Cropp and Clark lead Women's Basketball past Coe

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – Juniors Rachel Cropp and Stacy Clark scored 26 and 25 points respectively, leading the University of Wisconsin-Platteville women's basketball team to a 85-78 victory over Coe College on Wednesday in Eby Fieldhouse. 

Cropp's 26 points was a career-high, and shot 10-for-14 from the field, making a career-best four three-pointers. The guard from Verona, Wis. added a career-high seven rebounds and three assists. Clark also netted a career-high 25 points and grabbed a career-best 11 rebounds for her first career double-double. Senior Melissa Carmody recorded a game-high three steals to go with her 12 points. 

Coe had three players total 56 of its 78 points. Hannah Breitbach led the Kohawks with 20 points, while Mary Halvorson added 19 and Mackenzie Reed netted 17 points. 

The Pioneers fell behind early, 26-12, but went on a 22-7 run tying the game up, 33-33, with 3:43 left in the first half. Reed made a layup right before half giving Coe a 43-42 lead at the break. 

The Pioneers finally took control of the game in the final nine minutes of the game. A jumper by Clark gave UW-Platteville a 62-61 and after that jumper the Pioneers never allowed Coe to retake the lead.  The Pioneers used an 8-3 run in the last 3:17 to take a 78-72 lead with 1:14 to play. A few free throws in the final minute secured UW-Platteville's seven-point win, 85-78. 

The Pioneers host Marian and MSOE on Friday and Saturday for the Pioneer Women's Basketball Tournament. UW-Platteville squares off with Marian on Friday at 7 p.m. and then with MSOE on Saturday at 3 p.m.