Issued: March 21, 2003

BLUGOLDS LOSE TO EASTERN CONNECTICUT STATE IN SEMIFINALS

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - The UW-Eau Claire women's basketball team saw their season come to an end with a 52-49 overtime loss to Eastern Connecticut State in the national semifinals played here tonight at the Rose-Hulman Institute.

Eau Claire built a 14-point lead but was unable to overcome a poor shooting performance. The Blugolds shot only 26.6 percent for the game including 8-35 in the second half and overtime.

Eau Claire held a one-point lead with 1:43 remaining in regulation but an Allison Coleman free throw tied the game with 49 seconds left. Janel Soppeland (Sr.-Cadott) had four opportunities to give the Blugolds the win but was unable to convert sending the game into overtime with the teams tied at 41.

In overtime the Warriors built a five point lead on the strength of six Allison Coleman points to give Eastern Connecticut State a 49-44 lead with 43 seconds remaining. Soppeland cut the lead to three with two free throws but Kathleen Burdelski increased the lead to four with a free throw of her own.

With 27 seconds remaining Emilee Planert (Jr.-Eau Claire/North) hit a three-pointer and was followed by Coleman which gave the Blugolds a chance to tie the game. Planert was unable to convert on the free throw attempt and the Warriors hit three of four free throws down the stretch. Soppeland got off a three-point attempt at the buzzer but it fell short giving Eau Claire their first loss to a Division III opponent all year and snapping their 22-game winning streak.

Eau Claire held the biggest lead of the game at 14 when Becca Spaeth (Jr.-Chippewa Falls/Chi-Hi) connected on a jumper with 15 minutes remaining in regulation to give the Blugolds a 33-19 lead. Eastern Connecticut State finished the second half on a 22-8 run.

The Blugolds jumped out to an early 4-0 lead on two Brooke Wozniak (Jr.-Stanley/Stanley-Boyd) free throws and a Kristi Channing (Sr.-Fall Creek) jumper.

The Warriors fought back to take a 13-11 lead on a Morgan Perry jumper with 12:01 remaining in the first half. Eau Claire would answer ending the half on a 15-3 run to take a 26-16 halftime lead.

Planert led the Blugolds in scoring off the bench with 14 points on five of nine shooting. Channing added 11 points in her final game as a Blugold. Wozniak pulled down a team-high 15 rebounds.

Coleman led the Warriors with 16 points and a game-high 19 rebounds. Perry added 15 points.

Earlier in the day Channing was named to the Kodak All-American team and Coach Tonja Englund was named the Division III Coach of the Year by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association.

The Blugolds will play the University of Rochester tomorrow night in the third place game. Rochester lost to Trinity University of Texas 63-54 in the semifinals. The game is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m.

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