STEVENS POINT, WIS.—The Carthage College women's basketball team had an opportunity to knock off a ranked opponent for the second time this season in their showdown at #21 UW-Stevens Point on Wednesday night. Both teams entered Wednesday's bout fresh off heartbreaking losses on November 27. The Pointers dropped a 76-65 decision to University of St. Thomas while the Lady Reds fell to University of Chicago 86-81 OT.
 
Overcoming adversity is nothing new to the Lady Reds as they trailed by 10 or more points in two of their three wins this season. Carthage was also looking to rebound from a 63-60 loss to the Pointers at Tarble Arena on December 5, 2015. Those facts suggested the ball was in the Lady Red's court, but the Pointers had other plans at they registered a 66-50 win.
 
Carthage falls to 3-3, 0-0 CCIW while the Pointers improve to 5-1, 0-0 WIAC.
 
A Bailey Gilbert three-pointer followed by a pair of Monica Masini layups propelled Carthage to a 7-4 lead at the 6:16 mark of the first quarter. That was Cartage's largest advantage of the contest as the Pointers responded with a 15-4 run en route to a 19-11 lead after the first quarter.
 
The Lady Red defense answered the bell in the second quarter as they held UW-Stevens Point to 3-for-16 (.188) from the field and 0-for-5 (.000) from beyond the arch in the frame. The defense combined with a pair of offensive boards from Morgan Vukovich and Rachel Szydlowski that resulted in tip-in layups helped the Carthage stay within eight points of UW-Stevens Point at 27-19 with 2:58 left in the second quarter.
 
Gilbert cut the Lady Red deficit to 27-22 with her second three-pointer of the game at the 2:02 mark of the second quarter before UW-Stevens Point took a 29-22 lead into halftime.
 
The Pointers tallied 18 of their 24 points in the third quarter off the three ball, which propelled them to a 53-36 advantage. Four fourth-quarter points from each Madie Kaelber and Szydlowski helped Carthage outscore the UW-Stevens Point 14-13 in the frame, but it wasn't enough in a 66-50 loss.
 
Kaelber paced the Lady Red scoring attack with 15 points. Szydlowski contributed eight points and a season-high six rebounds. Masini added eight points for Carthage.
 
The Lady Reds will open CCIW play at Tarble Arena against Millikin University on Saturday, December 3 at 5:00 p.m.