UW-Stevens Point 76, UW-Stout 64
STEVENS POINT (February 26, 2009) - UW-Stevens Point doubled up UW-Stout early, Stout made a run at the Pointers, but ultimately, the top-seeded Pointers defeated the Blue Devils, 76-64, in the semi-finals of the WIAC tournament Thursday at Berg Gym.
The Pointers (23-3) ran up to as much as a 15 point, 33-18, lead just before halftime behind 10 first half points by Britta Petersen.
The Blue Devils (16-11) whittled the lead to five points, 37-32,when Lindsey Gerber (Sr, Exeland) nailed a 3-pointer five minutes into the second half.
Stout was cold from the floor in the first half, shooting 29.6 percent (8-27), but warmed up in the second half to 46.4 percent (13-28). The Blue Devils could not keep up with the Pointers from the free throw line. The Pointers made 23-of-30 free throws in the second half and finished the game hitting 32-of-44 charity shots.
The Pointers' Petersen led all scorers with 19 points. Andrea Flease came off the bench to score 17 points, 14 in the second half.
Charlee Edwards (Sr, Danbury) led Stout with 16 points. Kim Stokke (Jr, Menomonie) and Julia Hirssig (Jr, Rochester, Minn) each scored 13 points.
Stout kept the deficit under 10 points until the Pointers went on an 11-2 run and the lead never got less than 12 points the rest of the way.
The Pointers will host UW-Eau Claire in the championship game Saturday, Feb. 28.
