DUBUQUE, Iowa – The UW-Stevens Point women's basketball team (2-0) used a nine-point run in the first quarter to gain the lead and did not trail afterward in a 69-66 victory over Simpson (0-1) at the Fidelity Bank and Trust Tip-Off Classic on Friday night.
Senior
Taylor Barrett (Monroe, Wis./Monroe) led all scorers with 19 points. She grabbed eight rebounds with two assists and a steal.
Sophomore
Carly Cerrato (De Pere, Wis./De Pere) hit four of her five three-pointers in the second quarter and ended up with a career-high 15 points. She added three boards, two steals and the Pointers' lone block of the game.
Freshman
Brooke Geier (Kewaunee, Wis./Kewaunee) had 10 points and snagged three offensive rebounds. Fellow freshman
Ashley Leiterman (Morrison, Wis./Denmark) and senior
Mickey Roland (New London, Wis./New London) had eight points and eight rebounds each.
The Pointers used a 9-0 run in the first quarter courtesy of four points by Leiterman to take an 11-6 lead.
Lexi Roland (New London, Wis./New London) nailed a three in the final minute of the quarter as the Pointers led 18-11 after one.
Cerrato caught fire in the second quarter. She hit four of her five three-point shots in the stanza for a career-best 15 points before halftime. Geier also hit from deep in the quarter as the Pointers were ahead 37-32 at the half.
Midway through the third quarter Geier completed an and-one to snap a scoreless drought from the field. Geier later added a basket to cap a 9-2 run by the Pointers. Barrett scored four-straight and Leiterman completed the quarters' scoring as UWSP held a 54-47 lead after three.
After the Storm closed to within two points, Barrett and
Mickey Roland (New London, Wis./New London) each scored to put the lead back at two possessions.
Mickey Roland (New London, Wis./New London) scored four-consecutive points for UWSP and Barrett hit both free throws with 15 seconds remaining and the Pointers thwarted a comeback attempt.
UWSP will play host, Loras at 4:00 p.m. in the finale of the weekend's tournament. The Pointers return home next Tuesday (Nov. 21) at 7:00 p.m. against Lakeland.
