Women’s Basketball Opens Season at Stevens Point

STEVENS POINT, Wis. - The Concordia University Wisconsin women's basketball team opened their 2024-25 season with a road matchup against the UW-Stevens Point Pointers, falling 50-72 in a hard-fought contest.

Junior Ava Booth (Plymouth, Wis.) got the Falcons off to a strong start, scoring the game's first points with a jumper. On the next possession, she assisted senior Deidre Lassiter (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) for a bucket, giving CUW an early 4-0 lead.

After the Pointers evened the score at 4-4, senior Aubrey DeBauch (Gillett, Wis.) put the Falcons back on top with a layup off a pass from senior Lindsey Lonigro (Deerfield, Wis.). 

With 2:43 remaining in the first quarter, Booth knocked down a three-pointer to tie the game at 9-9, and Lassiter followed with a layup to tie it again at 11.

The Falcons ended the quarter strong, with Booth hitting a buzzer-beating three-pointer off an assist from sophomore Jayden Ross (Baraboo, Wis.), giving CUW a 14-11 lead after the first quarter.

However, the second quarter proved challenging for the Falcons as they were outscored 22-2, falling behind 16-33 at halftime.

Coming out of the break, CUW showed resilience. Booth hit another three to open the second half, followed by a layup from Lassiter. 

The Falcons continued to battle, with back-to-back baskets from sophomores Gracie McNabb (Grafton, Wis.) and Andrea Butterbrodt (Green Bay, Wis.), and McNabb adding a three-pointer with 1:44 remaining in the quarter.

Despite their best efforts, CUW couldn't close the gap as the Pointers kept answering on offense, taking a 58-35 lead into the final quarter.

In the fourth, the Falcons continued to fight, but Stevens Point held on to their lead to secure the 72-50 victory.

Booth led CUW with 15 points, shooting a perfect 3-for-3 from beyond the arc. DeBauch nearly recorded a double-double, finishing with 12 points, nine rebounds, and one block. Lassiter added eight points on 4-of-6 shooting. 

Meanwhile, freshmen Kristin Wentling (Arlington Heights, Ill.) and Alexa Schwartz (Treynor, Iowa) both scored their first collegiate points in the game.

The Falcons will return to action on Wednesday as they face the nationally-ranked UW-Whitewater Warhawks.