Eau Claire, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse women's basketball team opened the 2024-25 season Saturday afternoon with a loss to nationally ranked Gustavus Adolphus College (Minn.) at the Market & Johnson Blugold Tip-Off Tournament.  
     
THE BASICS 
Final Score: #11Gustavus Adolphus College (Minn.) 52, UW-La Crosse 49
Location: Sonentag Event Center, Eau Claire, Wis.
Records: UWL 0-1, Gustavus Adolphus 1-0
National Rankings: Gustavus Adolphus College is ranked 11th in the D3hoops.com preseason rankings. 
Next Up: The Eagles will be back in action tomorrow for day 2 of the Market & Johnson Blugold Tip-Off Tournament as they face Simpson College at 12:00 p.m.
 

           
HOW DID IT HAPPEN

• A Lindsey Knuth three-pointer followed by a Knuth free throw would give UWL a 10-7 lead with 2:53 left in the first period. Gustavus would score the final six points of the first quarter including a three-pointer by Rachel Kawiecki with :21 left.
• The Eagles would score seven of the first nine points in the second quarter to give UWL a 17-15 lead with 4:14 left. Two free throws by Grace Knupp and one by Katie Waukau would give UWL a 23-22 lead with 1:46 left. A Syd Hauger layup with :33 left would give Gustavus 24-23 lead as the score remained that at the half. 
• After Gustavus Adolphus scored the first six points of the third quarter (30-23), UWL scored seven in a row to tie it at 30 with 6:24 left. The Gusties then scored 10 of the next 12 points to lead 40-32. UWL slowly chipped away at the deficit and trailed 42-37 at the end of the third quarter.
• A three-point play by Hauger would give the Gusties a 44-37 lead with 8:54 left in the fourth quarter. A three-pointer by Katie Waukau cut the Eagles defict to 44-43 (6:17). Trailing 50-44 with 2:01 remaining, Ali Sprangers hit a three-pointer to pull the Eagles within 50-47 with 1:25 left. After a free throw by Kylie Baranick gave the Gusties a 51-47 lead with :33 left. Two free throws by Lauryn Milne cut the Eagles deficit to 51-49 but the Gusties would get a free throw from Baranick with :10 left. UWL would not get a shot off in their final possesion as Gustavus Adolphus held on for a 52-49 lead. 

   
FROM THE BOXSCORE

• Grace Knupp led the Eagles with 10 points while Lauryn Milne added nine points and a team high six rebounds. 
• Katie Waukau chipped in nine points and Lindsey Knuth added seven.
• As a team, the Eagles finished 16-of-47 (34%) from the floor including seven-of-23 (30.4%) from the three-point line. The Eagles were also 10-of-14 (71.4%) from the free throw line. 
• Gustavus Adolphus shot 20-of-60 (33.3%) from the floor including three-of-15 (20%) from the three-point line. The Gusties finished nine-of-15 (60%) from the free throw line.
• Individually, the Gusties were led by Emma Kniefel with 14 points while Kylie Baranick and Morgan Kelly each finished with nine. 
• Izzy Quick recorded a game high 11 rebounds for Gustavus Adolphus.