UW-La Crosse 76, UW-Stout 61
MENOMONIE (February 12, 2020) - The 3-ball was flying in Johnson Fieldhouse as UW-La Crosse and UW-Stout combined for 16 3-pointers, but come crunch time, the Eagles won the game in the paint and went on to a 76-61 win over the Blue Devils Wednesday.
Stout (14-8, 5-6 WIAC) trailed by one point, 55-54, at the end of the third period, but the Eagles (16-6, 7-4 WIAC) started off the third quarter by scoring the first seven points of the period to jump out to a 62-54 lead. After connecting on eight previous 3-point shots in the first three quarters, the Eagles used only one 3-pointer in the run, getting buckets by Cassandra Warmsley and Emma Gamoke before Dani Craig popped her fourth and final 3-pointer of the night.
Katie Christopherson and
Amber Fabeck each dropped in a bucket to pull Stout to within four points, 62-58, but that would be as close as Stout would get and it would be Stout's final field goal of the game. The Eagles outscored the Blue Devils 14-3 the rest of the way, with Stout's only remaining points coming from the free throw line.
The Eagles' Craig led all scorers with 28 points, 14 in each half, going 12 of 18 from the field and 4 of 8 from 3-point range. Ava Kramer finished the night with 17 points. Six different Eagles drained at least on 3-point shot. Kyah Steiner pulled down 10 rebounds as the Eagles out-boarded the Blue Devils 40-33.
Despite hitting nine 3-pointers, the Eagles did a good deal of damage in the paint, outscoring Stout 32-24 inside the free throw lane.
Stout got 18 points from Fabeck who was 8 of 12 from field goal range. Fabeck hit two 3-pointers.
Shannan Watkins added 14 points and hit two 3-pointers.
Emily Jacques stepped outside to hit two 3-pointers.
Stout shot 34.8 percent (23-66) from the floor, while the Eagles shot 52.6 percent (30-57).
The Blue Devils will host UW-Oshkosh, Saturday, Feb. 15 at 3 p.m.
