FOND du LAC, Wis. – Friday marked the season opener for the Yellowjacket women's basketball team, traveling down to Southern Wisconsin to take on the Sabres of Marian University. Head Coach
Emily Carpenter enters her third season at the helm as she looks to lead her group to the UMAC Championship game once again.
Before Upper Midwest Athletic Conference action kicks off, however, the 'Jackets will face 11 non-conference opponents before diving straight into league play.
UWS got started on the right foot Friday, defeating Marian by a score of 73-44 inside Sadoff Gymnasium.
Game Notes
- Action commenced with both teams sticking with each other through the first half of quarter one. Elise Besonen (Ewen, Mich./Ewen-Trout Creek) garnered her first points of the campaign off a jumper before she assisted Elsa Olson's (Cottage Grove, Minn./Park) first shot beyond the arc for an early 5-2 lead.
- Marian tied the game at 7-7, but from there the 'Jackets found some momentum. Charlotte Ferstl (Plain, Wis./River Valley) would notch two free throws after taking a foul from Sabres' Ryleigh Woodson before Besonen logged seven consecutive points at 18-7.
- The Sabres began to rally, but the Yellowjackets saw three different scorers extend their lead to 26-15 at the end of one.
- UWS added 12 points in the second quarter, as Katie Dobson (Black River Falls, Wis./Black River Falls) nailed a mid-range jumper to bring the game to 30-15. Marian logged six-straight points, but the 'Jackets continued to extend the lead. Emily Coonrod (Hastings, Minn./Randolph) took a foul late, as she converted one-of-two free throws before Haylie Jerde (Isanti, Minn./Cambridge-Isanti) was sent to the line. She was 4-4 on free throws during the quarter.
- Entering the break, Superior was up by 14 points at 38-24. An 18-point quarter helped extend their lead to 21 heading into the fourth. Leading the offensive charge was Ferstl, Coonrod and Jerde.
- The Sabres attempted to muster a comeback, but the Yellowjackets continued to expand their lead, scoring 17 in the final frame to earn the first victory of the 2024-25 season by a 73-44 decision.
- Ferstl led the charge with 14 points, while Besonen and Dobson added 11 to their evening. They would serve as the three 'Jackets in double-figures.
- Defensively Ferstl logged 11 rebounds in the contest, as she posted her first double double.
- UW-Superior scored 33 points off turnovers, compared to Marian's four.
The Yellowjackets are back in action Wednesday, facing Carleton in non-conference play. The opening tip is scheduled for 7 p.m. inside West Gymnasium in Northfield, Minn.
