EAU CLAIRE, Wis. - In an attempt to start the season 5-0, the UW-Eau Claire women's basketball team was successful in its efforts, winning the championship game of the Thanksgiving Showcase against UW-Stevens Point, 60-54.

The Blugolds have not gone undefeated in its first five games since the 2004-05 season, where the team went 7-0 to begin the season. With the win, Eau Claire hands the Pointers its first loss of the season, falling to 4-1.

The game was closely contested from the start, with the lead changing hands numerous times throughout the first half. A Hannah Mesick (So.-Chatfield, Minn.) layup gave the Blugolds the lead with 5:01 left to go in the half. Eau Claire would increase its lead in the final minutes of the half, while another bucket by Mesick with less than a minute left gave the Blugolds a 28-22 lead heading into the lockeroom at halftime.

Eau Claire would struggle to find the basket to begin the second half, being held scoreless for the first six minutes. Luckily, the Pointers were unable to find a rhythm as well, scoring just three points during the Blugolds' drought. Katie Weinberg {((So.-Dresser, Wis./St. Croix Falls) gave Eau Claire an eight point lead, its largest of the evening, with a three pointer at the 13:00 mark, and the Blugolds never looked back. Stevens Point never got closer than four points for the remainder of the contest, as Eau Claire held on for the win. As a team, Eau Claire shot 45.7 percent from the field and held the Pointers to just 31 percent.

Mesick matched a career-high with 19 points on nine of 12 shooting from the field to go along with five rebounds and two blocks to pace the Blugolds. For her efforts, Mesick was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player. Heidi Arciszewski (Sr.-Thorp, Wis.), who was named to the All-Tournament team, chipped in with 16 points and six boards, and Kari Kaeding (So.-Chippewa Falls, Wis.) pulled down a game-high eight rebounds to go along with four points.

All-Tournament team selection Jessi Sporle led the Pointers with a game-high 23 points and seven rebounds.

The Blugolds will travel to Duluth on Wednesday for a non-conference matchup against NCAA Division II University of Minnesota-Duluth. The opening tip is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.

Eau Claire-Stevens Point Box Score

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