STEVENS POINT, Wis. – The UW-Stevens Point women's hockey team (8-11-0, 2-4-0) battled tough against No. 5 UW-Eau Claire (16-2-0, 5-0-0) for the second time in a week in a 3-1 home defeat.
 
The Blugolds opened the scoring at 4:46 of the first period on a rebound putback.  UWSP goaltender Olivia Schultz (Maplewood, Minn./Tartan) made 16 first-period saves to keep UWSP within one.
 
In the second period, UWEC doubled its lead with a power-play tally at the 12:52 mark.  Schultz again came up big with 11 saves in the second period to keep the Pointers within striking distance.
 
The Pointers kept the pressure on in the third as Schultz made six more saves.  Then with Schultz pulled and UWSP on the power play, Haley Sellers (Kenosha, Wis./Milwaukee Jr. Admirals) made the move pay off with her third goal of the season.  Lauren Wincentsen (Wausau, Wis./West) added an assist on the goal at 16:10.
 
Again with Schultz pulled, the Blugolds pocketed an empty-net goal in the final minute of play to thwart the UWSP comeback attempt.
 
Schultz totalled 33 saves in the game.  UWEC goaltender Stephanie Martin had 21 saves.
 
The Pointers and Blugolds wrap up the season series on Saturday (Jan. 29) in Eau Claire. Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m.