MENOMONIE (February 11, 2012) - UW-Stout found themselves down by only six points at halftime, but UW-Eau Claire outscored the Blue Devils, 19-6, over the first 10 minutes of the second half and the Blugolds went on to a 72-40 win Saturday at Johnson Fieldhouse.
The 6-foot, 5-inch Ellen Plendl led the way for the Blugolds througout the game, but especially during the first 10 minutes of the second half. Plendl scorched the Blue Devils for 10 points in that stretch. Plendl finished the game with a game-high 18 points, racking up a double-double with 11 rebounds. She also had five blocked shots.
The Blue Devils (6-17, 2-12 WIAC) played the Blugolds (18-5, 11-3 WIAC) nearly even in the first first half. After falling behind early when Eau Claire scored the first 10 points of the game. Stout got on the board at 15:34 of the first half on a basket by Kaitlynn Folkers (Fr, Fall Creek).
Brea Boomer (Fr, Grand Portage, Minn) lit the fire for Stout, as the Blue Devils pulled to within 15-9 as Boomer scored five points in the stretch. Whitney Rawdon (Jr, Eau Claire) drained a pair of free throws, then, following a four points by Plendl, made a jumper to cut the lead to 19-13.
A bucket and a free throw by Boomer made it 19-16, the closest Stout would get during the rest of the game. Boomer had another three-point play later in the half to cut into an eight point Eau Claire lead.
Stout shot only 19.2 percent in the second half and finished the game shooting 22.6 percent. The Blugolds went the other way, shooting at a 68.2 percent second half clip and finished the game shooting 52 percent.
Eau Claire's Callie Halama scored 13 points, while Sarah Bingea and Nicole Christianson each scored 10 points.
Boomer paced Stout with 13 points and Rawdon finished with nine points and eight rebounds.
Stout will close out the home portion of their schedule Wednesday, Feb. 15 when they host UW-Stevens Point at 7 p.m.