EAU CLAIRE, Wis. – The UW-Stevens Point women's basketball team (14-12) led for 38 minutes, but couldn't hold off a hot-shooting UW-Eau Claire team (18-8) in the fourth quarter in a 56-53 loss in the first round of the WIAC Tournament (presented by Culver's) on Tuesday.
 
Senior Lexi Roland (New London, Wis./New London) led the Pointers with 15 points on 3-of-5 shooting from beyond the arc.  She added three rebounds and a pair of steals.
 
Fellow senior Taylor Barrett (Monroe, Wis./Monroe) chipped in 14 points with six boards, two steals, two blocks and an assist.  Mickey Roland (New London, Wis./New London) led UWSP with 11 rebounds.
 
The Pointers jumped in front early with a Brooke Geier (Kewaunee, Wis./Kewaunee) three in the opening seconds of the game.  Barrett began and ended an 8-0 run with a bucket as the lead was 11-3.  Barrett added four more points as the Pointers were ahead 15-8 after one quarter.
 
Lexi Roland (New London, Wis./New London) scored four points in a 9-0 run by UWSP to open the second quarter to give the Pointers a 24-8 lead, the largest of the game.  After seven-straight UWEC points, Taylor Greenheck (Sauk Prairie, Wis./Sauk Prairie) drilled a three to end a nearly four minute drought.  In the closing seconds of the half, Geier drained a jumper as UWSP led 29-19 at the half.
 
A Lexi Roland (New London, Wis./New London) three-pointer accounted for the Pointers' offense over the first six-plus minutes of the third quarter as the Blugolds closed the gap to two at 32-30.  A pair of free throws by Bailee Collins (Milton, Wis./Milton) sparked a 7-0 run to end the quarter capped by Barrett completing an and-1.
 
The fourth quarter began with another Lexi Roland (New London, Wis./New London) three-pointer to push the lead back to 12. Just past the midpoint of the quarter, the Blugolds heated up hitting five three-pointers in just over three minutes to make it a 51-50 game in favor of UWSP.  After a Geier free throw, back-to-back buckets by the Blugolds gave UWEC its first lead of the game with 28 seconds remaining.  Barrett was fouled while driving for a layup, but only one free throw fell as UWEC held on for the late win.
 
The Pointers' three seniors - Mickey Roland (New London, Wis./New London), Lexi Roland (New London, Wis./New London) and Barrett – complete their careers with a 66-42 record in four seasons in a UWSP uniform.