OSHKOSH, Wis. – No doubt the season opening task for the Edgewood College women's basketball team was going to be a tall one. Sixth-ranked UW-Oshkosh burst out to a 17-5 lead and held off the Eagles for an 81-53 victory in the season opener for both teams.Rachel Pope led the Eagles with 19 points, while Sierra Jiran posted a double-double.

Both teams started out slowly with the first field goal not coming for almost three minutes. A jumper by Pope kept the Eagles close at 4-3, but the Titans scored the next 13 points, ended only by a Jiran layup. The Titans held a 17-5 lead after the first period. Edgewood College (0-1) found their footing in the second period. Rachel Pope scored a three-point basket and a three-point play to spark a 10-0 Eagles run. Jiran scored a the final two buckets to get the Eagles back within 10 points at 25-15. However UW-Oshkosh scored six of the next eight points to take a 31-17 lead into the locker room at halftime.

The Eagles played the Titans even for much of the third period, getting back within eight points on one occasion at 38-30, following a three-pointer for Erin Morovits and a layup by Pope. However, that would be as close as the Eagles would get. The Titans dominated the fourth period to pull away and win comfortably.

Pope was 7-for-16 from the field and finished with 19 points. Jiran scored 10 points and pulled down 11 rebounds for a double-double. She also had three blocked shots. Marissa Hoer scored seven points and had seven rebounds. Morovits sunk a pair of three-point baskets for six points. The Eagles shot 43.3 percent in the second half and finished at 35.1 percent for the game.

UW-Oshkosh was led by Isabella Samuels and Emma Melotik who scored 13 and 11 points, respectively. Alex Richard had 12 rebounds including six on the offensive end. The Titans hit 10 three-pointers on the night and shot 42.3 percent from the field.

Edgewood College will open their home schedule on Wednesday night against Mount Mary University. Tipoff at the Edgedome is 7:00 p.m.