10th-Ranked Pointers Clamp Down Titans

UW-Stevens Point allowed just two points in the opening 8:47 to shut down UW-Oshkosh in a 54-42 women's basketball decision on Wednesday (Jan. 5) in Stevens Point.

The Pointers (11-2/4-0 WIAC), ranked 10th in the NCAA Division III by D3hoops.com, shot 36 percent from the field, but they held the Titans (7-6/2-2 WIAC) to a season-low scoring output. UW-Oshkosh made 29 percent (15-56) of its field goals, including 3-of-14 three-pointers, while committing 20 turnovers.

Ashley Averkamp led the victors with 12 points and eight rebounds, as Alyssa Olp added eight points and Sam Barber eight boards. The Pointers also took advantage of five assists, four points, four rebounds and four steals by Andrea Flease.

UW-Stevens Point took the early advantage with four successful free throws. The Titans' only score came on Megan Wenig's (So. • Oshkosh) jump shot in the opening two minutes. Olp then dropped in two lay-ups, one on a fast break, to gain a 12-2 lead at the 11:57 mark.

Shelby Churchill (Sr. • Sheboygan) broke the long UW-Oshkosh drought by swishing a jumper at the 11:12 mark. Churchill then added two lay-ups midway through the half to pull within 18-10. There was just one total basket in the last 2:25 – Flease's breakaway – as the Pointers took a 23-14 cushion to intermission.

The second half opened with two players each making a double impact. Following a Cassie Bandow three-pointer, Myranda Tyler connected on consecutive jump shots to make it 35-18. UW-Oshkosh's response came from Wenig, who drilled two shots from behind the arc to cut the deficit to 37-28.

Wenig recorded a fastbreak lay-in, completing the three-point play, to pull within 10 points with 6:23 left. A Laura Ebbens (Sr. • Appleton) jumper at the 3:18 mark made it 45-38, but the Titans couldn't claw any closer. Barber and Christin Coles each tallied three late points to cap the contest.

UW-Oshkosh was paced by Wenig's 13 points and seven rebounds, along with eight points and nine rebounds from Churchill. Becca Diedrich (Fr. • Two Rivers) tacked on six points and six boards, while Ebbens tallied six points and five rebounds. The Titans did manage to make all seven of their free throws and capture the rebounding battle, 39-38.

Hitting 10-of-13 foul shots (77 percent), the Pointers also sank 20 percent of their tries from downtown (2-10). They turned the basketball over 14 times.

The Titans play game three of their four-game road trip at UW-Superior on Saturday (Jan. 8).