Box Score

STEVENS POINT - A hot start from beyond the three-point arc turned an early six point deficit into a 10 point lead and the Pointers never looked back, building a 14 point halftime advantage as UW-Stevens Point cruised to a 69-56 victory over UW-Eau Claire in conference action Wednesday evening.

The Blugolds jumped out to an early 12-6 lead before the Pointer defense kicked in and began to cause missed shots and turnovers for UW-Eau Claire. That, and Cassie Bandow (Plover) started Berg Gym on fire.

Bandow connected on all five of her first half three-point field goal attempts and five of the Pointers first six made baskets were from three point land, as UWSP regained the lead and closed out the half on a 16-2 run, pushing the lead to 14 at the break 40-26.

In the second half, UW-Eau Claire could get no closer than eight, cutting the deficit to 47-39 with just over 11 minutes remaining. Down the stretch, the stiff Pointer defense forced 12 second half turnovers translating into 16 points for UWSP, as UW-Stevens Point pushed the lead back to double digits and went on to the 69-56 victory.

Andrea Flease (New London) led the way with 21 points while Josi Schultz (Eau Claire) added 16 off the bench and Bandow added 15, all in the first half. Schultz also led the way with seven rebounds.

UW-Eau Claire's Hannah Mesick led all scorers with 25 points and had a team-high eight rebounds.

UW-Stevens Point (14-3, 6-2 WIAC) pulls into a three-way tie for first place in the WIAC with idle UW-River Falls and UW-Whitewater. The Pointers return to action on Saturday, Jan. 23 when they put their nine-game win streak on the line against UW-Oshkosh. Game time is scheduled for 1 p.m.