Pioneers look sharp in 84-67 rout of Monmouth

PLATTEVILLE – Returning from a 17-day layoff, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville women's basketball team looked as sharp as ever Tuesday night.

The Pioneers dominated the first three quarters of play and coasted to an 84-67 non-conference win over visiting Monmouth College (Ill.) in their first game after Christmas break.

Junior Elisa Bilderback (Platteville) scored a team-high 18 points on 8 of 13 shooting and grabbed five rebounds in just 20 minutes of action to pace UW-Platteville, which led by as many as 32 points early in the fourth quarter.

All 15 Pioneers played at least six minutes in the blowout victory and 12 scored at least two points as UW-Platteville literally ran away with the win. The Pioneers outscored the Fighting Scots 24-4 on fast break points and outrebounded Monmouth 46-41.

Freshman point guard Morgan Horstman (Bangor) added 14 points, four assists and two steals for the winners. Freshman Kassie Buchholz (Glen Ellyn, Ill.) chipped in 10 points and two assists in 16 minutes off the bench.

Frehsman Allison Prestegaard (Amboy, Ill.) finished with six points and led the Pioneers with 13 rebounds and four blocks. Sophomore guard Sydnei Smith (Rhinelander) dished out a team-high five assists.

Senior guard Katie Houston led Monmouth with a game-high 23 points to go along with seven rebounds, four assists and four steals. Tia Robinson recorded a double-double of 15 points and 11 boards for the Fighting Scots.

Houston hit a three-pointer a minute and a half into the game to give Monmouth its only lead of the night at 3-2.

Horstman scored on a nifty drive through the lane a minute later and UW-Platteville never trailed again. Monmouth did manage to tie the game at 12-12, but the Pioneers closed the opening quarter on an 8-2 run.

The Pioneers outscored the Scots 30-15 in the third quarter and closed out the period in style. Junior Morgan Hartman (Rochester, Minn.) scored on a fast break layup with 10 seconds left, then Horstman made a steal near midcourt took a few quick dribbles and banked in a running three-pointer at the buzzer to make it 68-41.

UW-Platteville's lead grew as big as 32 points when sophomore Courtney Feller (New Glarus) made a free throw and a pair of free throws on back-to-back possessions to push the lead to 75-43 with 7:03 to play.

The Pioneers snapped a brief two-game losing streak and improved to 3-7 on the season. Monmouth fell to 1-9 overall.

UW-Platteville will return to action Wednesday night with another non-conference game at Williams Fieldhouse against Concordia University (7-1) at 6 p.m. The Falcons defeated No. 15 New England 48-45 at the Puerto Rico Classic on Dec. 21.

Written by: Jason Nihles, Sports Information Assistant