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STEVENS POINT, Wis. – The 11th-ranked UW-Stevens Point women's basketball team shot 56.3 percent from the floor in the first half, taking a 30-point lead into halftime and cruised to a 70-43 victory over Alverno College in the 2011 Pointer Tip-Off Classic Saturday afternoon.

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Alverno's Hannah Galstad connected on a jumper with the game's first possession however, that was the last lead for the Inferno in the game.

UWSP then went on a 24-0 run, capped off by an Ashley Averkamp (New Berlin, WI/West) jumper, with 11:49 left in the first period before Alverno ended an over eight minute scoring drought with a free-throw.

The Pointers continued to increase their lead, building a 34-point cushion on a layup by Alyssa Olp (Brillion, WI/Brillion). Two field goals by Galstad in the final minute of the half cut the deficit to 46-16 heading into the break.

UWSP capitalized on Alverno's mistakes in the first half as it converted 16 Inferno turnovers into 29 points while the Pointers only turned the ball over twice.

The Pointers continued to increase their lead in the second half building a 36-point advantage with 11:49 remaining on a Whitney Verdegan (Glen Flora, WI/Flambeau) put back, 62-26 Stevens Point.

UWSP's shooting cooled down in the second half but Alverno was only able to cut the deficit to 24 with 1:45 left, resulting in a 70-43 victory for the Pointers.

Olp led the Pointers with 12 points on 6-of-7 shooting while Cassie Bandow (Plover, WI/Pacelli) had a game-high seven assists.

Taylor Bahr (Caledonia, WI/Shoreland Lutheran) led a Pointers bench which outscored the Inferno 28-13 posting career-highs with 11 points and five rebounds.

Galstad led Alverno with 12 points while Kayla Kennedy pulled down a game-high seven rebounds.

Averkamp took home the tournament's Most Outstanding Player while Sam Barber (Schofield, WI/D.C. Everest/Winona St.) was named to the all-tournament team and freshman Megan Lopez (Johnsburg, IL/Johnsburg) received The Spark Plug award.

UW-Stevens Point (3-0) returns to action Tuesday evening as it travels to Decatur, Ill., to face Millikin University. Game time is set for 5 p.m.