UW-La Crosse 72, UW-Stevens Point 53

La Crosse, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse women's basketball team clinched a home game in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Tournament with a 72-53 victory over UW-Stevens Point Saturday afternoon in Mitchell Hall. The Eagles will be the third seed for the WIAC Tournament and host sixth-seeded UW-Eau Claire in a quarterfinal game Tuesday, Feb. 23.

UW-L improves to 18-7 overall and 10-6 in the WIAC while the Pointers fall to 19-6 overall and 11-5 in the conference. UW-Stevens Point is the second seed for the WIAC Tournament and will host a semifinal Thursday, Feb. 25.

UW-L snapped an eight-game losing streak to UW-Stevens Point with its victory Saturday. The Eagles raced out to a 13-2 lead with 14:53 left in the first half. UW-L led 22-12 with 8:24 remaining when UW-Stevens Point went on a 17-2 run to lead 29-24. The Pointers led 33-30 at halftime.

The Eagles opened the second half on an 19-0 run as they hit four of their first five shots, including all three-point attempts. Taylor Larson made one three-pointer and Lindsey Litrenta converted two. UW-Stevens Point missed its first seven shots from the field in the second half and were one-of-13 to start the half.

UW-L led 55-37 with 8:55 remaining before UW-Stevens Point cut the deficit to 58-45 with 5:03 left. The Eagles scored the next six points to lead 64-45 and the Pointers could get no closer than 15 the rest of the game.

All five starters scored in double figures for UW-L as Dana Churchill finished with a game-high 16 points. Litrenta had 12 points and seven assists while Larson, Danielle Frank and Melissa Lang each finished with 11. Frank had a team-high 12 rebounds and three blocks She also finished with four assists.

UW-L shot 43.3% from the field, including 50.0% (nine-of-18) from three-point range, and 73.3% (11-of-15) at the free throw line.

Britta Petersen led UW-Stevens Point with 13 points and 12 rebounds while Liz Althoff and Josi Schultz finished with 10 points each. The Pointers shot 29.1% from the field, including 12.5% (one-of-eight) from three-point range, and 76.9% (20-of-26) at the line.

UW-L returns to action Tuesday, Feb. 23 hosting UW-Eau Claire in the WIAC Tournament Quarterfinals at 6:05 p.m.