STEVENS POINT, Wis. – Senior Maija Rice (L'Anse, Mich./L'Anse Area) notched her third double-double of the season as the UW-Stevens Point women's basketball team (12-3, 1-3) earned its first conference win, 79-50, over UW-Stout (10-5, 1-3).
 
Rice poured in a game-high 20 points on 8-of-16 shooting. She completed the double-double with a career-high 14 rebounds. Jessilyn Ernst (Pardeeville, Wis./Pardeeville), Karissa Smith (Freedom, Wis./Appleton North) and Rachel Hagen (Duluth, Minn./Duluth East) also contributed double-digit points with 14, 12 and 11, respectively.
 
Rice and Smith hit consecutive three-pointers for a 9-4 lead early. Hagen buried a three and Brenna Gehri (Oshkosh, Wis./West) made a layup in the closing seconds as UWSP held a 16-10 lead after one.
 
Ernst had four points early in the second quarter as the lead hit 10 at 22-12. Lily Truchon (Herbster, Wis./South Shore), Rice and Hagen had a field goal each and at halftime, UWSP was ahead, 30-26.
 
Smith drilled a three to start the second-half scoring for the Pointers. Ernst, Rice and Emma Kilpatrick (Kimberly, Wis./Kimberly) had layups on consecutive possessions for a 39-30 lead. Rice and Gehri had four combined points in the final minute as UWSP was up 51-41 after three.
 
Smith nailed a pair of threes and Ernst had eight points as UWSP used an 18-4 run to start the fourth before Stout made a field goal. Rice had seven points late and Annika Salettel (Beaver Dam, Wis./Beaver Dam) hit from behind the arc as UWSP outscored Stout, 28-9, in the final stanza.
 
The Pointers host UW-Platteville in league play on Saturday (Jan. 17). Tip off in Berg Gym is set for 3:00 p.m.