MENOMONIE, Wis – The UW-Stevens Point women's basketball team (13-3, 3-2) held a double-digit lead early, but fell at No. 21 UW-Stout (13-3, 4-1) by a 74-64 final.
 
Alexa Thomson (De Pere, Wis./West) had team highs of 18 points and eight rebounds. Karissa Smith (Freedom, Wis./Appleton North) and Courtney Krueger (Merrill, Wis./Merrill) were also in double figures with 15 and 10 points, respectively.
 
Thomson drained threes on back-to-back possessions and Smith hit from behind the arc to cap a 13-2 start by the Pointers. Thomson and Lily Truchon (Herbster, Wis./South Shore) each made a late bucket as UWSP was ahead, 17-13, after one.
 
Ava Loftus (Stoughton, Wis./Stoughton) had four points midway through the second quarter. But the Pointers went scoreless the last 4:53 of the half and the Blue Devils took a 28-27 lead to the break.
 
Smith buried a three early in the third as UWSP stayed within one at 33-32. Maija Rice (L'Anse, Mich./L'Anse Area) scored four-straight to tie it up at 36-36. Kruger hit a jumper late to interrupt a 5-2 run as Stout led 50-44 after three.
 
Smith nailed another three to start the fourth quarter. Krueger scored four-straight and Smith drilled another three. Thomson got UWSP within four at 68-64, but a scoreless final two minutes let the Blue Devils pull away late.

The Pointers are back on the road on Wednesday (Jan. 22) for a 7:00 p.m. matchup at UW-Oshkosh.