Issued: February 5, 2003

WOMEN BLUGOLDS RALLY TO WIN 25TH STRAIGHT AGAINST EAGLES

EAU CLAIRE - The fourth-ranked UW-Eau Claire women's basketball team used a 50-25 rebounding advantage to top Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference opponent UW-La Crosse 73-56 here tonight at W.L. Zorn Arena.

The win gives the Blugolds their 25th straight victory over the Eagles and their 10th victory in a row on the season. Eau Claire has not lost since December 21st when it fell to Division II opponent South Dakota State University. With the victory the Blugolds' record improves to 20-1 on the season and a perfect 11-0 in WIAC play while the Eagles fall to 10-10 overall and 4-7 in conference action.

Solid free-throw shooting and great effort on the glass proved to be the magic charm for the Blugolds as they hit 14-18 free throws on the game, including 8-10 in the final 3:37. Eau Claire limited the Eagles' second chance opportunities by holding them to just nine offensive rebounds. The Blugolds gave themselves countless second chances by grabbing 21 rebounds on the offensive glass. Brooke Wozniak (Jr-Stanley/Stanley-Boyd) led the Blugolds' rebounding effort by grabbing a career-high 19 rebounds, including nine offensive boards.

Things looked grim for the Blugolds in the first half as the Eagles went on a 15-2 run early to take a 10 point lead. Eau Claire battled back to take a one point lead with 4:19 remaining in the first half, due in large part to Becca Spaeth (Jr-Chippewa Falls/Chi-Hi) who scored seven points during the Blugold run. The Eagles put together solid shooting to end the half with a 32-30 lead.

Katie Murphy (So-La Crosse/Aquinas) wasted no time in the second half to regain the lead for the Blugolds against her hometown Eagles as she hit a three-pointer just eight seconds into the half. Murphy followed it up by nailing another three on the next Blugold possession to give Eau Claire a four point advantage. La Crosse responded with a three-point shot of its own and with 13:51 to play the Eagles held a four-point lead of their own.

Janel Soppeland (Sr-Cadott) made sure La Crosse did not lead for long as she hit back to back shots from behind the three-point arc to hoist the Blugolds over the Eagles. It was the last time the Blugolds would need to regain the lead as they went on a 13-1 run to take an eight point advantage and lead for good. Soppeland made six free throws in a row during the final minutes to ice the game for the Blugolds.

Becca Spaeth finished with a game-high 20 points while also grabbing nine rebounds and totaling three assists for Eau Claire. Soppeland scored 17 on the evening, hitting 3-4 trifectas and all six free throw attempts, to go along with three assists and two steals. Kristi Channing (Sr-Fall Creek) also scored in double digits with 12 points while pulling down nine rebounds and hitting all four free throws she attempted.

Amy Greil led the Eagles in scoring with 14 points while Karen Berg grabbed a team-best six rebounds. La Crosse was held to just 27.6 percent from the field in the second half and 2-10 from three-point range.

The Blugolds look to stay perfect in conference action this Saturday when they play the Falcons for an afternoon match up in River Falls. Tip-off is set for 3:00.

Eau Claire-La Crosse Box