Box Score

STEVENS POINT - The UW-Stevens Point women's basketball team needed all 18 points from senior Ashley Baker (Vesper) to squeak out a two-point victory over UW-La Crosse on Wednesday evening, 63-61. The win secures at least a share of the 2009 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title for the Pointers.

The league title is the fourth in program history and the team's first since 2005.

Down by four until midway through the second half, the Pointers went on a 15-2 run over seven and a half minutes down the stretch to jump in front by nine, 56-47. La Crosse kept the Pointers within reach and cut the deficit to just four, 62-58, with 13 seconds remaining thanks to a Mackenzie Hunter layup.

After a Cassie Bandow (Plover) free-throw with :11 remaining put the Pointers ahead by five, La Crosse added a three-pointer in the final seconds. From there, the Pointers avoided the foul on the ensuing inbound and secured the two-point victory.

The Pointers led by as many as eight points in the first half before the Eagles went on a 10-4 run to tie the score at 25-25 at halftime.

Baker added three rebounds to her career-high 18-point performance, while Britta Petersen (Luck, Luck)chipped in 14 points and a team-high eight rebounds. Katie Webber (Reedsburg, Reedsburg) and Jessi Sporle (Mineral Point, Mineral Point) each added eight points, two assists and two rebounds.

For La Crosse, Mackenzie Hunter led the way with 32 points on 13-of-23 shooting from the floor including a perfect 2-for-2 from three-point range. She also added 10 rebounds for her 2nd career double-double. The 32 points also ties her career-high

The eighth-ranked Pointers (21-3, 13-2 WIAC) close out the regular-season on Saturday, Feb. 21 when they host UW-Platteville at 5 p.m. On the line, a chance for the No. 1 seed in next week's conference tournament.