Feb 03, 2016
WHITEWATER, Wis. – Lauren Anklam scored a career-high 28 points to lead the No. 16 UW-Stevens Point to its sixth win over a ranked opponent this season by virtue of a 72-64 win over No. 15 UW-Whitewater on Wednesday evening at Kachel Gymnasium.
Anklam shot 8-for-14 from the field, including 3-for-6 from behind the arc, and 9-for-11 from the free-throw line for UW-Stevens Point (16-4, 7-2 WIAC) to eclipse her previous career-high total of 27 from Jan. 2 at St. Norbert. With the win over UW-Whitewater (16-4, 5-4 WIAC), the Pointers improved to 6-3 against top-25 teams this season.
UW-Stevens Point trailed UW-Whitewater 40-36 midway through the third quarter before going on a 7-0 run to take a lead it would not relinquish. Anklam started the run with a jumper and Allie Miceli scored the final five points, including a three-point play to cap the spurt.
The Warhawks were within two in the final minute of the third but Lexi Roland drained a three-pointer with 24 seconds left to send the Pointers to the fourth with a 48-43 lead. UW-Stevens Point led by at least three for the entirety of the final 10 minutes.
Lisa Palmer opened the fourth quarter with a jumper to get UW-Whitewater within three but UW-Stevens Point went on a 7-2 run to go up eight with 6:29 remaining. Abbie Reeves cut it to five with 5:24 remaining only for Mickey Roland and Anklam to hit jumpers to quickly boost the lead to nine.
The Pointers made 11 of 12 free throws in the final 2:05 and were 15-for-18 (83.3 percent) from the line in the second half. UW-Stevens Point shot 49.0 percent (12-for-24) in the first half and 48.0 percent (12-for-25) after the break.
In addition to Anklam's career night, Lexi Roland scored 13 points on 3-for-6 from behind the arc and 4-for-4 from the free-throw line. Miceli added 11 points, five rebounds and four assists while shooting 5-for-8 from the floor.
Andrea Meinert led UW-Whitewater with 13 points and six rebounds off the bench. Fellow reserve Reeves scored 12 as the Warhawks' bench outscored their starters 38-26. The hosts shot 43.1 percent (25-for-58) from the field.
UW-Stevens Point enjoyed a 24-7 advantage in points off turnovers, forcing 14 turnovers while committing just 11, to help over come UW-Whitewater's 38-12 edge in bench scoring.
The Pointers opened up an 18-11 lead with 1:22 remaining in the first quarter but the Warhawks clawed back to take a 27-23 advantage midway through the second. The teams went into the locker room with the visitors up 31-30 after a Mickey Roland layup with 2:21 left accounted for the final points of the half.
UW-Stevens Point faces yet another ranked opponent with a trip to No. 18 UW-River Falls on Saturday, Feb. 6 at 3 p.m.