OSHKOSH, WISCONSIN – UW-Stout fell 73-48 to fourth-ranked UW-Oshkosh Saturday afternoon at Kolf Sports Center, as the Titans used a strong first half and efficient perimeter shooting to take control in WIAC play.
The Blue Devils (11-12, 2-10 WIAC) came out aggressive. Maraya Wiltrout scored the game's opening basket on a layup off a feed from Eleice Dahl, then added another finish inside to give Stout an early 4-2 lead. After Addy Verhagen knocked down a pair of free throws to tie the game at 6-6 midway through the first quarter, Oshkosh began to settle in.
Sammi Beyer connected from three to spark a late first-quarter surge, and the Titans closed the period on a 14-2 run. Bridget Froehlke capped the stretch with a three-pointer at the buzzer, giving Oshkosh a 20-8 advantage after one.
The Titans extended their lead in the second quarter behind balanced scoring and ball movement. Back-to-back layups by Sarah Hardwick pushed the margin to double figures, and consecutive three-pointers from Mallory Hoitink and Beyer stretched the lead past 20. Froehlke added two more threes during the run as Oshkosh built a 41-15 advantage before Olivia Johnson scored inside late in the half to make it 44-19 at the break.
Stout responded with its most productive stretch of the afternoon in the third quarter. Wiltrout opened the half with a steal and jumper, and Verhagen followed with a three-pointer to trim the deficit to 20. Moments later, Julia Rybacki came up with a steal that led to a transition three by Mary Berg, cutting the lead to 44-27.
Rosella Wille added a three from the wing, and Rybacki attacked the paint for a pair of baskets and free throws as Stout scored 20 points in the quarter. The Blue Devils shot 5-of-10 from the field and 3-of-5 from three in the period, but Oshkosh answered key runs behind Beyer, who finished with a game-high 22 points and five three-pointers. The Titans led 59-39 entering the fourth.
Early in the final quarter, Rybacki turned another steal into a layup to cut the margin to 18, but Oshkosh responded with a 10-2 stretch fueled by paint touches and second-chance opportunities to put the game out of reach.
Rybacki led Stout with 12 points, going 6-of-8 from the free throw line. Verhagen and Wiltrout added eight points apiece, while Berg contributed seven, including five during the third-quarter push.
By The Numbers
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28.6% – Stout shot 14-of-49 from the field and 3-of-16 (18.8%) from beyond the arc.
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54.2% – Oshkosh's field goal percentage, including 11-of-23 (47.8%) from three.
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20 – Titans points off turnovers.
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20-15 – Stout's advantage in third-quarter scoring.
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31-31 – Even rebounding margin.
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22 – Bench points for the Blue Devils.
Up Next
UW-Stout returns home Wednesday to host UW-River Falls at 7 p.m. at Johnson Fieldhouse as the Blue Devils continue conference play.
