Yellowjacket report: Besonen, UWS women take over UMAC week

By Staff reports

January 27, 2025 at 6:31 AM

Wisconsin-Superior took over the game in the second half to complete a two-win week in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference with a 64-42 women’s basketball win over Minnesota Morris on Saturday at Mertz Mertorelli Gym in Superior.

UWS held a narrow 26-20 lead at halftime but raised its game in the second half to pull away, going 16-for-35 (45.7%) from the field.

Elise Besonen led the charge, going off for 30 points, including six 3-pointers, while shooting 12-for-19.

On Wednesday, UWS grabbed a 69-63 road win at Northwestern in St. Paul with the help of a huge fourth-quarter rally.

The Yellowjackets found themselves down 44-38 after three frames before going 11-for-16 in the fourth quarter and making four treys to score 31 points in 10 minutes.

Besonen had another huge game, finishing with 32 points and seven rebounds, while Elsa Olson had 13 points and eight boards.

UWS, now co-leading the UMAC at 5-1 (9-8 overall), has a Wednesday, Jan. 29 road game ahead at Crown.

MEN’S BASKETBALL

‘Jackets knocked into four-way tie

A rough week for Wisconsin-Superior has set up a free-for-all second half of the UMAC season, with the Yellowjackets as one of four teams co-leading the eight-team conference.

Saturday, UWS lost 76-71 in overtime to Minnesota Morris despite a thrilling comeback from 12 points down with 8:44 to play and a 3-pointer at the regulation buzzer from Andrew Kunelius that tied the game.

UWS actually made more field goals in the overtime, two to one, but Morris scored the game’s last seven points and made seven of eight free throws to ice it as UWS went 0-for-4 with three turnovers on its last seven possessions.

Five Yellowjackets scored in double figures, led by Kunelius’ 12 points, while Rocco Paulson (Duluth East) added 11 off the bench.

Wednesday, UWS fell 82-72 at Northwestern for its first conference loss despite a 33-point game from Reid Johnson.

The Eagles shot 50% from 3-point range and better than 50% from the field in both halves.

UWS trailed 40-33 at halftime and just couldn’t get enough stops to keep up, as the Eagles led by as 17 down the stretch.

The Yellowjackets (7-10, 4-2 UMAC) play at Crown on Wednesday night, Jan. 29.

YELLOWJACKET SPORTS

By Staff reports

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