The UW Oshkosh women’s basketball team opened the season with two games at the Wheaton Beth Baker Classic in Wheaton, Illinois on Nov. 10 and 11, defeating University of Dubuque (Iowa) and losing to Wheaton College (Illinois).
The Titans tipped off their first game with a new look starting lineup that included four sophomores, guard Kate Huml, guard Mallory Lindsey, forward Sarah Hardwick and forward Mahra Wieman, in addition to senior forward Kayce Vaile. Both Hardwick and Vaile were regular fixtures in the starting lineup last season.
The Titans went back and forth with Dubuque for the entire first half, entering the break with a 30-25 lead. The Titans were able to separate themselves in the first half by making five three-point attempts to Dubuque’s two.
In a high scoring third quarter, the Titans were able to extend their lead by three, making it 50-42 heading into the fourth quarter. The Titans were able to pull away by outsourcing Dubuque 20-10 in the final quarter for a 70-52 victory.
The win had four Titan players in double figures for points, Hardwick (11), Osterman (11), Hoitink (11) and Vaile (10), along with nine players getting over 12 minutes of action in the game.
The Titans would take on the hosts of the Wheaton Beth Baker Classic, Wheaton College, the following day.
The starting lineup remained the same for the Titans in game two. However, the first quarter did not go well for the Titans, being outscored 17-9. The game would further slip away from the Titans after going down by as much as 18 points in the third quarter. The Titans would fall 69-58, dropping their record to 1-1.
Efficiency appeared to be the difference in the game as Wheaton shot 50% from the field to UWO’s 30%. Wheaton also shot 44% from three in the contest.
The Titans once again had nine players tallying over 12 minutes of game time, but this time around only had one player reach double figures with senior guard Kennedy Osterman tallying 11 points in 25 minutes off the bench.
The season rolls on for the Titans at the St. Norbert Nicolet National Bank Tip-Off Tournament when they take on University of Olivet (Michigan) and Northland College on Nov. 17 and 18 in De Pere.
