DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — The Haverford College women's basketball team (6-4) dropped its opening game of the Florida Sunshine Shootout Tournament, falling 68–34 to Wisconsin–Stevens Point (10-0) on Sunday afternoon at the Ocean Center Convention Center. The non-conference contest marked the first of two games for the Fords in the Sunshine State.
Wisconsin–Stevens Point opened the game with an early 9–2 run, highlighted by five points from Jessilyn Ernst. Turnovers plagued the Scarlet and Black in the opening minutes, allowing the Pointers to extend their lead. Audrey Jakway and Caroline Orza each connected from beyond the arc to pull the Fords within 13–9, but despite a late push from Brianna Feifer—who scored four points in the closing minutes of the quarter—Wisconsin–Stevens Point carried an 18–13 advantage into the second period.
The Pointers controlled the second quarter, outscoring the Scarlet and Black 18–4. Offensive rebounding fueled the surge, highlighted by a Laney Panich tip-in at the 9:14 mark. Haverford struggled to find rhythm offensively, with Koff-Gilmore's jumper at 6:41 accounting for the team's lone field goal of the quarter. Karissa Smith, Kate Vanden Berg, and Ava Loftus each knocked down three-pointers during a decisive 16–1 run to close the half. Majia Rice and Loftus added late layups before Loftus capped the quarter with a triple, sending Wisconsin–Stevens Point into halftime with a commanding lead.
The Pointers extended its advantage early in the third quarter as Ernst opened the scoring with a layup at 9:46. Buckets from Smith and Rice followed, answering a second-chance basket from Orza. Wisconsin–Stevens Point continued to widen the margin with consistent interior scoring, while Haverford struggled from the field, shooting just 4-of-16 in the quarter. Wisconsin–Stevens Point scored 12 points in the paint during the frame, and despite a late Orza layup assisted by Feifer, the Pointers led 50–26 heading into the final period.
The Pointers closed out the victory in the fourth quarter, outscoring Haverford 18–8. Jakway opened the scoring for the Fords off a turnover forced by Rice, but Wisconsin–Stevens Point quickly responded with a Panich layup at 7:26 and a jumper from Vanden Berg at 6:42. Turnovers continued to hinder the Scarlet and Black, who committed six in the quarter, while the Pointers capitalized with 12 more points in the paint. A Brooke Bottcher and a Keira Maki free-throw sealed up the 68-34 victory for Wisconsin-Stevens Point.
Jakway led Haverford with nine points and seven rebounds, while Orza added eight points and five boards. Bri Heafey contributed seven points and three rebounds, Feifer finished with seven points and three steals, and Alyssa Aslam added a strong defensive effort with two blocks and seven rebounds.
Rice paced Wisconsin–Stevens Point with 13 points on 6-of-15 shooting while adding six rebounds. Emma Kilpatrick controlled the glass with a game-high 11 rebounds and two blocks. Ernst added 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting and grabbed seven rebounds.
Haverford concludes play in the Sunshine State on Tuesday, Dec. 30, facing Curry at the Ocean Center Convention Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m.
