STEVENS POINT, Wisc. – The UW-Stevens Point women's basketball team put together a strong defensive performance on Wednesay evening, forcing 23 turnovers and holding UW-Oshkosh to 37.8 percent shooting from the field en route to a 66-56 victory in Berg Gym.
Trailing, 10-8 in the early minutes, the Pointers took the lead for good thanks to a 10-2 run, capped by an Ashley Averkamp (New Berlin, WI/West) jumper with 11:20 remining in the half. The Pointers held the lead down the stretch and took a 33-27 advantage into halftime.
In the second half, the Pointers built a double-digit lead midway through the half and never looked back, cruising to the 10-point victory.
Sam Barber (Schofield, WI/D.C. Everest/Winona St.) led the Pointers in scoring with 15 points as Cassie Bandow (Plover, WI/Pacelli) added 13 points. Averkamp chipped in with eight points and nine rebounds.
The Pointers (20-3, 12-2 WIAC) capitalized on its defensive prowess, recording 18 points off turnovers.
Megan Wenig led the Titans (7-15, 1-12 WIAC) in scoring with 16 points, and Kelsey Myklebust contributed 15 points.
The Pointers travel to UW-Stout Feb. 15 to face the Blue Devils at 7 p.m.
The UW-Stevens Point men's basketball team overcame a six-point halftime deficit against the UW-Oshkosh Titans as it pulled off a 87-83 overtime victory Wednesday evening at Kolf Sports Center.
The Pointers and Titans battled back-and-forth in the first portion of the opening half before UWO took a six-point advantage with 8:34 remaining.
UWSP answered with an 8-0 run to take a 22-20 lead with just under seven minutes to go in the first half.
UWO controlled the rest of the first half taking an eight-point, 44-36 lead with four seconds left in the first. Dan Tillema (Randolph, WI/Randolph/Minnesota-Duluth) managed to tally a score at the buzzer to bring the Pointers within six, 44-38, entering halftime.
In the second, UWSP began the half with an 11-5 run to even the score at 49-49 before the game tightened up. Over the final 15:32, neither team led by more than four and both squads were tied on nine occasions including at the final buzzer.
The Pointers had three opportunities in the final minute to take the lead but could not capitalize. The Titans had two opportunities, but their attempts fell short as the game was tied 78-78 and headed into overtime.
D. Tillema gave the Pointers a three-point lead in the overtime on a layup and free throw and after a UWO free throw, Jordan Brezinski (Muskego, WI/Muskego) put UWSP up four at 83-79 with just under three minutes to play.
UWSP never relinquished the lead in the overtime, pulling off an 87-83 victory on the road.
Brezinski led all scorers with a career-high 29 points on 13-of-15 shooting while grabbing eight rebounds. Tyler Tillema (Randolph, WI/Randolph) tallied a career-high 10 assists while adding 19 points and eight rebounds. D. Tillema also scored in double figures with 20 points.
Dylan Wurtz led four Titans in double digits with 20 points on 5-of-10 from three.
For the game, UWSP posed a blistering 59.7 percent from the field with holding UWO to 42.2. The Titans held a 12-4 advantage on three-point makes including 9-of-15 in the opening half.
UW-Stevens Point (19-4, 12-2 WIAC) returns to action on Wednesday, Feb. 15 as it takes on UW-Stout on Senior Day in the final regular season home game. Game time is set for 7 p.m.
