MENOMONIE, Wis. — In a game that featured 14 lead changes, eight ties and a relentless pace from start to finish, UW-Stout went toe-to-toe with Wis.-La Crosse before falling 90-80 Wednesday night at Johnson Fieldhouse.
The Eagles, receiving votes in the national top 25 poll, used a 20-of-22 performance at the free throw line in the fourth quarter to pull away late. Overall, La Crosse attempted 32 free throws to Stout's 10 in a game that saw constant contact and momentum swings.
Still, the Blue Devils (11-11, 2-9 WIAC) matched the high-powered Eagles (14-8, 7-4 WIAC) possession for possession for much of the night.
First Half: Trading Runs
Stout set the tone early with efficient offense and pressure defense. After La Crosse jumped ahead 7-4, Mary Berg buried a three-pointer and Rosella Wille followed with a triple from the wing to ignite a 17-6 Blue Devil surge.
Julia Rybacki made her presence felt off the bench, scoring on back-to-back paint touches and assisting on a three to help Stout build a 25-15 lead late in the first quarter.
The Eagles responded in the second, knocking down perimeter shots to chip away. With 5:12 left before halftime, Addy Verhagen jumped a passing lane and pushed ahead to Maraya Wiltrout, who finished through traffic at the rim to steady the Blue Devils.
Rybacki, who was Stout's go-to option whenever a bucket was needed, consistently attacked downhill but battled foul trouble throughout the half, picking up her third personal before the break.
Despite the adversity, Stout closed the half with a defensive stand, forcing a shot clock violation to preserve a 40-39 lead at intermission.
Third Quarter: Rybacki Takes Over
La Crosse opened the second half with a quick run to grab momentum, but Rybacki answered.
Around the eight-minute mark, she knocked down a pull-up jumper in the lane, then immediately jumped a passing lane on the defensive end, finishing the steal with a fastbreak layup for a solo four-point swing that energized Johnson Fieldhouse.
Brooklynn Birt provided a steady interior presence, scoring on multiple paint touches and keeping the Eagles from building separation.
Still, La Crosse's balanced scoring and timely threes allowed the visitors to edge ahead 62-61 entering the fourth.
Fourth Quarter: Down to the Wire
Rybacki continued to attack the rim, finishing through contact to give Stout a 69-67 edge. Moments later, with the Blue Devils trailing by one, Verhagen drove strong to the basket and converted an and-one at the 4:38 mark, putting Stout back in front 75-74 and igniting the crowd.
But the foul disparity began to loom large. La Crosse repeatedly got to the stripe, converting free throws to halt Stout's momentum.
Birt delivered a crucial and-one of her own with 35 seconds remaining to keep Stout within striking distance, but the Eagles answered once again at the line, sealing the 10-point final margin in the closing seconds.
Rybacki's Career Night
Rybacki was sensational, pouring in 24 points on 11-of-16 shooting and surpassing her previous career high of 18 — set just last Wednesday at Johnson Fieldhouse against Stevens Point. She added four rebounds and a steal, consistently providing offensive answers in key moments despite limited minutes due to foul trouble.
Birt added 16 points and five rebounds off the bench, while Berg chipped in 17 points, including five three-pointers. Verhagen contributed 10 points and four assists, and Wille pulled down a team-high 10 rebounds.
By The Numbers
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24 – Career-high points for Julia Rybacki (11-16 FG).
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16 – Points from Brooklynn Birt off the bench.
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17 – Points from Mary Berg, including five three-pointers.
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48 – Points in the paint for Stout.
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40 – Bench points for the Blue Devils.
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32-10 – Free throw attempt advantage for La Crosse.
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20-22 – Eagles free throw shooting in the fourth quarter alone.
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14 – Lead changes in a back-and-forth battle.
Up Next
Stout will face another major test this weekend, traveling to No. 4 ranked UW-Oshkosh for a 3 p.m. matchup on Saturday. The Titans sit near the top of the WIAC standings and represent another opportunity for the Blue Devils to measure themselves against one of the conference's elite programs.
