When it comes to postseason basketball, the difference between winning and losing can be slight, a fact the UW-Superior women's basketball team experienced firsthand Saturday.
Despite playing a strong game in their first ever WIAC Conference Tournament Championship appearance, the UW-Oshkosh Titans made several key plays midway through the second half and held on to down the Yellowjackets 75-69 at the Kolf Sports Center.
The loss ends UW-Superior's season at 16-12 while the UW-Oshkosh improved to 24-3 and move on to next week's first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Matters were tight from the get-go, with neither team able to gain much of an edge through the first 6:47 of the contest.
The Yellowjackets took their largest lead of the first half with 11:52 remaining in the first half as Sarah Lekson (North Branch, Minn./North Branch) hit two free throws and Brynn Liljander (Isanti, Minn./Cambridge-Isanti) connected on a three-point play to make it a 14-9 UW-Superior advantage.
Liljander then connected on two straight three-pointers to keep ahead at 22-19 with 7:06 left in the opening half.
Sally Linzmeier (Valders, Wis./Valders) and Liljander went to score consecutive baskets for the Yellowjackets before two inside scores by Vanessa Lebens (Roseville, Minn./Roseville Area) upped the margin to 32-27 with 3:40 left in the frame.
The Titans came right back, getting five points from Morgan Kokta to take a 36-34 edge with 1:41 remaining before five points from Linzmeier in the last 1:22 helped UW-Superior take a slim 39-38 lead at halftime.
UW-Oshkosh came out aggressively to start the second half, scoring eight of the first 15 of the first 23 points of the half for a 53-47 advantage on a three-pointer by Katelyn Kuehl.
A three-pointer by Ashley Neustifter expanded the lead to 56-49 with 14:54 left in regulation.
The Yellowjackets rallied back, getting a jumper from Hadley Skalmoski (Neenah, Wis./Neenah), a three-pointer by Britnee Blake (Superior, Wis./Superior Senior) and six straight points from Linzmeier to retake the lead at 58-56 with 10:16 to play.
But the Titans went on to outscore UW-Superior 14-3 over the next 5:59 for a 70-61 UW-Oshkosh edge at the 4:17 mark of regulation.
Two free throws by Linzmeier and a three-pointer b y Blake cut the Titans lead to 70-66 with 2:12 remaining in the contest.
UW-Superior would come no closer however as the Titans got two free throws each from Kuehl and Morgan Kokta on consecutive possessions to stretch their lead to 74-66 with just 29 seconds left to clinch the victory.
Liljander led the way for the Yellowjackets with a game-high 21 points. Linzmeier added 20 points while Blake pitched in with 12.
The Titans were led by Kuehl's 18 points and 11 rebounds. Marissa Selner added 14 points while Sarah Stecker had 13 and Kokta 10 for Oshkosh.