A year ago the Yellowjacket women's basketball team broke a nearly 25-year losing streak to the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire with a victory at Mertz Mortorelli Gym. They followed that with another victory over the Blugolds later in the year, sweeping the season series for the first time in a generation.

On Wednesday night the Yellowjackets took down the Blugolds again, and suddenly have a modest winning streak of their own over arguably their biggest nemesis. After taking a lead late in the first half the Yellowjackets cruised to their third straight victory over UW-Eau Claire, 59-47 on Wednesday night at Mertz Mortorelli Gym.

The victory also marked a milestone for Head Coach Don Mulhern, who earned his 200th victory as a NCAA Division III women's basketball coach.

As has happened more than once of late, the Yellowjackets got off to a slow start. Eau Claire scored the first seven points of the game and the Yellowjackets didn't hit their first field goal until nearly seven minutes had elapsed in the first half. Grace Kennedy (Wausau, Wis./Newman Catholic) made the layup that got the Yellowjackets started, and they were only down four at 7-3. Kennedy dropped in a second layup 30 seconds later and it was a one-possession game.

Eau Claire again built the lead back up to six points, 16-10 with just over eight minutes left in the half, but the advantage quickly evaporated. Vanessa Lebens (Roseville, Minn./Roseville Area) and Britnee Blake (Superior, Wis./Superior Senior) made field goals less than a minute apart to again make it a one-possession affair. Brynn Liljander (Isanti, Minn./Cambridge-Isanti) then hit a three pointer and the game was tied at 17-17.

The Yellowjackets took the lead for the first time in the contest on a three by Alyssa Lindberg, making it 24-22 with 2:56 to play in the half. Kennedy and Liljander hit buckets in the final minute of the half to stake the Yellowjackets to a 29-24 edge at the break.

Up five, the Yellowjackets and Blugolds traded field goals in the early stages of the second half. With the lead still at five Allie Nelson (Augusta, Wis./Augusta) scored five consecutive points to vault the Yellowjackets to a double digit lead with 11:13 to play. Blake made a pair of free throws with under three minutes to play and the lead never dropped below double digits again.

Sally Linzmeier (Valders, Wis./Valders) scored 13 points while Liljander scored 11 to lead the Yellowjackets. Kennedy scored 10 points and also grabbed a team-high four rebounds. Blake also had a strong game, finishing with six points, seven assists and eight rebounds.

Teenie Lichtfuss had a game-high 19 points to lead Eau Claire.

The Yellowjackets (9-5, 3-3 WIAC) will face another stiff test on Saturday, January 18 when they host UW-Whitewater, who is ranked No. 17 in the nation by d3hoops.com at Mertz Mortorelli Gym. The opening tip-off is set for 3:00 p.m.