Third-Quarter Surge Propels Titans To Win Over Pointers

Morgan Kokta scored a season-high 14 points to lift the nationally ranked UW-Oshkosh women's basketball team to a 60-55 road victory over UW-Stevens Point on Wednesday (Feb. 1).

UW-Oshkosh (18-2, 8-1 WIAC), ranked 16th in the NCAA Division III by D3hoops.com, erupted for 27 points during the decisive third quarter, turning a 24-22 halftime deficit into a 49-41 lead entering the final period.

The Titans took the lead for good at 27-24 on a 3-pointer by Emma Melotik with 8:47 left in the third quarter. UW-Stevens Point pulled within 50-49 with 4:25 remaining and 52-51 with 1:40 to go, but UW-Oshkosh preserved the win by shooting 6-for-8 at the free throw line during the final minute.

UW-Oshkosh, which remains tied with 19th-ranked UW-Whitewater (18-2, 8-1 WIAC) for first place in the league standings, has won its last six meetings with Pointers and nine of the last 10 in the series. The Titans also defeated UW-Stevens Point, 62-53, on Jan. 4 in Oshkosh.

Kokta, who finished one point shy of her career high, made 5 of 10 shots from the floor, including 3 of 7 from 3-point range, while matching her season high with six rebounds.

Alex Richard and Taylor Schmidt added 10 points apiece for the Titans. Richard also collected six rebounds while Schmidt, who made all four of her free throws during the last 32 seconds, had three assists.

UW-Oshkosh's Eliza Campbell contributed nine points, a career-high 11 rebounds and a season-best three assists.

The Titans held slim advantages in field goal percentage (.404 to .392) and assists (10-9) while the Pointers had a 13-11 edge in turnovers and free throw percentage (.667 to .458). Both teams collected 34 rebounds.

UW-Stevens Point's Taylor Douglas, who tallied a game-high 15 points, scored her team's first six points as the Pointers jumped out to a 9-4 lead. UW-Stevens Point was then held scoreless for more than five minutes until a layup by Mickey Roland gave the Pointers an 11-9 edge after one period.

The Titans reclaimed a 15-14 lead on a layup from Richard early in the second quarter. Kokta and Richard combined for 12 of UW-Oshkosh's 13 points during the period, including a layup from Richard that put the Titans ahead, 22-21, with 81 seconds to go before halftime. However, a 3-pointer from Carly Cerrato provided UW-Stevens Point a 24-22 advantage at intermission.

Campbell pulled down a rebound and drove for a layup on the Titans' first possession of the second half before Melotik buried a 3-pointer 43 seconds later to give UW-Oshkosh the lead for good.

The Titans built their largest lead of 10 points at 47-37 on a 3-pointer from Schmidt with 67 seconds left in the third quarter. UW-Oshkosh shot 11-for-15 (73.3 percent) from the field, including 5-for-6 from 3-point range, during the third period as four different Titans knocked down long-range jumpers.

The Pointers were held scoreless for nearly four minutes to begin the final quarter until Taylor Barrett made a jumper that cut UW-Oshkosh's lead to 50-43 with 6:11 left. The Titans missed their first seven shots from the field in the final period before Isabella Samuels grabbed an offensive rebound and scored to give UW-Oshkosh a 52-49 lead with 3:40 to play.

A pair of free throws by Barrett cut the Pointers' deficit to 52-51 with 100 seconds remaining, but Kokta answered with a layup on the ensuing UW-Oshkosh possession.

Kokta then split a pair of free throws to give the Titans a 55-51 lead with 55 seconds left, and two conversions at the foul line by Schmidt gave UW-Oshkosh a 57-53 advantage with 32 seconds to play.

A basket by Roland got UW-Stevens Point (13-7, 5-4 WIAC) within 58-55 with 14 seconds to go, but Schmidt capped the scoring with a pair of free throws as UW-Stevens Point committed a turnover on its final possession.

UW-Stevens Point's Douglas compiled her game-high point total by connecting on 6 of 8 shots from the floor and 3 of 4 attempts from the free throw line. She also added a team-high three assists and two steals.

Barrett chipped in 10 points for the Pointers, who also received seven points from Lauren Anklam, seven points and eight rebounds from Autumn Hennes, and six points and eight rebounds from Roland.

UW-Oshkosh entered Wednesday's contest leading the country with 11.7 turnovers per game while listing fourth nationally by limiting opponents to 46.1 points per game. The Titans have held 17 teams to less than 56 points this season.

UW-Oshkosh hosts defending league champion UW-River Falls (6-14, 1-8 WIAC) on Saturday (Feb. 4) in Kolf Sports Center.