Box Score

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – Britta Petersen (Luck) poured in 21 points and pulled down nine rebounds at the Shirk Center on Saturday afternoon, but it was not enough, as the sixth-ranked Titans of Illinois Wesleyan took advantage of several Pointer turnovers late in the game to pull away for an 84-80 victory over the Pointer women's basketball team.

After the Pointers opened the game on a 7-0 run, the sixth-ranked Titans came fighting back to take a 22-12 lead with 9:36 remaining in the first half. Down the stretch, the Pointers fought their way back, taking a one point lead, 33-32, with just 3:59 remaining in the opening half. From there, the Pointers built a five point lead before closing out the opening half with a two point edge, 39-37.

In the second half, the game continued to go back-and-forth, as the Pointers built a seven point lead, 46-39 and the Titans went on a 21-4 run to open up a 10 point lead, 60-50, with just 11:13 remaining.

The Pointers then battled back to tie the game at 67 with just 5:53 remaining, and then took a two point advantage at the 5:12 mark thanks to an Andrea Flease (New London) jumper and continued to add to the lead, taking a six point edge, 76-70, with just 3:23 remaining.

Down the stretch, the Pointers were plagued by turnovers as the Titans pulled in front for good at the 1:38 mark, 80-78, and came away to the four point victory.

The Pointers outscored the Titans 18-12 in the paint and shot 52 percent from the floor, but 35 points off turnovers and 46 bench points for the Titans proved to be the difference in the four point victory for Illinois Wesleyan.

Cassie Bandow (Plover) scored 15 points in just 24 minutes for the Pointers and Josi Schultz (Eau Claire) added 12 for the Pointers off the bench.

Four Titans scored in double figures as Nikki Preston led the Titans with 19 points, Karen Solari added 15 and Holly Harvey added 10, all off the bench, and Christina Solari added 17 points and 11 rebounds in the victory for Illinois Wesleyan.

The Pointers (4-1) return to action on Dec. 2 when they travel to UW-Stout for the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) opener. Tip-off in Menomonie is scheduled for 7 p.m.