RIPON, Wis. – The UW-Stevens Point women's basketball team improved to 5-0 for the first time since 2011 with a 55-48 road win over Ripon (1-4) on Wednesday. UWSP used a 16-8 third-quarter advantage to create the separation leading to the win.
 
Courtney Krueger (Merrill, Wis./Merrill) led the Pointers in scoring with 12 points. Rachel Hagen (Duluth, Minn./Duluth East) was in double figures for the first time in her career with 11 points. Hagen and Alexa Thomson (De Pere, Wis./West) tied for the team lead with seven rebounds each.
 
Thomson nailed a three and had seven points early as UWSP went ahead 9-6 midway through the first quarter. Hagen added the final five points and the teams were deadlocked at 14-14 after one.
 
Krueger had six points early in the second as UWSP regained the lead 24-21. Kelly McIntyre (Waukesha, Wis./North) and Hagen each had a basket and the Pointers held a 28-25 advantage at the break.
 
Gabby Gawlitta (Franklin, Wis./Franklin) hit the first UWSP bucket of the third sparking a 6-0 run. Krueger and Josie Nies (Platteville, Wis./Platteville) alternated UWSP baskets and Jamie Pfeifer (Wisconsin Dells, Wis./Wisconsin Dells) pushed the Pointers' lead to a game-high 13 at 44-31 with just under four minutes left in the quarter.
 
Gawlitta sank back-to-back buckets to open the fourth as the Pointers maintained a double-digit lead. Hagen made a pair of layups late and the defense held up to secure the win.
 
The Pointers' road trip concludes on Saturday (Dec. 2) with a 2:00 p.m. game at North Central University in Minneapolis.