Pioneers make a third-quarter run, but fall short against No. 10 UW-Oshkosh

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville women's basketball made a strong third-quarter run to pull within seven points of 10^th-ranked UW-Oshkosh, but in the end the league-leading Titans proved too tough to tame.

UW-Oshkosh closed the third quarter on a 17-0 run and cruised to a 76-45 victory Wednesday night on Bo Ryan Court.

The Pioneers fell to 5-15 overall and 2-8 in the WIAC, while the Titans improved their record to 17-3, 8-1.

UW-Platteville got off to a sluggish start on its home court, missing its first six shots before freshman Morgan Horstman (Bangor) broke up the shutout with a pull-up jumper. The Pioneers made just 1 of 15 (6.7 percent) attempts in the first quarter, falling behind 15-2 at the end of the period.

Meanwhile, the Titans made 14 of 34 from the field in the first half and led 33-18 at the break. UW-Oshkosh never trailed in the game.

Coach Megan Wilson's team open the second half on an 11-3 run to pull within seven points at 36-29 with 5:02 left in the third quarter.

Horstman made a layup two minutes into the half, then sophomore Sydnei Smith (Rhinelander) made a free throw and a jump shot on back-to-back possessions. Junior Elisa Bilderback (Platteville) made a layup on a nice post feed from freshman Lexis Maccomber (Lanark, Ill./Eastland) the next trip down court and junior guard Morgan Hartman (Rochester, Minn./Century) followed that up with a jump shot from the corner.

Bilderback's jumper from the free throw line completed the run and pulled the Pioneers within seven, but the Titans scored the final 17 points of the quarter to take a commanding 53-29 lead.

Horstman stopped the Titan tidal wave with a pair of free throws 18 seconds into the fourth quarter, but the damage was done. The Pioneers never got any closer than 22 as UW-Oshkosh outscored the Pioneers 40-16 in the final 15 minutes.

Horstman finished with a team-high nine points, five rebounds and one assist to lead the Pioneers in defeat. Bilderback added eight points, five rebounds and two blocks. Freshman Kassie Buchholz (Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard West) finished with seven points.

Senior Marissa Selner posted a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Titans, who had 15 different players score in the game.

UW-Platteville returns to action Saturday at home against UW-Eau Claire (9-1, 4-5 WIAC). The Blugolds defeated the Pioneers, 77-45, back on Jan. 20. UWEC is coming off a 60-55 loss to UW-River Falls.

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