Chippewa Valley Times

The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire women's basketball team achieved a significant victory against UW-La Crosse, marking their Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) opener with a 73-63 win at the Sonnentag Event Center. The Blugolds displayed an impressive shooting performance, making 52% of their shots from the field and securing 11 three-pointers.

Reanna Hutchinson was instrumental in the victory, scoring 29 points and collecting five rebounds. She made five three-pointers and was one point short of her career high. Kyla Overskei contributed with 17 points and eight rebounds, hitting four out of eight attempts from beyond the arc. Lauren Meudt added 14 points, seven rebounds, and four assists to the team's efforts.

The Blugolds established an early lead with a score of 24-12 by the end of the first quarter, shooting 69% during this period. Their advantage increased to 21 points in the second quarter, resulting in a halftime score of 43-24. By the end of the third quarter, they led by 23 points after outscoring UW-La Crosse 20-16. Despite UW-La Crosse's attempt at a comeback in the fourth quarter, they were unable to close the gap.

In addition to their strong shooting performance, UW-Eau Claire dominated in rebounding, out-rebounding UW-La Crosse 35-28.

Looking ahead, the Blugolds aim for their third consecutive win as they prepare to host No. 5 UW-Oshkosh on Wednesday, January 8 at the Sonnentag Event Center with tip-off scheduled for 7 p.m.