EAU CLAIRE, Wis. – The UW-Stevens Point women's basketball team (7-9, 2-3) saw a close game get away with host UW-Eau Claire (9-6, 4-1) pushing a one-point lead after one to a 10-point halftime advantage in a 57-44 win over the Pointers.
 
Senior Carly Cerrato (De Pere, Wis./De Pere) was the lone UWSP player in double figures with 12 points.  Junior Taylor Greenheck (Sauk Prairie, Wis./Sauk Prairie) added eight points and tied Jamie Pfeifer (Wisconsin Dells, Wis./Wisconsin Dells) for the team high with seven rebounds.
 
Cerrato drilled three three-pointers early to give UWSP a 13-6 lead at the midpoint of the first quarter.  The Blugolds closed out the quarter on an 8-0 run over the final 5:23 to hold a 14-13 edge after one period.
 
UWEC put up eight-consecutive points to open the second quarter until Pfeifer ended the 16-0 run with a layup.  Amber Baehman (Plainfield, Wis./Tri-County) and Greenheck made back-to-back buckets as the Pointers cut the deficit to three with six minutes left in the half.  Another eight-point burst by UWEC was halted by Pfeifer, but UWSP trailed 32-22 at the break.
 
Bailee Collins (Milton, Wis./Milton) hit a pair of early free throws in the third quarter, but by the time she scored with 3:17 left in the quarter, UWSP's deficit had reached 17.  Baehman nailed a pair of triples late, but UWSP trailed 50-35 heading to the fourth.
 
Neither team was able to reach double digits in the fourth quarter as UWSP's defense held the Blugolds to just 1-for-12 from the floor.  Cerrato's three-pointer accounted for a third of UWSP's points in the fourth.
 
The Pointers return home to face UW-Oshkosh on Wednesday (Jan. 22) at Berg Gym.  Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. and fans are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items to donate to the Cupboard.