Michelle Boeder (Sr. • Oshkosh) and Katie Kitzke (So. • South Milwaukee) combined for 31 points and eight three-pointers to lead UW-Oshkosh past UW-Eau Claire, 62-53, in a women's basketball game on Wednesday (Jan. 26) in Eau Claire.
Boeder topped the Titans with 17 points and four rebounds while nailing 4-of-6 shots from downtown. Connecting on 4-of-5 from long range, Kitzke compiled 14 points and three assists. UW-Oshkosh (10-9/5-5 WIAC) went on a 14-3 scoring run during the final seven minutes to pull out the victory.
Trailing 45-39, the Titans cut their deficit to two points at the foul line. Boeder then swished a triple at the 4:48 mark to put her team up, 48-47. Kitzke tacked on another three-pointer before UW-Oshkosh sealed the contest with nine free throws in the closing 1:34.
The first nine minutes of play were competitive, with Boeder burying a trio of long-distance jump shots. After a tie score at 10, Shelby Churchill (Sr. • Sheboygan) and Kitzke each sank a bucket to give UW-Oshkosh an 18-10 lead with 8:41 on the clock.
Ellen Plendl heated up late in the period, converting three straight jumpers to pull within 22-18. The Blugolds (11-8/5-5 WIAC) shot just 36 percent during the first half, but they trailed, 28-23, following a three-pointer by Nicole Christianson.
UW-Eau Claire cut into its deficit with a Plendl jumper and two lay-ins from Hannah Mesick. A Laura Olson three-ball with 12:17 remaining equaled the score at 36. The Blugolds then gained their largest margin of the night (six points) on Jess Freagon's hoop with 8:15 left.
The Titans finished with 91 percent accuracy at the charity stripe (20-22) and 53 percent efficiency from behind the arc (8-15). UW-Oshkosh, which shot 46 percent overall (17-37), used 14 points from Churchill and seven points and six assists from Laura Ebbens (Sr. • Appleton).
Christianson guided the Blugolds with 18 points and two assists, while Mesick recorded 13 points and six rebounds. UW-Eau Claire lost the rebounding category (21-30), as it hit 41 percent (20-49) from the field, 29 percent (4-14) from long range and 60 percent at the foul line (9-15).
UW-Oshkosh has a road game at UW-River Falls (13-6/5-5 WIAC) on Saturday (Jan. 29).