Both the men’s and women’s basketball team punched their ticket into the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference postseason tournament.

The UW-Superior women’s basketball team looked to lock up a NCAA tournament bid via the UMAC postseason tournament.

After a 17-8 finish to the regular season and a 13-1 conference record, the Yellowjackets would have the opportunity to host two games on their home court in the tournament.

They would draw first the team that gave them their only conference loss that being North Central University. The Yellowjackets would get out to a quick start ultimately holding a 10-point lead to end the first period. The Rams would take back that lead in the second quarter going into halftime with the score being 36-32. In the third quarter, both teams traded buckets before Elise Besonen hit a buzzer beating three to give the Yellowjackets a seven-point lead before the final frame. The Yellowjackets would ultimately put the game away winning by 13 points 72-59 behind Besonen’s 28 points and securing a second home playoff game.

Women’s Basketball Team Taking the Court Against North Central at Mertz Mortorelli Gymnasium.
Photo By Isaiah Wiita

The Yellowjackets would host the University of Minnesota Morris in the championship game. The Cougars took out the University of Northwestern to advance to the championship game.

In the regular season, the Yellowjackets played the Cougars twice and pulled through both times.

The Yellowjackets and Cougars traded buckets to open the game with UWS taking a four-point lead to the second quarter. The two teams drew even in the second frame with the Yellowjackets up at half. Morris would take the lead in the third quarter but Katie Dobson would make a tough jumper to tie the game going into the fourth. The Cougars would hold the Yellowjackets to 10 points ultimately taking the game 69-60. With the Yellowjackets loss, the team would miss out on an NCAA tournament bid and finish the season 18-9.

Over to the men’s side, the team looked for an opportunity at the NCAA tournament through the UMAC postseason tournament.

After a seven-win opener to the season, the team finished the regular season at 17-8 with a conference record of 9-5 which ultimately clinched them a second-place finish and the opportunity to host at least one playoff game.

J’Vaun Walker going up for a Layup Against North Central at Mertz Mortorelli Gymnasium. Photo By Evan Ludwig

The Yellowjackets would get to face North Central University to open the tournament and in their regular season matchups UWS would win both but only by one and four in the respective games.

 

The Yellowjackets and Rams would trade buckets throughout the first half ultimately to a 25-25 tie with six minutes to go in the first half. A late shot clock jumper by J’Vaun Walker would allow UWS to take momentum into halftime carrying a 38-29 lead into the second half.

The Yellowjackets would continue to build their lead throughout the second half ultimately leading the game by as many as 16 points.

But the Rams would not go down without a fight ultimately getting the game to three points. A last-second three-pointer would not fall for the Rams giving UWS the win 80-77, behind Max Briggs’ 19 points.

The Yellowjackets advanced to their second straight UMAC championship getting their rematch with conference juggernaut Bethany Lutheran College. The Vikings advanced to the championship game after defeating the University of Northwestern.

The Yellowjackets and Vikings traded buckets before Bethany Lutheran pulled away and ended the first half leading 29-22.

The Vikings kept building their lead before ultimately winning 77-58 and ending the Yellowjackets season.

UWS was led in defeat by Josef Fahrenholtz’s 21 points. The Yellowjackets ended their season at an overall record of 18-9.

Both teams wrap up the season and look forward to the 2024-2025 season.