EAU CLAIRE, Wis. – One night after falling to Ripon in the season opener, the UW-Stout women's basketball team delivered a complete performance, cruising to a 74-56 win over Lakeland University on Saturday, November 9 at the Sonnentag Event Center. The Blue Devils (1-1) used a balanced attack, stifling defense, and relentless rebounding to pull away early and secure their first victory of the 2025-26 campaign.
Stout jumped out to a 24-15 lead after the first quarter and never trailed, pushing the advantage to double digits midway through the opening period. The Blue Devils dominated inside, outscoring the Muskies 46-24 in the paint while forcing 27 turnovers and converting them into 29 points. UW-Stout also owned the glass, grabbing 44 rebounds to Lakeland's 32, including 17 offensive boards that led to 16 second-chance points.
Freshman Addy Verhagen paced Stout with 13 points on 5-of-8 shooting, adding 3 assists and 2 steals in 27 minutes. Another freshman, Olivia Johnson, posted a near double-double with 11 points and a team-high 9 rebounds, while also blocking 4 shots. Madison Malecha provided a spark off the bench with 12 points on efficient 4-of-8 shooting, and freshman Brooklyn Birt recorded her first career double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Mary Berg chipped in 10 points, including a pair of three-pointers, and dished out 4 assists.
Lakeland (0-2) was led by Alexis Johnson, who scored a game-high 24 points and grabbed 6 rebounds, but the Muskies shot just 35.7% from the field and went 0-for-6 from beyond the arc in a 1-for-15 fourth quarter. Stout held Lakeland to single-digit scoring in the final period (9 points) to seal the 18-point victory.
The Blue Devils shot 44.4% overall, knocked down 15-of-21 free throws (71.4%), and recorded 14 steals as a team. The win showcased improved ball security (23 turnovers in the loss to Ripon) and defensive intensity, setting a strong tone ahead of conference play.
By the Numbers
- 74 – Points scored by Stout, most in a game this season
- 46 – Points in the paint (46-24 edge over Lakeland)
- 29 – Points off turnovers (forced 27 Lakeland miscues)
- 37 – Bench points, led by Malecha (12) and Birt (10)
- 44-32 – Rebounding advantage (17 offensive rebounds)
- 14 – Team steals (Rybacki and Dahl with 3 each)
- 4 – Blocks by Olivia Johnson
- 1 – Lead change all game; Stout led for 38:21
Up Next UW-Stout opens the home schedule on Wednesday, November 12 against No. 13 Bethel University at Johnson Fieldhouse. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m. The Blue Devils will look to carry this momentum into their first home game of the season against a ranked MIAC foe.
