EAU CLAIRE, Wis. – The UW-Stevens Point women's hockey team (7-8-3, 1-5-0) rallied from a two-goal deficit in the second period, but fell to the No. 3 UW-Eau Claire Blugolds (16-2-1, 6-0-0) by a 5-2 final.
 
UWEC found the back of the net at the 12:34 mark of the first period to take the lead.  The Blugolds scored again at the 8:09 mark of the second for a 2-0 advantage.
 
Dani Heitsman (Janesville, Wis./Rock County Fury) got UWSP on the board less than two minutes later.  Emma Berthiaume (South Haven, Minn./Hutchinson) assisted on the goal at 9:55 of the second.
 
Later in the second, Ashtyn Wiltscheck (Sleepy Eye, Minn./New Ulm) tied the game at 2-2.  Alex Grubbs (Minong, Wis./Spooner) and Nicole Neuberger (Minnetrista, Minn./Orono) picked up helpers on the game-tying goal at 16:01.
 
UWEC broke the tie with just 10 seconds remaining in the second on a delayed penalty.  The Blugolds scored midway through the third and added an empty-netter late to seal the win.
 
Olivia Schultz (Maplewood, Minn./Tartan) had 34 saves for the Pointers.  UWEC goaltender Erin Connolly had 19 saves.

The Pointers and Blugolds continue the series next Friday (Jan. 31) at Ice Hawks Arena.  Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.