Pioneer rally comes up short on Breast Cancer Awareness Day

PLATTEVILLE — The UW–Platteville women's basketball team used a furious 17–3 fourth quarter run to trim an 18-point deficit to just one in the final minute, but coach Megan Wilson's Pioneers couldn't complete the comeback.

Visiting UW–La Crosse made 5 of 6 from the free throw line in the final 44 seconds to squeak out a 74–70 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference win Saturday afternoon to spoil UW–Platteville's Breast Cancer Awareness game.

Sophomore Morgan Horstman (Bangor) score 10 of her 13 points in the second half to lead the Pioneer comeback effort and junior Blaire Lutes scored five straight points in the final minutes to pull the Pioneers within a point with 44 seconds let to play.

The Eagles grabbed a 15–13 lead late in the first quarter on a Delaney Schoenenberger 3-pointer and never trailed again.

UW–La Crosse outscored the Pioneers 24–15 in the third quarter, then pushed the lead to 18 points early in the fourth quarter (62–44) on a pair of Rachel Atchinson free throws with 8:48 left in the game.

Sophomore Allison Prestegaard (Amboy, Ill.) ignited UW–Platteville's 17–3 run with a layup and Horstman added a layup. Prestegaard hit a jumper to make it 66–53 then after a UWL free throw, senior Morgan Hartman and Horstman converted back-to-back three-point plays to make it 67–59 with 3:22 left.

Hartman got loose for a layup with two minutes left to make it 69–63, then Lutes canned a 3-pointer with a minute to play. After a La Crosse missed a layup. Lutes was fouled on the rebound and converted a pair of free throws to make it 69­­–68 with 45 seconds left.

The Pioneers fouled immediately and Annie Schumacher made two from the line, then Kara Selk made two more with 27 seconds left to push the lead to five.

Horstman finished with 13 points, four rebounds and two assists to lead the Pioneers. Lutes also finished with 13 points and three rebounds. Prestegaard added 11 points, nine boards and six blocks.

McKenzie Miller posted a double­–double of 25 points and 11 rebounds to lead UWL. Elise DeNoyer also had a double–double of 10 points and 12 boards. Atchinson and Schonenberger also scored 10 points apiece for the winners.

UW–Platteville fell to 6­–15 overall and 2–8 in the WIAC, while UW–La Crosse improved to 12–9, 6–4.

The Pioneers return to action Wednesday night at UW–Eau Claire. The Blugolds (11–10, 5–5 WIAC) dropped a 63–60 decision at UW–Stevens Point on Saturday.

By Jason Nihles, UW–Platteville Athletics