Women's basketball trails in high-scoring season opener
Late game rally not enough to make a comeback
Ashley Hofer
Issue date: 11/19/09 Section: Editorial/Opinion
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"We're not used to giving up 74 points," women's basketball coach Tonja Englund said. "We're a team that usually holds teams in the 50s. I thought that was really the difference in the game."
St. Benedict was the first to put points on the board during Tuesday's game in Zorn Arena, and the team never relinquished the lead.
Initially, the Blugolds answered many of the Blazers' baskets, but St. Benedict opened up a 14 point lead by the end of the first half, as the Blugolds and Blazers entered the locker rooms with a score of 41-27.
During the second half, St. Benedict again struck first, but the Blugolds quickly started a run that cut into the Blazers' lead. Scores from sophomore Ellen Plendl and freshman Sarah Bingea, as well as a free throw from sophomore Laura Olson, brought the lead down to single digits. But as time wore on, St. Benedict regained some of its momentum and maintained a lead that at times was as large as 17 points.
With less than three minutes left in the game, the Blugolds began an offensive rally when Olson's consecutive 3-pointers brought the Blazer lead down to nine. With another 3-pointer from freshman Leah Rempert and a pair of free throws from junior Hannah Mesick, UW-Eau Claire got to within six points of the Blazers, but the clock cut their comeback short as the game ended.
Overall, the Blugolds made 40 percent (26-for-65) of its shots. Mesick led the team in scoring, racking up 20 points. Olson contributed 12 points for the Blugolds, while Plendl added another eight points. Mesick also led the team in rebounds, recording a total of 15.
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