Blugolds trip up Blue Devils in second half

UW-Eau Claire 64, UW-Stout 59

EAU CLAIRE (January 8, 2020) - UW-Eau Claire virtually shut down UW-Stout's perimeter game in the second half and went on to hand the Blue Devils' their first conference loss of the season, a 64-59 decision at Zorn Arena.

The Blue Devils (10-3, 1-1 WIAC) hit eight 3-pointers in the first half to work their way to a one point, 32-31, halftime lead. But the led was almost shut from downtown in the second half as Stout could only can two 3-pointers after the break.

Stout stretched the lead to four points after third period, taking a 44-40, but the Blugolds (6-6, 1-1 WIAC) outscored the Blue Devils 19-12 in the final stanza as Eau Claire's Hallee Hoeppner scored 10 of her game-high 19 points in the quarter. 

Hoeppner gave Eau Claire the lead at the 5:02 mark of the final period on a pair of free throws. Stout would tie the score with 2:46 left on a layup by Katie Christopherson. A basket by the Blugolds' Anna Grasskamp and a free throw by Hoeppner moments later gave Eau Claire a 61-58 lead. Two free throws by Hoeppner and a single throw by Katie Essen gave the home team a 64-58 lead.

Stout's Lindsey Johnson made the front end of a free throw with 18 seconds left, then rebounded her miss passing the ball but Stout's last gasp was a missed 3-pointer. 

While the Blugolds were controlling Stout's outside game, the Blugolds took advantage underneath, outscoring Stout 28-12 in the paint for the game. Eau Claire outrebounded Stout, 40-35.

Liz Oswald led Stout with 11 points and Christopherson finished with 10 points. As a team, Stout shot 30.5 percent (18-59) from the floor and 41.7 percent from 3-point range. 

Hoeppner finished the night with a double-double, pulling down 11 rebounds to go with her 19 points. Grasskamp came close to a double-double, scoring 16 points and nine rebounds. Maizie Deihl scored 10 points. 

The Blugolds finished the night shooting 42.6 percent (23-54) from the floor, 25 percent (4-16) from 3-point range and 77.8 percent (14-18) from the line. 

Stout will look to regroup when they travel to UW-Oshkosh, Saturday, Jan. 11 with a 3 p.m. tip off. Stout return to Johnson Fieldhouse Wednesday, Jan. 15 to host UW-River Falls.