Lyssa Beyer

So much depended on so little for the UW-Eau Claire women’s basketball team Saturday.

For most of the afternoon, the result of a must-win game against UW-Stout rested on a knife’s edge as both teams struggled to build and maintain momentum. Even after the Blugolds narrowly escaped with a 77-74 win at Zorn Arena, their hopes of clinching a No. 1 seed in the conference tournament depended on the result of a mere coin toss.

The victory moved the Blugolds into a tie in the WIAC standings with UW-Whitewater, giving each team co-champion status. The recipient of the tournament’s No. 1 seed was decided by a coin flip, the final method of choosing a winner in a five-step tiebreaker system. The top seed gives Eau Claire home court advantage throughout the tournament.

“It’s exciting because this team has worked hard to have that opportunity and we really feel like, in Zorn Arena that we’re more confident,” coach Tonja Englund said after learning of the results of the coin toss.

Eau Claire trailed by as many as eight points Saturday before climbing to an 11-point advantage – the largest of the contest – midway through the second half. But in a game where no lead was secure, the Blugolds soon found themselves scrapping for the win with just minutes left on the board.

A 3-pointer by junior Heather Witt with 52 seconds left gave Eau Claire a four-point lead, and a trio of free throws at the end of the game boosted the Blugolds to the narrow win.

“I knew I had to do something for the team, I wasn’t scoring, so I’m just glad I could contribute any way I could,” Witt said of her 3-pointer.

While the Blugolds could thank Witt for the timely basket, it was junior Heidi Arciszewski who kept Eau Claire in the game during most of the second half. Arciszewski finished the game with a team-high of 30 points, 20 of which came in the second half.

Senior Michelle Burns added 22 points and collected a team-high seven rebounds. No other player scored in double digits, but the team got help from almost everyone; the bench contributed 16 points and seven of the team’s 10-person roster put numbers on the board.

“Everyone kind of stepped out of their comfort zone tonight and stepped up all together,” Arciszewski said.

“It came down to the wire but we stuck together and got it done.”

Saturday’s contest marked the final regular-season game for four seniors, who were honored during halftime. Burns, Kali Houselog, Rachel Mueggenborg and Amanda Zenner were all given framed jerseys and ceremonial basketballs during the break.

“Our seniors are definitely the core of our group. Next year it’s going to be so tough without them. They play hard, they play with heart, and we love playing for them,” Witt said after the game. “We’re definitely going to miss them next year.”

The Blugolds host UW-River Falls at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the first round of the conference tournament. Eau Claire defeated the Falcons twice this year by an average margin of 15 points.