Issued: December 9, 2002

BLUGOLDS HANDLE ST. SCHOLASTICA

The UW-Eau Claire women's basketball jumped out to an 11-2 lead and never looked back en route to defeating the College of St. Scholastica 84-49 here tonight at Zorn Arena.

Janel Soppeland (Sr.-Cadott) was the catalyst in the first half scoring 13 of the teams first 17 points including two three-pointers. Soppeland finished with 15 in the half with Becca Spaeth (Jr.-Chippewa Falls/Chi-Hi) contributing ten points and five rebounds in leading the Blugolds to a 44-17 halftime lead.

Eau Claire kept the Saints at bay in the second half outscoring them 40-32 while holding St. Scholastica to 35.7 percent shooting in the half. The Blugolds played everybody who suited up, getting points from all but two of the players.

The Blugolds dominated the Saints in many facets of the game with the 56-28 points in the paint difference being the most glaring. Eau Claire also scored 25 points off turnovers compared to the Saints 10 and had 24 second change points compared to St. Scholastica's eight.

Soppeland led the Blugolds in scoring for the game with 18 while Spaeth added 17. Allison Sanderberg led the Saints with nine.

Eau Claire will travel to Superior Wednesday to take on the Yellow Jackets at 7 p.m. at the Clough Gates Gymnasium.

Eau Claire-St. Scholastica Box