Through 20 minutes of their WIAC conference opener Wednesday night, the UW-Superior women's basketball had put themselves in good position to claim an important road victory at the expense of the UW-Stout Blue Devils.

The second half proved to be a different story however, as a one-point halftime deficit steadily increased thanks to 22.2 percent (6-for-27) shooting by the Yellowjackets, ultimately leading to a 66-49 loss at Johnson Fieldhouse in Menomonie.

While the Yellowjackets struggled from the field, the Blue Devils connected on 44 percent (11-of-25) after halftime on the way to improving to 3-5 overall and 1-0 in WIAC conference play.   The Yellowjackets meanwhile dropped to 2-3 overall and 0-1 in league action.

UW-Superior got off to a fast start in the opening minutes, getting baskets from Vanessa Lebens (Roseville, Minn./Roseville Area), Sally Linzmeier (Valders, Wis./Valders) and Grace Kennedy (Wausau, Wis./Newman Catholic) to take a 6-0 lead in the first few minutes.

The Blue Devils came right back, scoring the next eight points for an 8-6 lead before a Britnee Blake (Superior, Wis./Superior Senior) layup with 15:48 remaining evened matters at 8-8.

Neither team gained much an advantage for the remainder of the first half as the Yellowjackets took a 24-21 lead on two free throws by Blake with 4:06 showing on the clock before back-to-back three-pointers by UW-Stout's Rachel Hanley and Kyleigh Hebert led to a slim 34-33 Blue Devil advantage at the half.

The Blue Devils expanded their lead early in the second half, getting two quick scores from Shelby Sterba and an additional score from Brea Boomer in the first 3:23 to lead 40-33 with 16:37 remaining in regulation.

Two inside scores and a free throw from Linzmeier over the next 1:40 brought the Yellowjackets to within 41-38 at the 13:53 mark of the second half.

The Blue Devils steadily pulled away from there however, getting a basket from Sterba on the next possession  for a 43-38 advantage and then scoring 17 of the next 23 points to take a 60-44 lead after two free throws by Hebert with 3:21 showing on the clock.

Offensively, the Yellowjackets were paced by Linzmeier with 16 points.  Brynn Liljander (Isanti, Minn./Cambridge-Isanti) added 11 points for UW-Superior.

Hebert and Boomer each scored 15 points for the Blue Devils while Sterba finished with 14 for UW-Stout.

The Yellowjackets return home to face UW-Oshkosh Saturday.  Opening tipoff from Mertz Mortorelli Gymnasium is scheduled for 3 p.m.