UW-Oshkosh led from start to finish during its 58-46 win over UW-River Falls on Saturday (Feb. 1) in River Falls. The Titans (17-2/8-2 WIAC) are ranked 15th in the NCAA Division III.

Sarah Stecker scored the first four points of the game on her way to 22 points, nine rebounds and three blocks. UW-Oshkosh also used 10 points and four assists from Katelyn Kuehl.

Seven minutes into the contest, Katie Messman made a lay-up to pull the Falcons within 8-7. The Titans then didn't allow a point for the next 5:46. UW-Oshkosh's 9-0 scoring run consisted of four points by Kuehl and the next five by Morgan Kokta.

Stecker sandwiched two lay-ups around a steal to give UW-Oshkosh a 21-9 cushion. Another hoop by Stecker made it a 27-12 lead with 2:03 to play before halftime.

UW-River Falls (4-15/3-8 WIAC) made it 30-16 on Messman's lay-in to conclude the first period.

The Titans came out strong in the second half, with a Stecker three-point play and a Taylor Schmidt three-ball increasing the margin to 40-21.

Tess Lueders sparked a run of 12 unanswered points by the Falcons. She booked two jump shots and two lay-ups before Messman's basket pulled her squad within 40-33 with 11:11 to go. That seven-point deficit is the closest the score would get.

Schmidt assisted Stecker on a basket with 2:43 left that put the Titans up, 52-40. Schmidt then buried six free throws in the final 1:10 to clinch the game.

UW-Oshkosh totaled 47 percent (20-43) overall shooting, along with 2-of-7 accuracy (29 percent) on three-pointers and 16-of-25 success on free throws (64 percent). UW-River Falls hit 43 percent (20-47) from the field, 2-of-13 from long range (15 percent) and 4-of-6 at the foul line (67 percent).

The Falcons received 11 points from Lueders and seven rebounds from Cassy Saxton. UW-River Falls committed 22 turnovers, including 16 during the first half.

The Titans continue their road trip at UW-Platteville on Wednesday (Feb. 5).

By Jon Feyen, UW-Oshkosh Sports Information