Cropp and Krajco lead Women's Basketball past Loras

DUBUQUE, Iowa -- Solid second half free throw shooting helped the University of Wisconsin-Platteville women's basketball team to overcome a 16-point deficit and beat Loras 70-67 on Saturday in the Pioneers' season opener at the University of Dubuque Tournament. 

The Pioneers made 17-20 free throws and 4-8 three-pointers in the final half, while holding the Duhawks to just 37 percent shooting in the second half. 

Senior Rachel Cropp led the Pioneers with 21 points, while classmate Alyssa Krajco recorded a double-double, totaling 19 points and 12 rebounds. Krajco struggled shooting from the field (3-11) but was near perfect from the charity stripe, making 12-14. 

The Pioneer took control early with a 7-2 lead in the first three minutes. Loras managed to take its first lead of the game 18-17, midway through the first half. The Duhawks then used a 8-0 run to take a 30-23 lead with 4:06 left till the half. Loras took its largest lead of the game 42-26 with 48 seconds left the first half, but Krajco nailed a three-pointer in the waning seconds, cutting the Pioneers' deficit to 44-31 at intermission. 

The Pioneers battled back to cut Loras' lead to single digits early in the second half and a three-pointer by Cropp made it a three-point game, 48-45. 

A three-pointer by Keeley Schulz with 4:01 left to play, finally gave the Pioneers their first lead since the opening half.

A steal by Stacy Clark and a jumper by Cropp gave the Pioneers a four-point lead, 68-64, with less than 1:20 left in the game.

Krajco then made a pair of free throws with 14 seconds left, 70-67, and a game-tying three-pointer by Loras' Kaitlin Phillips was off its mark, sealing the Pioneer victory. 

UW-Platteville squares off with Dubuque on Sunday at 3 p.m. to cap off the opening weekend of the season.