Box Score

EAU CLAIRE - The Pointer women's basketball team fell into a three-way tie for first place on Wednesday evening as UW-Eau Claire shot 56.8 percent from the floor for the game and 69.6 percent in the first half, as the Blugolds defeated UW-Stevens Point by a final of 80-67.

The loss drops the Pointers into a three-way tie for first place in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) with Saturday's opponent UW-River Falls and UW-Whitewater. All three teams now own a 9-4 record in league play.

The Pointers never led on the evening, as UW-Eau Claire jumped out to a 12 point lead, 20-8, midway through the opening half and held the Pointers to just 29 points in the first stanza. The Blugolds took a 10 point lead, 39-29, into the break.

In the second half, the Blugolds kept the lead at double digits the entire way, leading by as many as 20 down the stretch and cruised to the 13 point victory, 80-67.

The loss comes despite a stellar shooting night from sophomore Cassie Bandow (Plover, WI/Pacelli), who finished the evening 9-for-10 from the floor including 4-of-5 from three-point land. She finished with a team-high 22 points. Britta Petersen (Luck/Luck) finished with 15 points and Ashley Averkamp (New Berlin, WI/West) led the points with six rebounds.

UW-Eau Claire was paced by a career-high 29 from Laura Olson, who knocked down six three-pointers and made nine of her 12 free-throw attempts on the night. Hanna Mesick chipped in 17 points and tied for the team lead with 10 rebounds.

UW-Stevens Point (17-5, 9-4 WIAC) returns home to face UW-River Falls on Saturday, Feb. 13; Action begins at 3 p.m. in Berg Gym.