Spring Break
After quick start, team began to struggle, recovered with convincing win
Frank Pellegrino
Issue date: 12/11/08 Section: Sports
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Eau Claire, taking on UW-Platteville, got off to a quick 9-0 lead just two and half minutes into the game.
From there Platteville switched to a zone defense that gave the Blugolds a hard time initially.
Sophomore Hannah Mesick insisted it wasn't because the team started to take the Pioneers lightly.
"I don't think we got over confident," Mesick said. "We just needed to get back to our game plan and start executing our strengths."
Sloppy play ensued for Eau Claire who let Platteville get right back into the game. After the Pioneers scored eight straight points, Blugold head coach Tonja Englund called a timeout.
"I was not pleased that we didn't capitalize on going up nine to nothing," Englund said. "I think that mentality we needed to start playing a little bit of a smarter game."
The timeout was exactly what the Blugolds needed as they got a basket on the next possession. The field goal ended a run of nearly five minutes without a point for Eau Claire.
Both teams converted several chances in a row, and the Blugolds held a 16-12 lead with just less than nine minutes to go.
From there, Eau Claire tightened up on defense and began to build on their lead. After making two three-point field goals the Blugolds increased the advantage to ten.
Eau Claire took a 31-27 advantage into the break following a Platteville run to end the half.
Both teams failed to score in the first four minutes of the second period. After Platteville made a free throw, Eau Claire broke their own scoring drought with a three point shot from senior Missy Fremstad.
The basket came after a controversial foul called on Fremstad, who answered in the best way possible. The foul was the third straight questionable call in a row against the Blugolds.
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