Box Score

Oshkosh 66, Superior 61

On a day of firsts for the UW-Superior women's basketball team, the UW-Oshkosh Titans managed to grab a second-straight WIAC Tournament title.

Playing before a packed house at Mertz Mortorelli Gymnasium, The Yellowjackets fell behind by 11 points midway through the second half and couldn't make up the difference, ultimately falling 66-61 in their first chance to host the WIAC Championship tilt.

For the game, the Yellowjackets connected on just 34.4 percent of their shots, including going just 10-of-33 from the field after halftime. The Titans meanwhile shot 43.4 percent from the field in gaining the WIAC's automatic bid to next week's NCAA Division III National Tournament.

UW-Oshkosh (22-6) started fast in the opening half, jumping out to a quick seven-point advantage came back to take an 11-9 lead after a three-pointer by Allyssa Lindberg (Marquette, Mich./Marquette) at the 13:19 mark.

The Yellowjackets (19-8) eventually upped to their margin to 21-17 on a jumper by Hadley Skalmoski (Neenah, Wis./Neenah) before a three-point play by Dana Karlstad (Eleva, Wis./Eleva-Strum) gave UW-Superior their largest lead of the afternoon at 24-19 with 7:02 showing on the clock.

UW-Oshkosh rallied back, eventually taking a 29-26 lead following a layup by Madeline Staples in the final 2:12 before heading to halftime holding a 31-28 edge.

The Titans expanded their lead early in the second half, upping their advantage to 44-35 with 13:38 after another inside score from Staples.

UW-Superior steadily trimmed the deficit, finally coming within 49-48 after a short-jumper by Karlstad with 5:48 remaining in regulation.

But Marissa Selner scored a layup and Ashley Neustifter a three-pointer on the next two Titans' possessions to expand the lead to 54-48 at the 4:42 mark. Two free throws from Taylor Schmidt and a three-pointer by Morgan Kokta gave UW-Oshkosh a 59-48 with less than three minutes remaining.

UW-Superior got no closer than three points the rest of the way as the Titans knocked down 20-of-27 from the free throw line for the game.

The Yellowjackets were led by Sally Linzmeier (Valders, Wis./Valders), who poured in a game-high 26 points. Karlstad and Skalmoski each finished with 11 points for UW-Superior.

UW-Oshkosh was paced by Katelyn Kuehl with 16 points.

The Yellowjackets will find out Monday if they will receive an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, which begins next week.