UW-Stevens Point 88, UW-La Crosse 76

Stevens Point, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse women's basketball team had its five-game winning streak snapped with an 88-76 loss at UW-Stevens Point Saturday afternoon in Berg Gymnasium. The Eagles fall to 10-5 overall and 2-4 in the WIAC while the Pointers improve to 10-3 overall and 3-2 in the conference. UW-Stevens Point is currently ranked 25th on d3hoops.com.

The game was tied seven times in the first half before the Pointers took a 38-34 halftime lead. UW-L lead by as many as three points in the first half while UW-Stevens Point led by as many as four.

UW-Stevens Point, winners of eight straight over UW-L and 19 of the last 20, took a 51-44 lead with 14:07 remaining after Cassie Bandow's three-point field goal. The Eagles went on a 9-2 run to force a 53-53 tie with 12:43 left after a Melissa Lang three-pointer, but the Pointers used a 17-5 run of their own to lead 70-58 with 7:07 remaining. The Pointers went eight-of-10 from the field in the 17-5 run while the Eagles were one-of-six from the field and had three turnovers.

UW-L cut the lead to 72-64 with 5:34 left, but the Eagles could get no closer than six at 82-76 with :36 remaining. UW-Stevens Point went 10-of-10 at the free throw line in the final 5:20 of the contest.

Stacie Van Handel led UW-L with a career-high 26 points off the bench. She was 10-of-19 from the field, including one-of-two from three-point range, and five-of-eight at the free throw line. Van Handel also had a team-high nine rebounds and three steals.

Dana Churchill scored 18 points for the Eagles while Lang finished with 14.

UW-L shot 34.4% from the field, including 22.2% (four-of-18) from three-point range. The Eagles shot 73.7% (28-of-38) at the line.

Bandow, Britta Petersen and Ashley Averkamp each scored 16 points for UW-Stevens Point. Andrea Flease added 11.

The Pointers shot 55.0% from the field, including 57.1% (four-of-seven) from three-point range. The team was 18-of-22 (81.8%) at the free throw line.

UW-L returns to action Wednesday, Jan. 13 at 13th-ranked UW-River Falls at 7:05 p.m