STEVENS POINT, Wis. – In a game that saw 11 lead changes, it was visiting UW-La Crosse (12-6, 5-2) that came out on top in a 62-57 final as the UW-Stevens Point women's basketball team (12-6, 1-6) finished the first half of conference play.
 
Maija Rice (L'Anse, Mich./L'Anse Area) led all players with 21 points. She was 10-for-18 from the field, including one of the Pointers' two three-pointers. Jessilyn Ernst (Pardeeville, Wis./Pardeeville) had a team-best nine rebounds.
 
Ernst made a pair of layups for UWSP's first four points. Karissa Smith (Freedom, Wis./Appleton North), Emma Kilpatrick (Kimberly, Wis./Kimberly), Lily Truchon (Herbster, Wis./South Shore) and Ava Loftus (Stoughton, Wis./Stoughton) each hit a field goal as the game was tied at 12-12 after one.
 
Rice scored the Pointers' first four points of the second quarter and had six in the frame. Keira Maki (Escanaba, Mich./Escanaba) added a bucket as UWSP trailed at the half, 26-21.
 
Laney Panich (Wautoma, Wis./Wautoma) opened the second-half scoring and had five points early in the third. Maki hit jumpers on back-to-back possessions late and the deficit was cut to two heading to the fourth, 42-40.
 
Rice took control in the fourth quarter scoring 11-straight UWSP points as the Pointers took a 53-50 lead. Ernst pushed the lead to five with a tip-in. Rice put the Pointers back in front, 57-56 with 1:10 to go. The Eagles scored the final six points to take the win.
 
The Pointers will travel to UW-Platteville on Wednesday (Jan. 28) to begin the second half of conference play. Tipoff is at 7:00 p.m.