Seven different Titans scored at least five points as UW-Oshkosh topped the Simpson College (Iowa) women's basketball team, 59-52, on Sunday (Jan. 29) in Wisconsin Dells.

The Titans (12-0), ranked 21st by D3hoops.com, took the lead midway through the first half and held it the rest of the game. Simpson pulled within two points on several occasions, but UW-Oshkosh hit eight free throws in the final 1:24 to clinch the victory.

Taylor Schmidt paced the Titans with 10 points, while Sarah Stecker added nine points and six rebounds. Katelyn Kuehl contributed eight points and three steals, to go with seven points apiece by Ashley Neustifter and Kendell Truttman.

The contest started slowly with just two field goals in the opening 4:46. UW-Oshkosh then tallied a 7-0 run that featured two lay-ins from Kuehl. Alex Richard's bucket gave the Titans a 9-5 lead.

Kuehl and Alicia Tollefson each knocked down two free throws to make it 20-11. The Storm responded with a three-ball by Brooke Panzer, and a lay-up by Whitney Van Wyk cut the deficit to 25-18 at halftime.

Four minutes into the second period, Stecker swished a jumper to go ahead 30-20. Simpson's Brittany Hedrick followed with back-to-back triples to pull within 32-26. Hedrick scored a game-high 28 points while marking six steals.

The Storm made it 34-33 on Annie Gullickson's lay-up with 13:04 left, but Truttman came right back with a three-pointer to gain some breathing room.

Neustifter and Schmidt got to the hoop for baskets with seven minutes remaining, putting the Titans on top 43-37.

Hedrick drained two long jumpers in the last 2:07, including one that pulled the Storm within 49-47. The Titans then closed out the win at the foul line. UW-Oshkosh has made 106 more free throws than its opponents this year.

The Titans totaled 39 percent shooting (20-52) from the field, 24 percent success (4-17) behind the arc and 63 percent accuracy at the foul line (15-24). UW-Oshkosh committed just 14 turnovers, while Simpson had 21.

Gullickson was next in line for the Storm with eight points. Morgan Terpstra grabbed eight rebounds for Simpson, which sank 43 percent overall (20-47), 35 percent (6-17) from long range and 75 percent of its free throws (6-8).

UW-Oshkosh's next contest will be at nationally ranked UW-Whitewater on Jan. 8.

By Jon Feyen