Contests between the UW-Superior women's basketball team and UW-Stout have almost always been entertaining affairs. On Saturday, the Yellowjackets and Blue Devils added drama to their latest spirited matchup.

The Yellowjackets rallied from a 20-point deficit before a baseline jumper from Grace Kennedy (Wausau, Wis./Newman Catholic) in the final five seconds allowed UW-Superior to down the Blue Devils 76-74 at Mertz Mortorelli Gymnasium.

Prospects for a victory appeared bleak when Brea Boomer converted on a free throw to give UW-Stout a 72-52 lead with just 6:03 remaining in regulation. But UW-Superior closed out the game on a 24-2 burst before getting the winning basket from Kennedy in the final minute of play.

The Yellowjackets took an early eight point lead when a three-pointer by Allyssa Lindberg (Marquette, Mich./Marquette) put UW-Superior up 24-16 with 8:10 remaining in the opening half.

Foul trouble hampered UW-Superior the rest of the frame however as the Blue Devils outscored the Yellowjackets 22-9 for the remainder of the half to take a 38-33 edge into the intermission after two free throws by Boomer in the last 30 seconds.

UW-Stout continued to build their lead in the second half, upping the margin to 60-45 on a three-pointer by Haley Froehlich before another Boomer free throw gave the Blue Devils their largest cushion of 20 points with just over six minutes remaining in the contest.

The Yellowjackets picked up the pace from there however, getting two free throws from Justine Larson (Stanchfield, Minn./Cambridge-Isanti), six points from Dana Karlstad (Eleva, Wis./Eleva-Strum), and five points each from Allie Nelson (Augusta, Wis./Augusta) and Sally Linzmeier (Valders, Wis./Valders) to go along with scores from Bailee Bartunek (Audobon, Minn./Lake Park-Audobon) and Kennedy to even matters 74-74 after Karlstad's runner with 35 seconds left in regulation.

From there, Brynn Liljander (Isanti, Minn./Cambridge-Isanti) found Kennedy on the near baseline and her turnaround jumper with 5.8 seconds left put UW-Superior up 76-74 and forced UW-Stout into a timeout. The Blue Devils' subsequent three-point shot came up short, allowing the Yellowjackets to emerge victorious.

Linzmeier led the Yellowjackets with 15 points and 11 rebounds. Kennedy meanwhile finished with 13 points while Carmen Watson (Milwaukee, Wis./James Madison) chipped in with 10.

Boomer led all scorers with 24 points while Katelynne Folkers finished with 12 points for the Blue Devils.

The Yellowjackets host Northland College on Tuesday at Mertz Mortorelli Gymnasium. Opening tip against the Lumberjills is scheduled for 7 p.m. The game can be heard live on 91.3 FM with Matt Johnson on the call.