UW-La Crosse 88, UW-Stout 80 (2 ot)

Menomonie, Wis. - Melissa Lang scored a career-high 27 points, including her team's first 15 points of the game, as the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse women's basketball team earned an 88-80 double overtime victory at UW-Stout Wednesday night in Johnson Fieldhouse. It is UW-L's first win at UW-Stout since the 1991-92 season.

The Eagles improve to 13-6 overall and 5-5 in the WIAC with their victory while the Blue Devils fall to 11-8 overall and 6-4 in the conference.

The contest was tied 15-15 with 13:25 remaining in the first half before UW-Stout scored the next seven points to take a 22-15 lead. UW-L came right back with a 10-0 run of its own to lead 25-22 with 8:56 remaining. The Blue Devils later led 28-27, but the Eagles finished the half on a 14-2 run to lead 41-30 at halftime.

UW-L led by as many as 11 points in the second half at 47-36 with 16:41 remaining. The game was tied 61-61 with 4:35 left before UW-L went on a 9-4 run to lead 70-65 with 1:22 left. UW-Stout cut the lead to 70-67 with 1:05 remaining on a Megan Maslowski jumper and after an Eagles' turnover, Kayla Windt made it 70-69 on a layup with :56 left.

Taylor Larson hit a pair of free throws for UW-L with :30 left, but Julia Hirssig tied the game at 72-72 with :18 remaining on a three-point play. Larson missed a jumper with :02 left to force overtime.

In the first overtime, Danielle Frank and Lindsey Litrenta had baskets for UW-L to make it 76-72 with 3:09 remaining, but Hirssig hit a pair of free throws with 2:04 left and later tied it on a layup with :31 remaining. Lang missed a three-pointer with :01 left, but Hirssig was fouled on the rebound. After a Eagles' timeout, Hirssig missed the free throw to extend the game to a second overtime.

The Eagles never trailed in the second extra session. Litrenta hit a three-pointer with 3:15 left to give UW-L a 81-77 lead. UW-Stout cut the margin to 81-78 with 2:40 remaining, but the Blue Devils could get no closer the rest of the game. Lang had a three-point play with 1:30 left to make it 84-78.

Lang finished 10-of-18 from the field, including four-of-eight from three-point range, and hit all three of her free throws. She also had seven rebounds, four assists and three steals.

Litrenta had 16 points, going four-of-six from three-point range. Larson finished with 14 points while Stacie Van Handel had 12 and Danielle Frank 10. Frank also had a team-high nine rebounds.

UW-L shot 42.4% from the field, including 47.6% (10-of-21) from three-point range. The Eagles shot 88.0% (22-of-25) at the line.

Hirssig led UW-Stout with 25 points and 18 rebounds while Maslowski had 13 points. Kim Stokke finished with 11 points and Danielle DeWitt 10. The Blue Devils shot 40.5% from the field, including 17.6% (three-of-17) from three-point range, and 68.0% (17-of-25) at the free throw line.

UW-L returns to action Saturday, Jan. 30 at UW-Platteville at 3:05 p.m.