Issued: March 15, 2003

SENIORS LEAD BLUGOLDS OVER HOPE AND TO FINAL FOUR

EAU CLAIRE - Kristi Channing (Sr-Fall Creek) and Janel Soppeland (Sr-Cadott) combined for 44 points as the UW-Eau Claire women's basketball team triumphed over undefeated Hope University 74-56 in the NCAA Division III Sectional Final here tonight at W.L. Zorn Arena.

Eau Claire improves its season record to 31-1 while handing Hope its only loss of the season. The Flying Dutch end the season also with a mark of 31-1.

The Blugolds used hot shooting to topple Hope, hitting 52.1 percent from the floor while allowing the Flying Dutch to sink just 36.5 percent. Eau Claire also took advantage of free-throw opportunities as they converted on 19-of-26 from the charity stripe.

The entire first half was played in a back-and-forth duel with no team leading by more than five points. The scoreboard saw each team knotted up on seven separate occasions in the half. Eau Claire owned a five point advantage twice in the half but was unable to pull away. With just six seconds left, Kat Neinhuis made a two-point shot for the Flying Dutch to send the game into halftime knotted up at 32.

The opening five minutes of the second half picked up exactly where the first half left off. With 15:05 left to play, the scoreboard again showed a tie, this time at 38. Eau Claire, fresh off a 43-41 hard-fought victory against Pacific Lutheran University in the Sectional Semifinal, was determined not to engage in another last second duel. The Blugolds went on a 24-7 run, highlighted by eight points from Kristi Channing. Eau Claire pulled Channing and Soppeland with under a minute to go as the capacity crowd at Zorn Arena gave the seniors a standing ovation.

Channing finished with a game-best 22 points and three assists while Soppeland added 20 points and two assists. Each of the seniors grabbed five rebounds in the Blugold win. At the conclusion of the game Soppeland landed a spot on the All-Tournament Team while Channing was named Tournament Most Valuable Player. Channing totaled 33 points during the two-game tourney, including draining the winning shot against Pacific Lutheran University with just 3.2 seconds remaining in the contest. The 5-10 forward also grabbed 11 rebounds in the two games. Soppeland scored 31 points and grabbed 12 rebounds on the tourney earning her a seat on All-Tournament Team.

Rachel Becker (Fr-Gilmanton) provided a huge spark off the bench for Eau Claire as she totaled 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting. Becca Spaeth (Jr-Chippewa Falls/Chi-Hi) also scored in double digits as she totaled 10 points to go along with five rebounds.

Amanda Kerkstra finished with a team-high 15 points for Hope while also pulling down 10 rebounds. Amy Baltmanis added 14 points in the Flying Dutch effort. Both players were named to the All-Tournament Team.

Rounding out the five player All-Tournament Team was Courtney Johnson of Pacific Lutheran University. In other NCAA Division III Sectional Final action, Eastern Connecticut topped Bowdoin 64-47 to advance to the Final Four held in Terre Haute, Indiana. Eastern Connecticut will meet up with Eau Claire on March 21 at either 6 or 8 p.m. In the other Eastern match up, Rochester topped Messiah 71-60 to advance to the Final Four where it will meet Trinity University of Texas, who upended Washington University 76-57.

Eau Claire-Hope Box