EAU CLAIRE - The UW-Eau Claire women's basketball team out-scored UW-Stevens Point 12-3 in the final 6:53 to defeat the Pointers 60-51 tonight at Zorn Arena.

The win improves the Blugolds overall record to 14-7 and Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) record to 8-4. Eau Claire is currently in second place in the conference. The Blugolds also remain unbeaten at Zorn Arena this season and have won their last 14 home games dating back to last season. The Pointers drop to an overall record of 14-5 and 6-5 in the WIAC.

The Pointers would lead for the first 14 minutes of tonight's game. With the score 19-13 Stevens Point with 11:14 remaining in the half, the Blugolds went on an 8-0 run over the span of five minutes to take a 21-19 lead with a little over six minutes left. Ashley Anderson (So.-Oakdale, MN/North St. Paul) had four of the eight points in the run.

The Pointers came right back with a 7-0 run of their own to regain the lead 26-21 with 4:24 left in the half. Not to be outdone, the Blugolds ended the half with a 6-0 run, capped off by an Amanda Zenner (Jr.-Medford, WI) jumper to give Eau Claire a 27-26 lead at the break.

The Pointers shot 46% in the first half, while the Blugolds shot 37%. Both teams were perfect from the free throw line, shooting a combined 11-for-11. Stevens Point however committed 14 turnovers in the half that led to 10 Eau Claire points. Ashley Anderson led all scorers at the half with 10 points off of the bench.

The teams traded the lead early in the second half. Stevens Point then held the lead for five minutes with their biggest lead being four. Eau Claire went on a critical 8-0 run halfway through the second half as they were down 40-36 with 11:29 remaining and then were up 44-40 with little fewer than nine minutes left.

Michelle Burns (Jr.-Eau Claire, WI/North) caught fire with 9:42 remaining as she had nine consecutive points for Eau Claire within two minutes. She would make six of the Blugolds final seven field goals.

A three-pointer by the Stevens Point tied the game 48-48 with 6:53 to play. Led by Burns, the Blugolds went on a 7-1 run to take a 55-49 lead with over a minute left. During that run, the Pointers were 1-for-7 from the free throw line. A three-pointer by Heidi Arciszewski (So.-Thorp, WI) put the nail in the coffin with 36 seconds left as the Blugolds won by a final score of 60-51. The home team has won the last 10 meetings in the series.

Stevens Point finished with a field goal percentage of 43%. The Blugolds shot 44% in the second half for a final shooting percentage of 40%. The Pointers out-rebounded the Blugolds 35-26, but committed 25 turnovers, compared to just 13 for Eau Claire. The Blugolds went 15-for-17 from the free throw line, while Stevens Point went 8-for-15.

Michelle Burns had a game-high 19 points, 15 of which came in the second half. Ashley Anderson added a career-high 12 points of the bench. Heidi Arciszewski led Eau Claire with seven rebounds. Haley Houghton led Stevens Point with 11 points.

The Blugolds next game will be next Wednesday night when they travel to face UW-River Falls. It will be the second game of a men and women's doubleheader. Tip-off for that game is scheduled for approximately 8 p.m. following the men's game.

Eau Claire-Stevens Point Box Score

- JR -