WHITEWATER, Wis. – Sophomores
Alexa Thomson (De Pere, Wis./West) and
Gabby Gawlitta (Franklin, Wis./Franklin) recorded double-doubles as the UW-Stevens Point women's basketball team (2-0) knocked off No. 14 Millikin (1-1) by a 64-61 final at the UWW Tipoff Tournament.
Thomson put up 17 points and had 10 rebounds for her first career double-double. Gawlitta also had 10 boards and scored 13 points for her third career double-double.
Jamie Pfeifer (Wisconsin Dells, Wis./Wisconsin Dells) led the Pointers in scoring with 18 points. She added six rebounds.
Thomson hit a bucket six seconds into the game and Pfeifer quickly added four points. Gawlitta scored and
Josie Nies (Platteville, Wis./Platteville) gave UWSP a 10-0 lead out of the gate. Millikin answered with 10 straight until
Courtney Krueger (Merrill, Wis./Merrill) hit three free throws for a 13-12 advantage. Pfeifer added four more points late and UWSP led 21-21 after one.
Gawlitta and Pfeifer made buckets on consecutive possession a few minutes into the second.
Kelly McIntyre (Waukesha, Wis./North) made the only other UWSP field goal of the quarter as UWSP trailed, 31-28, at the half.
With 7:28 left in the third, Thomson made a layup, UWSP's first points on the second half. It sparked a 24-8 run over the remainder of the quarter for the Pointers. Thomson had 12 in the quarter, Pfeifer added six and Gawlitta recorded four as the Pointers were up, 52-43.
Krueger hit a bucket just under two minutes into the fourth. Pfeifer snapped a scoreless drought from the field with a layup with 2:52 to go as UWSP's lead was down to three. Gawlitta and Krueger each hit a pair of free throws for a 61-54 lead with 1:50 left. Thomson made two free throws and make at the charity stripe by Gawlitta with six seconds left put the lead at three. A game-tying attempt at the buzzer was no good as UWSP held on for the win.
The Pointers face Carroll on Saturday (Nov. 12) at 7:00 p.m. to wrap up play at the UWW Tipoff Tournament.
