STEVENS POINT, Wis. – Senior
Autumn Hennes (Kaukauna, WI/Kaukauna) scored a career-high 29 points as the UW-Stevens Point women's basketball team (14-7, 6-4) got past visiting UW-Eau Claire (11-10, 5-5) by a 63-60 score at Berg Gym on Saturday afternoon.
Junior
Lexi Roland (New London, WI/New London) also contributed double figures with 11 points for UWSP. Sophomore
Payton Mix (New London, WI/New London) had an all-around great game with nine points and a team-high seven rebounds.
Hennes scored six of UWSP's first eight points, but the Pointers trailed early, 16-8.
Lexi Roland (New London, WI/New London) and
Taylor Douglas (Brodhead, WI/Brodhead) each tallied a bucket as UWSP closed to within 16-12 at the end of the first quarter.
The Pointers extended the run to 18-0 with the first 14 points of the second quarter. Hennes had nine of those 14 points to begin the period. Later in the period, Hennes completed an and-one and Mix hit her first three-pointer of the year to give UWSP a 36-25 lead at the half.
Taylor Barrett (Monroe, WI/Monroe) hit a bucket in the opening minute of the second half, but the Blugolds opened with a 15-4 run to knot the game at 40-40. Hennes and Mix hit six-straight free throws down the stretch and
Lauren Anklam (Ringle, WI/D.C. Everest) hit a half-court shot at the buzzer as the Pointers held a 52-46 advantage after three quarters.
Lexi Roland (New London, WI/New London) answered back-to-back threes by UWEC with a triple of her own, but the game remained tied four minutes into the fourth, 55-55. Roland hit another three with just under four to play, but again the Blugolds responded with a three of their own. Hennes surpassed her previous career-high with a tip-in with 1:36 remaining. A layup by UWEC with 27 second to go pulled the Blugolds within one. Anklam hit a pair of free throws seconds later and two attempts to tie the game were fruitless for UWEC.
The Pointers travel to UW-Whitewater on Wednesday for a 7:00 p.m. contest. UWSP returns to Berg Gym next Saturday for Senior Day against UW-Stout at 3:00 p.m.