EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – The 16th-ranked UW-Eau Claire women's basketball team finished the second half strong to beat UW-La Crosse 49-36 at Zorn Arena today.
While the Blugolds led for nine minutes into the opening half, La Crosse came back and the teams battled back and forth the remainder of the first.
Eau Claire led by as much as five points while the Eagles led by as much as four in the first half. The score was also tied five times and the teams were locked up at 22 at halftime.
In the second half, the teams started out very slow. They combined for 14 points over the first 12 minutes and La Crosse led by two (30-28) with eight minutes remaining.
But over the final eight minutes, the Blugolds outscored the Eagles 21-6, which started with a 15-0 run. The Blugolds led by as much as 16 points on two occasions late in the game.
Ellen Plendl (Sr.-Chippewa Falls, Wis./McDonell) recorded a double-double as she finished with 11 points and a game-high 10 rebounds. Callie Halama (Sr.-Independence, Wis.) scored 14 points to lead the game.
The Blugolds shot well from the free throw line, 15-for-17 (88.2 percent), and finished 17-for-47 from the field (36.2 percent). The Eagles shot just 22.8 percent (13-for-57) from the field and 6-for-17 from the free throw line (35.3 percent).
The combined total of 85 points ties for the 13th fewest points two teams have scored in a game in Blugold history. The 36 points given up by the Blugolds ties for 31st for the lowest score by an opponent.
Eau Claire remains in first place in the WIAC with an 8-1 record. The Blugolds are 15-3 overall. La Crosse drops to 13-5 overall and 6-3 in the WIAC. Earlier this year, the Blugolds beat La Crosse 53-47.
Wednesday, the Blugolds will be at UW-Superior. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. Eau Claire beat the Yellowjackets earlier this season 76-38.
-KM-