UW-Stout spoils Alumni Day with 77-47 victory over Pioneer women

PLATTEVILLE -- The University of Wisconsin-Platteville women's basketball team suffered a 77-47 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference loss to UW-Stout Saturday night at Williams Fieldhouse spoiling Alumni Day.

The Pioneers led throughout much of the first quarter, by as many as seven points at 19-12 late in the period, but the visiting Blue Devils scored seven straight points in the final minute of the quarter to tie the game.

UW-Platteville regained a brief lead at 21-19 on a jumper by junior Elisa Bilderback (Platteville) a minute into the second quarter, but Stout went on a 12-0 run over the next 3:46 to build a 31-21 advantage.

The Blue Devils led 36-28 at the half, then blew the game open with a 17-4 third-quarter run. Stout outscored the Pioneers 26-11 in the period to extend the margin to 23 points at 62-39.

UW-Platteville was plagued by turnovers throughout the game, committing a season-high 35 giveaways that led directly to 37 points for the visiting team. Meanwhile, UW-Stout committed just 17 turnovers, grabbed 19 offensive rebounds, collected 17 steals and made 9 of 23 (39.1 percent) three-point attempts in the game.

The Pioneers fell to 4-11 overall on the season and 1-3 in the WIAC. The Blue Devils snapped a four-game losing streak and improved to 7-8 overall and 1-3 in conference play.

Bilderback scored 10 of her team-high 12 points in the first half to lead the Pioneers. She also grabbed seven rebounds.

Freshman center Allison Prestegaard (Amboy, Ill.) finished with six points, eight rebounds and a game-high six blocks in the loss.  Junior guard Morgan Hartman (Rochester, Minn.) added seven points and two boards.

Junior forward Jenna Goldsmith finished with a game-high 19 points, seven rebounds and four steals. She made three of Stout's nine three-pointers in the win.

Senior guard Kyleigh Hebert added 14 points, six rebounds, four assists and four steals for the victors.

The Pioneers will put this one behind them when they travel to UW-Eau Claire Wednesday night. The Blugolds (7-8, 2-2 WIAC) are coming off a 71-62 loss at UW-River Falls on Saturday.

Written by: Jason Nihles, UW–Platteville Sports Information Assistant