Danielle Ryan

Monday night, the UW-Eau Claire women’s basketball team started off slow and then picked it up in the second half, but not enough to pull them ahead, leaving the Blugolds to fall to Gustavus Adolphus college (Minn.) 72-66.

Eleven minutes into the game, the Gusties had already stacked up an eleven-point lead to the Blugolds. Eau Claire tightened up that gap, only to be down by eleven again by the end of the first half.

Hannah Mesick, junior center for the Blugolds, said turnovers and the lack of defensive intensity were what hurt the Blugolds.

“We started out pretty slow,” said Mesick. “The defensive intensity wasn’t what we wanted.”

The Blugolds had three times as many turnovers as the Gusties in the first half, giving up 23 points off turnovers.

“We just didn’t get as many opportunities (to shoot) because of our turnovers,” said junior Leah (Rempert) hit a really big shot at the end of the game. So did Laura (Olson),” Gilberg said.

The Gusties were more accurate than the Blugolds, 59.5 percent to 37.9 percent, but the Blugolds had 41 rebounds throughout the game to Gustavus’ 17.

Mesick had a game-high of nine rebounds and led three of her teammates in double-figures with 19 points. Rempert added another 13 points, and Ellen Plendl ended with 11.

“We had good team effort,” Mesick said. “We’re trying to stay positive.”

Mesick said the Blugolds played a lot of tough teams in the beginning of their season, and they’re hoping that in the end it has prepared them for the WIAC Conference Tournament.

“We just need to get out there and play and play smart,” Gillberg said. “We’re ready to get going with the conference.”

The women’s basketball team will be up against UW-La Crosse this Saturday at 3 p.m. in Zorn Arena.