After coming close on a number of occasions, the UW-Superior women's basketball team was due for a victory in WIAC conference action.
And the Yellowjackets came through in fine fashion, going on a late 13-0 run to rally from a seven point second half deficit to down UW-Platteville 63-57 at Mertz Mortorelli Gymnasium Saturday afternoon.
With the victory, the Yellowjackets improved their record to 7-11 overall and 1-8 in WIAC league action. The Pioneers meanwhile fell to 5-13 overall and 1-8 in conference play.
As they have done several times this season, the Yellowjackets started fast in the opening half, getting a big effort from Bri Davis (Hermantown, Minn.) on the way to taking a 25-15 lead following a basket by Carly Chell (Apple Valley, Minn.) with 7:18 remaining in the opening half.
The Pioneers would rally back, coming to within 27-20 following a basket by UW-Platteville's Ashley Henry with 5:17 remaining in the half.
UW-Superior would continue to hold the lead behind Davis, who scored six straight points between 4:30 and 3:23 to help the Yellowjackets take a 35-28 lead into the half.
UW-Platteville would make a run early in the second half, scoring the frame's first eight points behind three points from Henry, a three-pointer from Ashley Wolf and a score by Ashley Callahan to take a 37-35 lead.
The Pioneers continued to hold the advantage over the next several minutes, taking their largest lead of the night at 57-50 following a basket by Henry and a steal and layup by Brittany Brown with 4:31 remaining in regulation.
UW-Superior would take control of matters from there however, outscoring the Pioneers 13-0 the rest of the way.
Kelsey Thingvold (Crystal, Minn.) started the run with a basket at the 4:03 mark before two free throws and a three-pointer from Kristen Nett (Green Bay, Wis.) evened the game at 57-57 with 2:14 showing on the clock.
The Yellowjackets would follow up with a score from Hailey Hart (Osseo, Wis.) and two free throws each from Connie Urmanski (Edgar, Minn.) and Thingvold in the final 1:37 to pull away for the victory.
Offensively, the Yellowjackets were paced by Davis with 17 points and 13 rebounds. Urmanski added 13 points while Thingvold had eight points and 14 rebounds for UW-Superior.
Callahan led the way for UW-Platteville with 14 points while Henry finished with 12 points and 11 rebounds.
The Yellowjackets will host UW-River Falls at Mertz Mortorelli Gymnasium on Wednesday starting at 7 p.m.