STEVENS POINT, WIS.—The Alverno College basketball team kicked off the 2017-18 campaign with a non-conference loss to UW-Stevens Point.

UW-Stevens Point started the first quarter on an 11-2 run. A jumper from Alyssa Mane helped the Inferno cut the lead to 17-5. However, a Pointer layup with under two minutes remaining in the quarter gave UW-Stevens Point the command heading into the second quarter.

Alverno built momentum to start the second quarter off a steal and jumper by Karli Selear. Minutes later, the junior struck again to cut the Pointer lead to 27-15. Heading to the media timeout UW-Stevens Point led 27-15. A coast-to-coast layup from Gabby Hood saw the Pointer lead shrink to 33-17. The Pointers would take a 37-17 advantage into halftime.

To begin the second half, Alverno picked up the defense holding the Pointers to only four points heading into the media timeout. Hot shooting helped the Inferno chip away at the Pointer lead at 39-21. With 2:30 left in the quarter, UW-Stevens Point controlled a 42-23 advantage.

In the final quarter, UW-Stevens Point added to their lead off a layup to control a 57-31 advantage. A layup plus the foul by Katie Pavlic added to the Inferno offensive front at 57-31. The strong start by the Pointers was too much for the Inferno to mount a comeback. UW-Stevens Point took the season opener 67-35.

Offensively, the Inferno were led by Karli Selear who finished the contest with 13 points and adding two steals. Senior Gabby Hood charted nine points, three steals and five rebounds.

Alverno College will look to regroup as they gear to start NACC play against Concordia Chicago Saturday, Nov. 25 at 7 p.m.