MILWAUKEE, Wis.- The UW-Oshkosh women's basketball team wrapped up the Wisconsin Lutheran College Paul F. Knueppel Classic with a dominant 62-27 win over the host Warriors on Saturday (Nov. 16), led by
Avery Poole with a career best 18 points.
The Titans (4-0), ranked eighth in the nation by
D3hoops.com and 13th by the
Women's Basketball Coaches Association, shot at least 50 percent from all three areas of the floor. They went 50 percent (23-of-46) from the field, a higher 53.8 percent (7-of-13) from three and added a 69.2 percent (9-of-13) from the line. The Titan defense held the Warriors to just 21.6 (11-of-51) from the field, including 7.7 percent (1-of-13) from three and 57.1 percent (4-of-7) from the line. Oshkosh also held a 34-31 edge in rebounds, a seven to six lead in assists, and recorded all four of the blocked shots in the contest while both teams registered six steals.
Poole (Jr. • Cottage Grove) went 6-of-10 from the field with three 3-pointers, adding three points from the free throw line for her 18 points, earning her tournament MVP. Over the two day tournament, she averaged 15.5 points and shot a 38.1 percent (8-of-21) clip from the field, 38.5 percent (5-of-13) from three and 71.4 percent (10-of-14) from the line.
Kayce Vaile (Fifth • Greendale), who was also named to the all-tournament team, scored 13 points (5-of-11 from the field and 3-of-5 from the line) with 13 rebounds, two steals, and two blocks. The double-double is her second of the season.
Kate Huml's (Jr. • Janesville) nine points, eight rebounds, two assists, and two blocks ranked third on the team.
The Warriors scored first on a three just 21 seconds after the tip before being held scoreless for the rest of the first quarter. UW-Oshkosh meanwhile scored 12 points including four field goals and four free throws.
Vaile and
Sammi Beyer (So. • Appleton) continued the Titans' scoring streak with a free throw and a shot from beyond the arc for the first points of the second quarter. After Wisconsin Lutheran's second basket, Huml made a layup and two free throws to push Oshkosh's lead to 20-5 with 5:31 left in the half. The Warriors began scoring more consistently in the last five minutes, adding six points while the Titans recorded seven straight between 3:15 and 1:52 and the last points of the half on a Vaile layup with under a minute to go.
Wisconsin Lutheran outscored Oshkosh 5-4 in the first three minutes of the third quarter before Vaile kicked off a 14-point spurt that lasted the remainder of the period. The Titans led 47-16 headed into the fourth quarter.
Mack Hogenson and Janiyah Goner cut UW-Oshkosh's deficit to 28 points and Poole and
Mallory Hoitink (So. • Hartford) connected on back-to-back 3-point attempts, extending Oshkosh's lead to 34 points. The Warriors brought the deficit down to 28 points on two free throws and a jumper, followed by a 9-2 Titan run to close out regulation.
The Titans return to Oshkosh for the two-day UW-Oshkosh Classic next Friday and Saturday (Nov. 22-23). They will play Central College (Iowa) (4-1) on Friday and Wheaton College (Ill.) (2-1) on Saturday.
