Women fall short to Blugolds on Bras For A Cause Night

Written by: Jeremy Williamson, Sports Information Assistant

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. -- The Pioneer women's basketball team lost a close one Wednesday night to the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, 62-57, on Bras for A Cause Night in support of the fight against breast cancer.

The Pioneers had a tough night shooting, going 19-for-62 from the field for a 30.6 percent average.

Although they struggled from the field, the women were excellent at the free throw line going 12-15.

Senior forward Stacy Clark was the first Pioneer on the board at the 17:44 mark with a nice jump shot to tie the game at two.

Going 3-13 within the first nine minutes of the game, the Pioneers struggled scoring against the Blugold zone defense.

The Blugolds limited the effectiveness of senior Alyssa Krajco with the zone, constantly running a full court trap, putting pressure on the Pioneer guards.

Krajco still managed to tie for the leading scorer of the night at 18, with 11 of those points coming in the second half.

Morgan Hartman closed the gap to one with 9:30 left in the first half, 12-11, as she hit her first three of the game, but the Blugolds responded with a quick three of their own, 15-11.

Keeley Schulz was able to tie the game at 15 with a jumpshot, as eight minutes remained on the clock.

Shortly after, Clark gave the Pioneers their first lead of the game with a hook shot in the middle of the paint, 17-15.

Clark finished the night with 10 points, shooting 3-11 from the field and 4-4 from the free throw line.

The Blugolds tied the game at 21 with about five minutes left and shortly after took the lead 24-23 with under four minutes remaining in the half.

Clark was able to hit the final shot of the period to close the gap to six, 31-25, before heading to the locker room.

With just under three minutes into the second half, the Pioneers were the first on the board with a layup from Krajco, 31-27.

Following a few missed shots by the Blugolds, the Pioneers saw their closest margin of the second half with a three point basket from Rachel Cropp, 30-31.

Trading baskets for several minutes, the Blugolds expanded their lead to the largest of the night, 52-41, at the 7:30 mark.

Mykaela Brandt hit a three with under six minutes remaining to close the gap to eight, 52-44.

Brandt finished the evening with nine points, shooting 3-7 from the field.

Brandt hit another three just minutes later to bring the game to within seven, 54-47.

It was Krajco who gave the Pioneers some life as she hit a three-point basket with 16 seconds remaining to bring the game within four, 58-54.

As the Pioneers continued to play the foul game defensively, Cropp hit the last three with six and a half seconds remaining, to make it a one possession game, 60-57.

The Blugolds sunk both of the ensuing free throws to make it two possessions as Brandt sprinted down the court for a late missed three, ending the game at 62-57.

The Pioneers are currently fourth in the WIAC behind the Blugolds, with a conference record of 7-7.

The women travel to UW-La Crosse on Feb. 18 to take on the Eagles at 7 p.m.