EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – The 22nd-ranked UW-Eau Claire women's basketball team won a share of the 2012 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) title with a 66-55 victory over 10th-ranked UW-Stevens Point on Ken Anderson Court at Zorn Arena today.
The Blugolds earned a share of the title with the Pointers as both teams finished with 13-3 conference records. The championship is the Blugolds' first since the 2007-08 season and the 10th overall in program history.
Eau Claire will now be off until Thursday, Feb. 23 as they earned the No. 2 seed in the WIAC Tournament and will receive a first-round bye. The Blugolds will host the highest remaining seed in the tournament Thursday at 7 p.m.
Today's game was closely contested as the score was tied seven times while there were seven lead changes.
While Stevens Point got up by double-figures in the first half, leading by as many as 10 points, the Blugolds performed well late in the game to help in the win. Over the final five minutes of the game, Eau Claire outscored the Pointers 16-3 to record the 11-point victory.
Callie Halama (Sr.-Independence, Wis.) had a career day as she led the Blugolds with 27 points and 13 rebounds, both of which were career-bests. Ten of her rebounds came on the offensive end. Halama played a key role in the second half as she scored 17 of her 27 points.
Ellen Plendl (Sr.-Chippewa Falls, Wis./McDonell) also finished with a double-double, scoring 20 points while pulling down 12 rebounds. She also led the game with four blocked shots.
The Blugolds held a 45-33 rebounding edge, including a 20-10 advantage on the offensive end. Eau Claire also held a large advantage in free throw shooting, scoring 20 points at the line to just two for the Pointers.
Eau Claire is now 20-5 overall while Stevens Point drops to 21-4.
-KM-