Yellowjackets 70, Stevens Point 65
Box Score

It isn't often that college basketball teams get an opportunity to make history.

But Saturday turned out to be such an opportunity for the UW-Superior women's basketball team.   And when all was said and done, the Yellowjackets were able to walk off the Mertz Mortorelli Gymansium court and know history had indeed been made.

The Yellowjackets rallied from a six-point second half deficit behind a game-high 22 points from Sally Linzmeier (Valders, Wis./Valders) and then made several key plays late to pull out a dramatic 70-65 win over the No. 3 ranked UW-Stevens Point Pointers in both teams' WIAC conference opener.

With the victory, UW-Superior improved to 4-1 while dropping the Pointers to 3-2 on the season.   They also forced 19 UW-Stevens Point turnovers and allowed the Pointers to connect on just 37.5 percent (21-of-56) of their shots for the game.

The Yellowjackets got off to a fast start in the opening half, getting baskets from Deandra Vavra (Cambridge, Minn./Cambridge-Isanti) and Hillary Peterson (Sturgeon Lake, Minn./Moose Lake) in the first 56 seconds to take a 4-0 lead with 19:04 remaining in the first half.

UW-Stevens Point would score the next seven points to take a 7-4 edge when Myranda Tyler hit an open jumper with 17:05 left in the opening stanza.

But the Yellowjackets fought back, taking an 18-15 lead on a Linzmeier layup with 8:31 left before heading to the intermission leading 31-28.

UW-Superior continued to surge early in the second half, going on an 8-2 run to start the half behind a three-pointer by Kristen Nett (Green Bay, Wis./Bay Port), a three-point play by Linzmeier, and a layup by Peterson for a 39-30 lead with 17:57 left in regulation.

The Pointers rallied back, outscoring the Yellowjackets 10-4 over the next 3:19 to cut the lead to 43-41 on three-pointer by Liz Althoff with 14:38 showing on the clock.

UW-Stevens Point eventually took a 51-45 lead on a driving basket by Althoff with 10:14 left in regulation.

But the Yellowjackets answered right back, getting a key basket from Cansis Bodsberg (Rice Lake, Wis./Boyceville), two free throws from Connie Urmanski (Edgar, Wis./Edgar), and a jumper from Linzmeier to retake the lead at 59-57 at the 5:00 mark.

The two sides traded baskets from there before a Linzmeier three-pointer from the wing gave the Yellowjackets the lead for good at 66-63.  Linzmeier then added a driving layup on the next possession for a 68-63 lead with just 1:51 remaining in the contest.

A jumper by Alyssa Olp brought the Pointers to within 68-65 with 40 seconds left on the clock.

Two free throws by Urmanski in the last 13 seconds finally sealed matters for the Yellowjackets, who hit 18-of-22 from the free throw line for the game.

Along with Linzmeier's 22 points, UW-Superior got 12 points from Nett and 11 points from Vavra.  Urmanski finished 7-of-8 from the free throw line to go along with her nine points while Peterson added eight points and six rebounds.

UW-Stevens Point was led by Brooke Allen with 21 points while Althoff had 14 and Sam Barber 12 for the Pointers.

The Yellowjackets return to action Wednesday when they head to UW-Stout for their second WIAC game of the season.  Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m.