UW-Oshkosh jumped to a 15-0 lead and cruised to a 56-42 win over UW-Superior on Saturday (Feb. 22) in Kolf Sports Center.
The Titans (22-3/13-3 WIAC), ranked 16th by D3hoops.com, finish the regular season with their best record since 1999. UW-Oshkosh will host a WIAC Tournament semifinal on Thursday (Feb. 27).
During the opening seven minutes, the Titans made 7-of-9 shots. The Yellowjackets (14-11/7-9 WIAC) started the contest by missing their first 10 field goals. Taylor Schmidt tallied five points before UW-Oshkosh marked five lay-ups to make it 15-0 with 13:27 on the clock.
The Yellowjackets' first conversion from the field came after 11:21 of play. Grace Kennedy followed with a basket inside that cut the deficit to 21-6.
Alicia Tollefson closed the first half with a bang. She swished three-pointers 32 seconds apart to send the Titans to intermission with a 28-18 advantage.
Sally Linzmeier hit a jumper to pull within 32-24, but that's as close as the score would get. UW-Oshkosh booked the next seven points, including four by Ashley Neustifter, to go ahead by 15.
Schmidt's three-ball earned a 46-28 lead, the largest of the afternoon. The Titans then had Katelyn Kuehl score their final six points at the foul line.
Kuehl stuffed the stat sheet with 11 points, nine rebounds, three assists, two blocks and two steals. Sarah Stecker, the team's lone senior, totaled 11 rebounds, eight points and a career-high three blocks. The Titans also received 14 points and three assists from Schmidt.
UW-Oshkosh compiled 38 percent accuracy (19-50) from the field, including 29 percent (5-17) from downtown, and 13-of-17 success at the charity stripe (77 percent).
UW-Superior shot just 25 percent in the first half and 27 percent during the second. The Yellowjackets made 2-of-10 three-pointers (20 percent) and 12-of-14 free throws (86 percent).
Linzmeier scored a game-high 16 points while grabbing eight rebounds. Britnee Blake added nine points for UW-Superior.
The Titans, who lead the WIAC in rebounding, earned a 41-33 victory on the boards.
By Jon Feyen, UW-Oshkosh Sports Information