Pointers Hand Titans First WIAC Loss

The top two scoring defenses in the conference lived up to their billing as UW-Stevens Point upset the UW-Oshkosh women's basketball team, 54-47, in Stevens Point on Saturday (Jan. 10).

UW-Oshkosh entered the game with a WIAC-leading 52.3 opponent scoring average while UW-Stevens Point ranked second at 55.7 per contest. The Pointers held the Titans to a season-low 28.1 shooting (16-57) from the floor while making 23 of 54 shots (42.6 percent), including 15 of 24 (62.5 percent) in the second half.

It was the third-lowest scoring output by UW-Stevens Point (8-6, 3-2 WIAC) this season and lowest for UW-Oshkosh (12-2, 4-1 WIAC), which had its seven-game winning streak come to an end. The loss also ended UW-Oshkosh's three-game winning streak against UW-Stevens Point.

The Titans fell a half-game behind UW-Superior (10-4, 5-1 WIAC) in the WIAC standings. The Pointers moved into a three-way tie for third place.

UW-Oshkosh, ranked 11th in the NCAA Division III by D3hoops.com, won the opening tip and scored on a Marissa Selner layup just six seconds into the game. The defenses settled in shortly thereafter.

UW-Stevens Point went ahead 15-13 on the second of two free throws midway through the first half. The Pointers extended their advantage to 20-14 on a 3-pointer by Sarah Gamillo with seven minutes to go in the period.

That's all the scoring UW-Stevens Point would muster in the first half as UW-Oshkosh forced four turnovers and held the Pointers to 0 for 9 shooting from the floor during the last seven minutes.

The Titans ended the half on a nine-point run behind four points from Katelyn Kuehl, three by Selner and two by Eliza Campbell to take a 23-20 lead into the break. The teams combined to shoot just 29.5 percent (18-61) in the first half, including only 26.7 percent (8-30) by UW-Stevens Point.

UW-Oshkosh built its largest lead of the game at 30-24 on a Selner layup with just under 15 minutes to play. The Titans held a 34-30 advantage with under 11 minutes remaining, but UW-Stevens Point responded with seven unanswered points over the next 1:25 to reclaim a 37-34 edge.

The Titans trimmed their deficit to 37-36 on two Selner free throws, but the Pointers answered with another seven-point run for a 44-36 lead at the 5:49 mark. UW-Oshkosh pulled within three points four times during the last seven minutes, including the last time at 50-47 with 2:55 left.

The Pointers led for the last 10 minutes of the contest and made 11 of their last 16 shots (68.8 percent) from the field. 

Selner paced UW-Oshkosh with 12 points. Campbell added nine off the Titan bench. Alex Richard contributed four points and a game-high 10 rebounds.

Lauren Anklam and Gamillo led UW-Stevens Point with 14 points apiece. Allie Miceli added 10 points and nine rebounds for the Pointers.

UW-Stevens Point posted a 40-38 advantage on the boards. UW-Oshkosh had a 14-16 edge in turnovers.

UW-Oshkosh returns home to face UW-Stout on Wednesday (Jan. 14) In Kolf Sports Center.