Yellowjackets can't find the range in loss to Oshkosh

More news about: UW-Superior

When it comes to the sport of basketball, the difference between winning and losing is often subtle.  In the case of the UW-Superior women's basketball team on Saturday afternoon, no such subtlety existed.  Rather, the reason for the Yellowjackets' loss was quite clear.

Playing their final regular season game of the 2013-2014 season, the Yellowjackets missed 12 of their first 13 shots, fell behind 15-0 in the opening seven minutes and never recovered in a 56-42 loss against UW-Oshkosh at the Kolf Sports Center.

The Yellowjackets set a season low for points scored (42) and connected on just 14-of-54 shots (25.9 percent) to see their two-game winning streak snapped in falling to 14-11 overall and finishing league play 7-9 for the season.

UW-Oshkosh, ranked No. 16 in the latest D3hoops.com top-25 poll, meanwhile improved to 22-3 overall and concluded the regular season 13-3 in WIAC conference play.

The Yellowjackets found themselves behind from the start, missing their first eight shots on the way to falling behind 15-0 on layup by the Titans' Alex Richard with 13:27 left in the first half.

UW-Superior finally got on the board at the 12:54 mark when Sally Linzmeier (Valders, Wis./Valders) connected on two free throws to cut the deficit to 15-2.

A jumper by Taylor Schmidt upped UW-Oshkosh's edge to 21-4 with 6:17 remaining before the Yellowjackets came to within 22-13 on a jumper by Linzmeier with 3:02 showing on the clock.

UW-Superior would get no closer for the rest of the half however as two three-pointers by the Titans' Alicia Tollefson in the final 1:21 helped UW-Oshkosh take a 28-18 edge into the intermission.

The second half had a promising start for the Yellowjackets as Grace Kennedy (Wausau, Wis./Newman Catholic)'s layup with 19:16 left brought UW-Superior to within 28-20.

But the Titans responded, gradually upping the margin over the next 11 minutes to take their largest lead of the contest at 46-28 with 8:23 remaining in regulation.

From there, the Yellowjackets never got closer than 12 points.

Linzmeier led all scorers with 16 points for UW-Superior.

UW-Oshkosh was paced by Schmidt with 14 points. Tollefson and Katelyn Kuehl each added 11 points for the Titans.

The Yellowjackets open up WIAC Tournament play on Tuesday at UW-Stout.  Opening tipoff from Johnson Fieldhouse is scheduled for 7 p.m.