EAU CLAIRE, Wis. – The UW-Stevens Point women's basketball team (7-8, 1-3) out-scored the host UW-Eau Claire Blugolds (11-4, 3-1) in three of the four quarters, but a free throw with 5 seconds left decided a 51-50 game in favor of UWEC.
Senior
Taylor Barrett (Monroe, Wis./Monroe) and sophomore
Carly Cerrato (De Pere, Wis./De Pere) had 11 points apiece to lead UWSP. They each had five rebounds in the game. Barrett had two blocks and Cerrato added two assists and two steals.
Lexi Roland (New London, Wis./New London) also scored in double figures with 10 points.
Mickey Roland (New London, Wis./New London) led the Pointers with seven rebounds.
Cerrato buried a three for the first points of the game nearly two minutes in, but a 7-2 run gave the hosts a 7-5 edge.
Lexi Roland (New London, Wis./New London) completed an and-1 as UWSP took an 11-7 lead.
Kellan Schmidt (Edgerton, Wis./Edgerton) nailed a three to close the quarter with the Pointers in front 16-11.
The second quarter began with Cerrato hitting from behind the arc and Barrett scored six-straight UWSP points as the lead grew to 12. Later in the quarter, a 6-0 spurt by UWSP pushed the advantage to 13, the largest of the game. The Blugolds scored the final four points of the half, but UWSP was ahead 33-24 at the break.
The Pointers went scoreless for the first eight and a half minutes of the third quarter as UWEC scored 14-straight to take a five-point lead. Cerrato ended the drought with a three, but UWSP only mustered four points in the quarter.
Mickey Roland (New London, Wis./New London) cut the lead to 41-40 with a layup at 7:16 of the fourth. The Pointers stayed within striking distance all period and
Lexi Roland (New London, Wis./New London) knotted the game at 50-50 with a three-pointer with 24 second left. The Blugolds drew a foul in the closing second and made 1-of-2, but a game-winning three by Cerrato was no good.
The Pointers return home to face UW-Whitewater on Wednesday (Jan. 17). Tip-off at Berg Gym is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
