UW-Stevens Point used a smothering second half defensive performance to pull away from UW-La Crosse for a 62-49 women's basketball victory on Saturday in La Crosse.

The Pointers held the Eagles to just 25.8 percent shooting after halftime and forced 24 turnovers for the game to improve to 15-5 overall and 7-5 in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. UW-La Crosse dropped a half-game behind the Pointers in the league standings, falling to 13-9 overall and 7-6 in the conference.

UW-Stevens Point opened up an early 21-12 lead with 6:30 left in the first half following back-to-back jumpers from Janell Van Gomple (DeForest/DeForest). However, the Eagles gradually worked back into the game and cut the lead to 25-24 at halftime on a three-pointer by Karrie Lamers with 15 seconds left in the first half.

UW-La Crosse never led in the second half, but tied the game at 27-27 on a three-point play by Katy Searing. The Pointers' Laura Neuenfeldt (Two Rivers/Two Rivers) answered with a three-pointer and Katie Webber (Reedsburg/Reedsburg) scored five straight points as UW-Stevens Point eventually built a 37-31 lead with 15 minutes left.

Nicole Palmer followed with a three-point play for UW-La Crosse before the Pointers turned up the defensive pressure. UW-Stevens Point took control with an 11-0 run over a span of 4:33 as the Eagles missed all six shots and had five turnovers during the span that saw the Pointers take a 50-35 lead on a three-pointer by Haley Houghton (Wausau/Wausau East) with 10:38 remaining.

Mackenzie Hunter pulled the Eagles within 52-39 with 8:22 left, but the Eagles missed their next six shots as UW-Stevens Point pushed the lead to as many as 17 points.

Houghton led the Pointers with 12 points, while Webber had 10 points and Chelsea Kranz (Columbus/Columbus) notched 10 points and eight rebounds. Jessi Sporle (Mineral Point/Mineral Point) chipped in eight points off the bench. Abby Johnson led the Eagles with 10 points as UW-La Crosse shot just 33.3 percent for the game.