It had been awhile since the UW-Superior women's basketball team had been given the opportunity to experience postseason play.  Fortunately for the Yellowjackets, the wait for another chance is now over.

UW-Superior started fast in the opening half and led virtually all the way, getting a balanced all-around effort that saw four players score in double-figures in a 79-68 win over UW-LaCrosse at Mertz Mortorelli Gymnasium Saturday that vaults the Yellowjackets into the postseason for the first time since 2003-04.

After falling behind 2-0 on the game's first possession, the Yellowjackets quickly asserted themselves in the opening half, taking a 5-2 lead with 17:21 left after a three-pointer by Bri Davis (Hermantown, Minn./Hermantown) and a layup by Hailey Hart (Osseo, Wis./Osseo-Fairchild).

The Yellowjackets built the lead to 15-8 at the 13:38 mark following a three by Deandra Vavra (Cambridge, Minn./Cambridge-Isanti), a layup by Hart, a three by Connie Urmanski (Edgar, Wis./Edgar) and a jumper by Davis.

UW-LaCrosse steadily rallied back, taking a narrow 23-22 on a layup by Kassie Robinson with 7:43 remaining in the first half.

UW-Superior came right back on the next possession however, getting a long three from Keely Deadrick (Esko, Minn./Esko) to reclaim the lead at 25-23 with 6:45 showing on the clock.

Another score from Robinson at 4:37 gave the Eagles the lead back at 28-27.

But the Yellowjackets closed the half on an 8-3 burst, taking a 35-31 edge into the intermission following a Hart layup with 58 seconds left in the opening 20 minutes.

UW-Superior surged further ahead in the first 1:16 of the second half, getting a layup and a jumper from Davis to up their advantage to 39-31 with 18:34 remaining in regulation.

The Eagles eventually trimmed to lead to 45-42 on two free throws by Mallory Cramer at the 13:41 mark of the second half.

UW-LaCrosse would get no closer than three points the rest of the way however as the Yellowjackets expanded their lead to 71-61 with just 1:51 left after another three by Davis.

Four free throws by Davis along with two more free throws each from Deadrick and Urmanski in the final 1:29 sealed the victory for the Yellowjackets, who finish the regular season at 12-13 overall and 5-11 in WIAC play.

UW-LaCrosse finishes the regular season 16-8 and 9-7.

The Yellowjackets were led by Davis with 23 points.  Hart added 16 points while Deadrick added 12 points and Vavra 10 for UW-Superior.

UW-LaCrosse was led by Robinson with 23 points.  Cramer finished with 14 points for the Eagles as well.

Milestone Update: Hart's 16 points gives her 1,049 in her career, which is sixth all-time.  She is 28 points behind Mandy Giffen for fifth place.  Hart moved into fifth on the all-time rebound chart and now has 628.  She also moved into a tie for seventh on the all-time games played list with 93.  Davis jumped into a tie for fifth in games played with 94.  Her 23 points gives her 935 for her career and she passed Maggie Dittburner for 11th all-time.  She is four points away from cracking the top ten.  Urmanski's nine points give her 846, 14th all-time.  Her seven assists helped her jump into sixth on the all-time list with 192.  Next up is Summer LaMontagne with 194.

The Yellowjackets will head to UW-Whitewater to take on the Warhawks in WIAC playoffs starting at 7 p.m. on Tuesday (Feb. 21).