SUPERIOR, Wis. – After a 13-day hiatus, the Yellowjacket women's basketball team returned to action, hosting the fourth annual Superior Shootout Holiday Classic. The 'Jackets entered Friday on a two-game skid and under .500, but with the offensive production of Elise Besonen (Ewen, Mich./Ewen-Trout Creek) and Erika Mattson (Ely, Minn./Ely Memorial), UWS was able to secure a 60-44 victory over Marian.
 
The Sabres took early control of the game, jumping to a 6-2 lead halfway through the first quarter of action. Elsa Olson (Cottage Grove, Minn./Park) would take a foul from Marian's Lyla Bartol and brought the 'Jackets within two, but the Sabres quickly responded. Olson would follow suit and contribute a jumper inside the paint to bring UWS within two at 8-6.
 
Once the second quarter commenced, the Yellowjackets began to settle in and take control. Besonen nailed her first shot from downtown which gave UWS their first lead of the evening, and within 30 seconds she would do it again. MyKenzie Leccia (Somerset, Wis./Somerset) would notch her first points with a jump shot within the paint before Erika Mattson (Ely, Minn./Ely Memorial) nailed one, resulting in a 16-8 lead.
 
The 'Jackets continued to pour it on offensively, as Olson hit a shot beyond the arc before Marian would notch their first two points of the quarter. Besonen would drain another from downtown and Chloe Peterson (Hutchinson, Minn./Hutchinson) would follow with a three pointer of her own. Kiara Williams for Marian would take a foul and hit both of her free throw attempts, but she would foul Kyra Latvala (Solon Springs, Wis./Solon Springs) who hit one of her free throw attempts, closing the half and boosting the 'Jackets to a 28-12 edge.
 
Marian turned things on in the third, as they applied pressure to start a comeback. Leccia scored the first 'Jacket points of the second half with a jumper, but the Sabres began to close in with points from Williams, McKayla Goebel, Lexi Brakebush and Chelsea King. Scoring six consecutive points, King paced the Marian comeback to tie the game at 34-34.
 
UW-Superior once again came alive and controlled the final quarter of play, as Charlotte Ferstl (Plain, Wis./River Valley) would complete the three-point play after taking a foul from Lyla Bartol. Leccia and Besonen would fire shots beyond the arc to allow for a six-point lead at 43-37, and Ferstl hit another shot inside the paint which allowed for Besonen and Mattson to drain shots from downtown. The Yellowjackets continued to pour it on for the remainder of the game and secured the 60-44 victory inside Mertz Mortorelli Gymnasium.
 
Besonen led the offensive charge Friday evening with 15 points, while Mattson finished with 11 points and Leccia with nine. Peterson finished her evening with eight points and five rebounds, while Leccia grabbed eight boards along with Ferstl and Emily Dehler (Pierz, Minn./Pierz Healy) who each picked up seven.
 
Marian was paced by Williams, who picked up a double-double with 20 points and 14 rebounds. King closely followed with 16 points and six rebounds.
 
The Yellowjackets cap the tournament Saturday with a game against St. Norbert. Opening tipoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. inside the Mertz.