Men's basketball (7-2 overall, 0-2 WIAC): It was a tough start to the conference season for the Pointers, who dropped their first two WIAC contests after a 7-0 start to the season.
The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point lost to UW-Whitewater 72-71 at home on Wednesday, Dec. 5, before losing at UW-Stout 72-61 on Saturday, Dec. 8.
The Pointers were scheduled to host UW-La Crosse, which is off to an 8-1 start and 2-0 in the WIAC, Wednesday, Dec. 12, at 7 p.m. and Mount Senario at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 13, at the Quandt Fieldhouse.
UW-SP led by as many as 13 points in the second half against UW-Whitewater before the Warhawks used a 16-2 run to take the lead. The Pointers fell down by six points in the final 30 seconds, but hit some clutch three-pointers and had a chance to win the game, but turned the ball over on the final play. Josh Iserloth (Plymouth) had 19 points and Kalonji Kadima (Milwaukee) had 16 points for the Pointers.
On Saturday, UW-SP fell behind by 13 points in the second half, but rallied to within one point with two minutes left before UW-Stout was able to seal the win. Freshman Nick Bennett (Stevens Point) scored 20 points and freshman Jason Kalsow (Huntley, Ill.) had 16 points on eight-for-eight shooting.
Women's basketball (8-1 overall, 1-1 WIAC): The Pointers opened their WIAC season with a 90-70 victory at UW-Whitewater, but had their eight-game winning streak snapped on Saturday, Dec. 8, with a 72-71 home loss to UW-Stout.
UW-SP was scheduled to play its final game before the holiday break Wednesday, Dec. 12, at UW-La Crosse.
Carry Boehning (Auburndale) led five players in double figures with 17 points and Amie Schultz (Appleton) added 15 points as the Pointers cruised past UW-Whitewater. UW-SP led by as many as 32 points in the second half and jumped out to a 49-32 halftime advantage.
The Pointers had 24 turnovers against UW-Stout's full-court pressure in Saturday's loss to the Blue Devils. Boehning and Amanda Nechuta (Mosinee) each scored 13 points in the loss.
Men's hockey (7-6 overall, 3-3 NCHA): UW-SP used a pair of solid defensive efforts and strong goaltending to sweep two games over the weekend and ride a wave of momentum into the holiday break.
The Pointers scored a pair of third period goals by Joel Marshall (Madison) and Ryan Kirchhoff (Fairway) to beat St. Olaf, 2-1, on Friday, Dec. 7, and then Nick Glander (Brookfield) scored a second period power play goal to beat Gustavus Adolphus, 1-0, on Saturday, Dec. 8. It was the third 1-0 victory in Pointer history and their second shutout in four games.
Sophomore Ryan Scott (Plover) had 16 saves in Friday's win and senior Bob Gould (Eagle River) stopped 21 shots for his fifth career shutout on Saturday. Gould also moved into a tie for third place on the school's all-time win list with his 39th career victory.
Women's hockey (10-0 overall, 4-0 NCHA): Two of the nation's hottest women's hockey programs square off this weekend at Willett Arena when the Pointers host UW-Superior on Friday, Dec. 14, at 5:35 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 15, at 2:35 p.m. at Willett Arena.
UW-SP has won 11 straight games and is ranked fourth in the country, while UW-Superior has won nine straight games and is 10-1 overall. The Yellowjackets are ranked seventh nationally.
The Pointers picked up three more wins last week, beating Hamline, 4-2, and sweeping Lake Forest, 3-1, and, 7-2. Sophomore Nicole Sankey (Stevens Point) scored five goals for the week, including her first career hat trick on Sunday. Sankey was formerly Nicole Busse before getting married last weekend.
Jackie Schmitt (Buffalo Grove, Ill.) had four goals during the week, including the game-winning goal in all three games. Schmitt has four consecutive game-winners and five for the season. Liz Goergen (Apple Valley, Minn.) tied a school record with four assists on Sunday.
Swimming and diving (both 3-0 in WIAC duals): Christine Sammons (Hastings, Minn.) automatically qualified for the NCAA Division III Championships in two events to help the women's team to a third-place finish at the Wheaton Invitational.
Sammons qualified in the 100 breaststroke in the preliminary round on Friday, Dec. 7, with a time of 1:05.83 and then qualified in the 200 breaststroke in the final round on Saturday, Dec. 8, with a time of 2:23.31. Sammons ended up finishing second in both events.
Also on the women's side, the 200 medley relay team of Alissa Bartz (Beloit), Erica Janssen (Oshkosh), Amy Rockwell (Zeeland) and Jen Randall (Wisconsin Rapids) earned a first-place finish in 1:38.55.
Meanwhile, the Pointer men finished fourth at the invite thanks in part to a pair of first place finishes by Anthony Harris (St. Paul, Minn.).
Harris captured the 200 butterfly title on Friday in 1:57.33 and followed that up with a victory in the 100 butterfly in 50.47 on Saturday.
Harris was also part of the victorious 800 freestyle relay squad, teaming with Erik Johnson (Albert Lea, Minn.), Aaron Marshall (Cambridge, Minn.) and Thad Gunther (Muscatine, Iowa) to win in 7:01.73.
Wrestling (0-2 overall, 0-2 WIAC): UW-SP opened its WIAC dual meet season with a 28-12 loss at UW-Platteville last week and then lost, 30-6, to UW-La Crosse Tuesday, Dec. 11, at Berg Gym.
Freshman Cody Koenig (Underwood, Iowa) recorded a pin at 165 pounds to lead the Pointers against UW-Platteville. Joe Bavlnka (Germantown) had a victory at 184 pounds and Mark Burger (Merrill) collected a win at heavyweight for UW-SP.
Yan White and Cody Koenig recorded the Pointers' only victories in the loss against UW-La Crosse.