers could get no closer than 21 points in the second half.
Alivia Arnebeck finished with seven points.
UWL shot 46.6% from the field, including 40.9% (nine-of-22) from three-point range, and 64.7% (11-of-17) at the free throw line. Thirteen players scored for the Eagles with Milne leading with 11 points.
Carly Coulthart finished with nine points while Gilles and
Paige Schumann each had eight.
Nikki Dienberg and
Alivia Arnebeck each finished with seven. Gilles,
Kyah Steiner and
Casandra Warmsley each led UWL with six rebounds.
Chapman (Calif.) shot 27.0% from the field, including 36.4% (four-of-11) from three-point range, and 50.0% (10-of-20) at the line. Strand and Mia Yamamoto led the Panthers with eight points each. Strand had a game-high seven rebounds.
UWL completes its non-conference schedule versus the University of Redlands (Calif.) on Thursday, December 29 at 4 p.m. The game will be played at Chapman (Calif.).
