EAU CLAIRE, Wis. — The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire women's basketball team edged the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, 74-71, at the Sonnentag Event Center on Saturday. The Blugolds secured the victory by outscoring the Pointers 21-11 in the second quarter and capitalized on 20 turnovers for 19 points. Despite a late charge by UW-Stevens Point, including an 8-for-26 performance from beyond the arc, UW-Eau Claire maintained its lead with 22 successful free throws out of 28 attempts.
The first quarter opened with
Delaney Nyenhuis putting the Blugolds on the board with a layup. Notably, Nyenhuis has achieved 6 or more total rebounds in 12 consecutive games, showcasing her consistency in this aspect. The teams traded leads, with UWSP free throws and a three-pointer keeping the Pointers competitive.
Reanna Hutchinson regained the lead for UWEC at 5:39 with a 3-pointer, assisted by
Olivia Witkowski. The quarter remained tightly contested, with
Macie Miller's two free throws in the final minute giving the Blugolds a narrow 19-18 lead by the end of the quarter.
UW-Eau Claire gained momentum in the second quarter, extending their lead over UW-Stevens Point with a series of key plays.
Olivia Witkowski was instrumental, contributing crucial points with layups at 7:00 and 5:49, helping UWEC widen the gap.
Kyla Overskei was effective from the free-throw line, sinking three consecutive shots at 7:44 to push the score to 24-18. Overskei registered a season-high total of 9 rebounds, further aiding the Blugolds' defensive efforts. Despite efforts from Stevens Point, including a late jumper and free throw as the quarter ended, the Blugolds held a 40-29 advantage heading into the halftime break.
UWEC maintained their lead over UW-Stevens Point in a competitive third quarter, ending with a 57-49 advantage. The Pointers rallied with a 3-pointer and a layup early in the quarter, bringing UWSP within striking distance. However,
Reanna Hutchinson's scoring efforts, including a 3-pointer at 2:32, kept the home team ahead. Hutchinson notably scored 16 points, surpassing her season average of 12.09.
Olivia Witkowski's two free throws at 8:21 and
Sophie Hafeman's back-to-back layups midway through the quarter helped UW-Eau Claire sustain its margin. Hafeman's performance was a season high, as she scored 12 points in the game.
The Blugolds maintained their lead against the Pointers in a tightly contested fourth quarter.
Olivia Witkowski's layup at 9:21 extended the home team's advantage, with
Kyla Overskei adding another two points shortly after. Despite a late push from the visitors, including a 3-pointer at 1:35, UW-Eau Claire secured the win with key free throws by Hutchinson at the 0:14 mark as the Blugolds held on for a 74-71 victory.
Reanna Hutchinson scored 16 points, hitting 5 of 8 field goal attempts, and added two rebounds.
Olivia Witkowski contributed 13 points, converting 5 of 11 shots from the field, while also collecting six rebounds.
Kyla Overskei posted 11 points, making all seven of her free throw attempts, and recorded nine defensive rebounds.
Delaney Nyenhuis tallied six points, four assists, and four steals, impacting both ends of the court.
The Blugolds improved to 11-1 overall and 1-0 in the WIAC following their victory. The Pointers now stand at 11-1 overall and 0-1 in WIAC competition.
Looking ahead, UWEC will host UW-Platteville on Wednesday, Jan. 7 at 7 p.m. The matchup will take place at the Sonnentag Event Center in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.
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