Heading into Tuesday evening, the UW-Superior women's basketball team had faced the UW-Stout Blue Devils twice during the 2013-2014 season. And on both occasions, the Yellowjackets had tasted defeat.
The tables turned in their third meeting however. And for the Yellowjackets, it meant a date in the WIAC Tournament semifinals on Thursday.
UW-Superior took a big-lead midway through the second half and then held off a furious charge from the Blue Devils to hold on for a wild 86-81 win in their first round WIAC Tournament contest at Johnson Fieldhouse in Menomonie.
With the victory, the Yellowjackets improved to 15-11 and move on to face UW-Whitewater in the WIAC Semifinals on Thursday. UW-Stout meanwhile concludes their season at 11-15 for the campaign.
The Yellowjackets got off to a flying start in the early going, getting an early layup and a three-point jumper from Britnee Blake (Superior, Wis./Superior Senior) for a 5-0 lead just 2:08 into the contest.
UW-Superior expanded the lead to 14-7 with 12:24 left in the opening half on two free throws by Brynn Liljander (Isanti, Minn./Cambridge-Isanti).
A three-pointer by Liljander and a three-point play by Linzmeier upped the margin to 27-15 with 7:57 showing on the clock.
UW-Superior went to take their largest lead of the half on two free throws by Linzmeier that made it a 35-19 lead with 4:47 to play before the Yellowjackets cruised into halftime holding a 48-34 cushion.
The Yellowjackets continued their strong play early in the second half, taking their largest lead of the game at 53-36 after a free throw by Deandra Vavra (Cambridge, Minn./Cambridge-Isanti) with 18:22 remaining in regulation.
UW-Stout refused to wilt however, steadily cutting into the deficit before a Haley Froehlich three-pointer trimmed the Yellowjackets' lead to 68-60 at the 9:44 mark of the second half.
From there, the Blue Devils went on to score 11 of the next 13 points, taking their first lead of the game at 71-70 following a three-pointer by Kyleigh Hebert with 4:36 left in the contest.
A free throw by Vavra and a fast-break layup by Blake put UW-Superior back up 73-71 at the 3:22 mark of the second half.
The Blue Devils again responded, getting a layup from Hebert to even matters at 73-73 with 3:14 showing on the clock.
But after the two sides traded three-point shots, the Yellowjackets took the lead for good on a three-point play by Linzmeier with 23 seconds left to make it an 82-79 UW-Superior lead.
The Blue Devils managed to cut the deficit to 82-81 on the next possession on a jumper by Hebert with 18 seconds remaining in the second half.
Four straight free throws from Blake and Grace Kennedy (Wausau, Wis./Newman Catholic) in the last 18 seconds finally clinched the win for the Yellowjackets, who connected on 56 percent (28-of-50) from the field for the game.
Linzmeier led all scorers with 32 points on 12-of-17 shooting. Blake meanwhile finished with 17 points while Liljander pitched in with 16.
UW-Stout was paced by Hebert with 22 points. Katelynne Folkers added 15 while Tara Matter finished with 11 for the Blue Devils.
Opening tipoff between the Yellowjackets and UW-Whitewater at Kachel Gymnasium is scheduled for 7 p.m. The game can be heard locally on 91.3 FM KUWS with Matt Johnson on the call.