Pioneers struggle offensively in WIAC opener

PLATTEVILLE, Wisc. — The University of Wisconsin–Platteville women's basketball team may have left its recent hot shooting in sunny Puerto Rico.

In their first game since a posting a school-record tying 104 points in a non-conference Rivier University on Dec. 29 at the Puerto Rico Classico, coach Megan Wilson's Pioneers struggled offensively in Wednesday night's Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference opener at Bo Ryan Court. The Pioneers shot just 33 percent and committed 15 turnovers in a 72–59 loss to visiting UW–Stout.

UW–Platteville missed a number of good looks in the paint and finished just 24 of 72 from the field, including 4 of 22 (18.2 percent) from 3-point land. The Pioneers where also outrebounded 54–40. The visiting Blue Devils grabbed 20 offensive rebounds and converted them into a 17–7 advantage in second-chance points.

Sophomore guard Morgan Horstman (Bangor) score a team-high 14 points and had four rebounds, four assists and two steals to lead the Pioneers, who lead 16–15 at the end of the first quarter.

Senior Morgan Hartman (Rochester, Minn.) added 13 points and team-high eight rebounds. Sophomore center Allison Prestegaard (Amboy, Ill.) finished with 12 points, seven boards and four blocks.

Five-foot-five sophomore point guard Kyncaide Diedrich had a near triple–double with 17 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists — all game-highs — to lead the Blue Devils. She also made 10 of 11 from the free throw line, as Stout made 16 of 17 as a team from the charity stripe.

Senior center Jenna Goldsmith made a pair of 3-pointers and finished with 12 points, three board and two steals for the winners.

The Pioneers held their early lead into the second quarter, going up by as many as six at 28–22 on a layup by junior guard Blaire Lutes (Shullsburg) with 6:46 left in the opening half. But the Blue Devils went on a 12–3 run over the final three minutes of the quarter to take a 44–37 lead into halftime.

Stout scored the first 10 points of the third quarter to build its biggest lead of the game at 54–37.

UW–Platteville got as close as eight with three minutes left in the game, when a Horstman layup made it 63–55, but the visitors scored the game's final nine points.

The Blue Devils improved to 5–7 overall with the win and 1–0 in the WIAC.

The Pioneers, who fell to 4–8, 0–1, will return to action Saturday afternoon with a 3 p.m. home game against UW–River Falls. The Falcons (5–7, 0–1) opened conference play with a 59–43 loss at UW–Eau Claire on Wednesday night.

By Jason Nihles, UW–Platteville Athletics