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Issued: January 8, 2008

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL STARTS 2008 WITH CONFERENCE GAME

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. – The UW-Eau Claire women’s basketball team will begin the new year hosting UW-Superior on Wednesday at 7 p.m. in Zorn Arena. It is also youth night and J.J. Jumper, the NCAA’s mascot, will be in attendance.

The Blugolds enter 2008 with a 9-3 record after losing two out of three games at the San Diego Surf N’ Slam tournament December 28 and 29. Prior to the tournament Eau Claire was 8-1 and on a five game winning streak. The Blugolds are still unbeaten in Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) play, however, holding a 3-0 record.

Superior will come to Zorn on Wednesday with a 3-8 overall record and an 0-3 WIAC record. The Yellowjackets have only won one of their last eight games and are currently on a four game losing streak.

This season, the Blugolds are outscoring opponents by 11.4 points and are outshooting them 47.1 percent-to-36.7 percent. Eau Claire is also outrebounding opponents, pulling down 36.7-to-31.8 boards per game. The Blugolds, however, are being outshot at the free throw line, making 69.9 percent of their shots while opponents are shooting 74.4 percent.

Leading the way in scoring for the Blugolds is Heidi Arciszewski (Jr.-Thorp, Wis.). She is averaging 14.8 points per game. Michelle Burns (Sr.-Eau Claire, Wis./North) is second on the team, averaging 12.5. Burns also leads the team with 5.7 rebounds per game. Heather Witt (Jr.-Kendall, Wis./Royal) is also averaging double figures with 10.4 points per game. Witt’s 45 assists and 26 steals are currently best on the team.

Superior is being outscored this year by 13 points per game, scoring 55.9 to opponents’ 68.9. The Yellowjackets are also being outshot 43.2 percent-to-35.4 percent from the field and 67.4 percent-to-65.4 percent from the free throw line. They are outrebounding opponents 35.6-to-32.8 per game.

Only one Yellowjacket is shooting in double digits this year. Carissa Nord is averaging 10.4 points per game, while Tessa Gronli is second on the team with 8.3 points per game. Gigi Hudson is the team’s leading rebounder with 60, and Gronli has a team-high 27 assists. Defensively, Ashley Laidley leads the team with 13 steals while Gronli has 10.

The Blugolds are 49-10 all-time against the Yellowjackets. Eau Claire has won 40 straight games against Superior. The last time the Yellowjackets defeated the Eau Claire was on December 15, 1987 with a 60-58 victory in Superior.

- KM -

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