Issued: January 11, 2003

CHANNING LEADS BLUGOLDS OVER WARHAWKS

EAU CLAIRE - The UW-Eau Claire women's basketball team got game highs of 31 points and seven rebounds from Kristi Channing (Sr-Fall Creek) en route to topping WIAC rival UW-Whitewater 95-71 here tonight at W.L. Zorn Arena.

The Blugolds improve their record to 14-1 on the season and extend their conference unbeaten record to 6-0 while the Warhawks fall to 6-6 on the season and just 1-4 in WIAC action.

Both teams shot excellent from the field and the free-throw line as Eau Claire hit 53.8 percent of its shots from the field and 90.5 from the line while Whitewater drained 51.1 percent from the floor and 85.7 percent from the charity stripe. Eau Claire took a distinct advantage in three-point shooting hitting 6-of-15 while holding the Warhawks to just 1-of-6 from behind the arc. Eau Claire also used a 34-22 rebounding advantage in the victory.

The first half started out with an 8-0 run by Whitewater. Eau Claire countered to offensive spurt from the Warhawks with a 12-2 run of its own to turn a 12-5 deficit into a 17-16 lead. The Blugolds continued to outscore the Warhawks 25-11 in the last 7:42 of the first half to take a 46-37 lead into the locker room.

The Blugolds picked up right where they left off in the second half opening up with a 13-4 run to pull away from the Warhawks. Eau Claire held the lead the remainder of the half for the victory.

Channing went 11-14 from the floor and 9-11 from the free throw line en route to her 31 points. Janel Soppeland (Sr-Cadott) added 12 points for the Blugolds and Brook Wozniak (Jr-Stanley/Stanley-Boyd) added 11 points and six rebounds in the victory.

Eau Claire will resume action Wednesday when they will travel to Oshkosh to continue WIAC action against the Titans. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m.

Eau Claire-Whitewater Box