In a game where the difference was never higher than eight points, the two teams punched each other silly down the stretch, with each team taking mini-runs at the each other. Stout (12-3, 5-1) held a seven point lead, 62-55, after Dani Boese hit back-to-back buckets in rapid succession, one on a runner, the second off a steal by Amanda Geissler on the inbound pass with about three minutes left in the game.
The Pointers (10-3, 3-3) staggered, but only momentarily, as they cut the lead to 66-63 on baskets by Nathalie Lechault and Katie Webber. Two free throws by Geissler put Stout back up by five, 68-63, but the Pointers' Haley Houghton cut the lead to 68-65 with 15 seconds remaining.
Kelsey Duoss gave Stout a 69-65 lead with a free throw with nine seconds left, but the Pointers had one last punch left when Janell Van Gomple drained a nearly uncontested 3-pointer. Stout missed two free throws, but Lindsey Geissler was fouled and she made both shots for the final score. The Pointers could not get a shot off as the buzzer sounded.
Duoss led all scorers with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Lindsey Geissler added 12 points for Stout, which shot 43.1 percent (22-51). While it didn't seem like it down the stretch, the Blue Devils benefitted from the free throw line, hitting 25-of-39 charity shots.
Von Gomple led the Pointers with 16 points. Houghton finished with 11 points and Lechault had 10 points. The Pointers shot 44.1 percent (26-59) from the game, but outscored Stout, 39-38, in the second half by shooting 55.6 percent (15-27). Stevens Point shot 15-of-21 from the line.
Three-pointers were few and far between in this contest. Stout was 2-of-11 from beyond the arc, and Stevens Point was 1-for-14.