STEVENS POINT, Wis. – The UW-Stevens Point women's basketball team (2-0) overcame an early deficit using a 15-0 run in the second quarter to eclipse visiting Saint Mary's (0-1) for a 73-58 home-opener win.
 
Josie Nies (Platteville, Wis./Platteville) led the Pointers in scoring with 14 points.  Alexa Thomson (De Pere, Wis./West) added 13 and Taylor Greenheck (Prairie Du Sac, Wis./Sauk Prairie) scored nine.
 
Thomson and Kelly McIntyre (Waukesha, Wis. /North) each had eight rebounds.  Abbie Campion (Janesville, Wis./Milton) dished six assists and Katelyn Slowik (Elcho, Wis./Elcho) had four steals off the bench.
 
The Pointers trailed most the first quarter with a pair of free throws by Campion giving UWSP a brief 4-2 edge.  SMU post a 9-2 run before Thomson buried a three to get UWSP close at 11-10.
 
Thomson scored four of the first five UWSP points in the second quarter, but the Cardinals put the lead at eight with 6:11 left in the half.  That's when UWSP's big run turned the table.  Gabby Gawlitta (Franklin, Wis./Franklin) hit a jumper and Courtney Krueger (Merrill, Wis./Merrill) followed with a three. Nies capped the 15-0 run with a jumper and Greenheck hit a triple in the closing seconds as UWSP held a 38-26 lead at the half.
 
Greenheck hit a pair of three-pointers in the third to push the lead to 15 at 47-32.  Later in the stanza, Thomson and Campion each hit from behind the arc for a 59-44 advantage heading to the fourth.
 
Nies completed an and-one and scored five early points in the fourth quarter as the lead ballooned to 22.  Jamie Pfeifer (Wisconsin Dells, Wis./Wisconsin Dells) and Anna Schoenike (Fort Atkinson, Wis./Fort Atkinson) added baskets down the stretch as the Pointers cruised to the victory.
 
The Pointers remain at home to host the UWSP Tip-Off Classic beginning on Friday (Nov. 12).  UWSP will face Benedictine in the opening game at 5:00 p.m. and fans are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items to benefit The Cupboard.