Women's Basketball Overpowered at No. 15 UW-Whitewater

WHITEWATER, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville women's basketball team fell to 15^th-ranked UW-Whitewater, 71-62, on Wednesday night in Kachel Gym.

Senior Elizabeth Lawinger recorded a game-high 19 points and four steals to lead the Pioneers as sophomore Alyssa Krajco netted 14 points. The Warhawks' Megan Theune scored 18 points, followed by Kaitlyn Thill with 11 points.

The Warhawks managed to take a 12-point lead, 22-10, with six minutes left in the half. The Pioneers surged back in the final five minutes by going on a 13-1 run and cut their deficit to a point, 24-23, at halftime. Both teams struggled shooting in the first-half as the UW-Platteville shot 26.3-percent (10-38) and UWW made 34.5-percent (10-29).

The Warhawks put their lead back to double-digits, 35-25, with 17:01 left to play. The Pioneers fought back, making it a two-possession game, 50-44, with 7:33 left, but UWW bounced right back bringing its lead back to double-figures, 59-49, with just under six minutes to go. UW-Platteville never gave up in the hostile environment and brought its deficit to five, 62-57, with just over three-minutes left in the game. UWW stopped the Pioneers' final rally by scoring in the next three possessions putting the Warhawks ahead 68-57 with 2:10 left to play. In the final two minutes the Pioneers couldn't come up with one final come back as UWW took home the 71-62 victory.

The Pioneers have the weekend off and will return to action on Jan. 16 when they host 16^th-ranked UW-Stevens Point. Tip is set for 7 p.m. on Bo Ryan Court in the Williams Fieldhouse.