EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – The UW-Eau Claire women's basketball team and UW-Stevens Point played close the entire way but the Pointers were able to come out on top, winning 60-50 on Ken Anderson Court in Zorn Arena tonight.
Over the first five minutes the teams played even and found themselves tied for the third time of the night at 9-9. Eau Claire then went on an 8-0 run but the Pointers came back and outscored the Blugolds 12-3 to take back the lead, 21-20.
During the final four minutes of the half, the teams again played even and Stevens Point led by just one point, 25-24, at halftime.
It was more of the same in the second half as the teams again went back and forth. The Blugolds led by as many as four points, three times, while Stevens Point led by as many as 10 points at the very end. The score was also tied three times in the second half for a total of six times on the night.
While the Pointers won by 10, they led by just four points with less than one minute remaining. Six of their points at the end came from free throws within the final minute.
Teenie Lichtfuss (So.-Oshkosh, Wis./Lourdes) led Eau Claire with 14 points while Madison Johnson (So.-Osceola, Wis.) added 10. Johnson also led the team in rebounding with seven.
Eau Claire finished the game outshooting the Pointers 36.8 percent (21-for-57) to 34.5 percent (20-for-58). The difference came at the free throw line where Stevens Point scored 14 points while the Blugolds had just two.
Eau Claire drops to 4-15 overall and 2-8 in the WIAC while the Pointers improve to 14-5 on the season and 7-3 in conference play. The Blugolds improved greatly from earlier this season when they lost at UW-Stevens Point 85-45.
The Blugolds will be on the road Saturday at UW-La Crosse. Action is set to get underway at 3 p.m.
-KM-