MENOMONIE, Wis. – In a marquee Division III women's basketball matchup, UW-Stout rose to the moment Saturday afternoon, knocking off No. 24 UW-Eau Claire 72–70 in overtime in front of a raucous crowd at Johnson Fieldhouse.
The Blue Devils jumped out quickly, scoring the game's first six points, but the ranked Blugolds answered with poise and pressure. UW-Eau Claire closed the first half on an 11–2 run to take a double-digit lead into the locker room, and Stout found itself chasing the game for most of the afternoon while battling through turnovers created by UWEC's press.
What followed was a gutsy, resilient response—sparked by freshman Addy Verhagen, who delivered the performance of her young career on the biggest stage. With the Johnson Fieldhouse crowd growing louder by the possession, Stout made its move in the fourth quarter, ripping off a 13–2 run to climb back into the game.
Verhagen authored the comeback. At 4:09 remaining, she attacked the rim and finished through contact for an and-one to pull Stout within two. Less than two minutes later, with the pressure mounting, she did it again—this time at 1:43, converting another tough finish and free throw to keep the Blue Devils within striking distance as the building erupted. Moments earlier, at 2:12, Verhagen spun through the lane for a smooth layup that felt like a turning point as momentum swung firmly to Stout.
Her playmaking proved just as critical. With 53 seconds left in regulation, Verhagen calmly drew the defense and kicked it out to Eleice Dahl, who buried a clutch three to tie the game and send Johnson Fieldhouse into a frenzy. Dahl finished with a career-high 12 points, repeatedly delivering timely baskets, including that massive shot late in the fourth.
Maraya Wiltrout added her own stamp to the win, scoring a career-high 12 points off the bench. Wiltrout's energy was felt on both ends, highlighted by strong finishes in traffic and a crucial defensive stop late in the fourth. She also came up huge in overtime, knocking down a jumper at 2:58 to give Stout the lead after a Verhagen assist.
In overtime, Stout struck first when Verhagen jumped a passing lane at 4:46 and raced coast-to-coast for a fastbreak layup. Later, at 2:15, she drained a deep three to extend the Blue Devils' advantage, capping a sequence where she had scored or assisted on every Stout basket in the extra period.
The defense sealed it. On the final possession, with the crowd at full volume, Stout locked down UW-Eau Claire and forced a contested, off-balance three at the buzzer that sailed off the mark, setting off a celebration at midcourt.
Verhagen finished with 20 points, six assists and seven rebounds, shrugging off constant chirping from the Eau Claire bench and players all afternoon—and having the last laugh when it mattered most.
By the Numbers
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Score: UW-Stout 72, No. 25 UW-Eau Claire 70 (OT)
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Attendance: 527 (Johnson Fieldhouse)
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Career highs:
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Key fourth-quarter plays:
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Overtime: Stout opened OT on a Verhagen steal-and-score and held UWEC to a contested miss at the horn
Up Next
UW-Stout hits the road Wednesday for a WIAC clash at UW-Stevens Point. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
