Not much went right in the opening half for the UW-Superior women's basketball team in their game against UW-Stout Wednesday night.

And while the second half proved better for the Yellowjackets, it wasn't enough to overcome a solid effort from the Blue Devils in a disheartening 77-70 loss at Mertz Mortorelli Gymnasium.

The loss was UW-Superior's fourth straight and dropped the Yellowjackets to 12-10 overall and 5-8 in WIAC play.  UW-Stout meanwhile snapped a two-game losing skid with the win and improved to 8-14 overall and 4-9 in league play.

UW-Superior got off to a good start in the opening minutes of the first half, getting four quick points from Grace Kennedy (Wausau, Wis./Newman Catholic) to take an 8-5 lead with 17:18 left in the first half.

Two free throws from Hadley Skalmoski (Neenah, Wis./Neenah) and a free throw from Brynn Liljander (Isanti, Minn./Cambridge-Isanti) upped the Yellowjackets' edge to 11-7 at the 15:44 mark of the opening stanza.

The Blue Devils responded however, getting two three-pointers from Becca Smith to key an 8-3 burst that gave UW-Stout a 25-19 lead with 8:29 remaining in the first half.

UW-Stout continued to surge, taking their largest lead of the half at 41-26 on a jumper by Nicki Alexander with 3:23 left before heading into halftime holding a 42-32 lead.

The Yellowjackets started quickly in the second half, getting a jumper and three-pointer from Liljander in the opening 4:05 to trail 44-38 with 15:55 remaining in regulation.

UW-Superior continued to chip away over the next 6:08, cutting the Blue Devils' lead to 50-49 following two free throws by Allyssa Lindberg (Marquette, Mich./Marquette) at the 9:47 mark of the second half.

The Yellowjackets finally retook the lead with 7:46 left on a three-pointer by Britnee Blake (Superior, Wis./Superior Senior) before Liljander's driving basket gave UW-Superior a 60-58 edge with 7:23 showing on the clock.

Kennedy's short-jumper upped the margin to 63-60 at the 6:05 mark of regulation.

But UW-Stout came right back, scoring the next eight points for a 68-63 lead after Kyleigh Hebert's driving layup with 3:06 left in the contest.

The Yellowjackets never got closer than two points the rest of the way as UW-Stout connected on six free throws in the final 1:17 to clinch the win.

Sally Linzmeier (Valders, Wis./Valders) led the way for UW-Superior with 19 points and a game-high 14 rebounds. Liljander added 13 points for the Yellowjackets.

UW-Stout was led by Sami Schroeder's game-high 20 points while Hebert had 18 for the Blue Devils.

The Yellowjackets return to action Saturday as they host UW-LaCrosse.  Opening tipoff from Mertz Mortorelli Gymnasium is scheduled for 3 p.m.