Pioneers fall 68-61 to No. 23 Loras and close out non-conference schedule at holiday tournament

DUBUQUE, Iowa. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville women's basketball team (8-3, 0-0 WIAC) fell 68-61 to No. 23 ranked Loras College (11-1, 2-1 ARC) in the championship game of the Loras Holiday Tournament. Junior Maiah Domask recorded her third double-double in four games with 21 points and 10 rebounds in Monday evening's game.

Notes from the Pioneers

After the game, senior Rachel Emendorfer said, "We played very hard and showed a lot of grit, but we have to be better at rewarding our hard work with taking care of the ball and completing plays."

First half

• The first half was a tale of two quarters with the Pioneers shooting 58.8% (10-of-17) from the field in the first period while Domask was 4-of-5 with eight of the Pioneers 20 points.
• UW-Platteville led 20-16 over the Duhawks to start the second quarter, but a drought saw the Pioneers go 2-of-14 from the field with just five points in the period while Loras added 18 points to take the lead. 
• Loras led 34-25 at halftime.
• Overall, the Pioneers shot 38.7% (12-of-31) from the field. Loras finished the half 51.9% (14-of-27) from the field.

Second half

• UW-Platteville returned after halftime and pressured the nationally ranked Duhawks to an evened match with the Pioneers tacking on 16 points to Loras' 19 points in the third quarter.
• The Pioneers were 7-of-16 from the field in the third period while Loras was 7-of-17.
• UW-Platteville finished out the game strong narrowing the Duhawks lead to just seven, but the home team's lead from the first half was just out of reach before time expired.
• UW-Platteville shot 41.7% (15-of-36) from the field and 20.0% (2-of-10) from three-point territory. Loras shot 37.9% (11-of-29) from the field and 33.3% (3-of-9) from behind the three-point arc.

Notables 

• UW-Platteville is 8-3 overall this season.
• Loras improved to 11-1 overall and is 2-1 in conference play.
• Domask finished out December with three double-doubles in the last four games. She led the Pioneers with 21 points, 10 rebounds, and four steals.
• Senior Morgan Horstman dished out 12 points and pulled down eight rebounds.
• Emendorfer tallied three blocks, three steals, and 11 points.
• UW-Platteville shot 40.3% (27-of-67) from the field and 11.1% (2-of-18) from behind the three-point arc. Loras finished 44.6% (25-of-56) from the field and 23.1% (3-of-13) from three-point territory.
• The Pioneers were 71.4% (5-of-7) from the free throw line while the Duhawks shot 62.5% (15-of-24). 

Remarks from Coach McNiff

After the game, head coach Kelly McNiff said, "Loras is an incredibly skilled team. Their personnel allows for them to throw multiple looks at you on both ends of the floor." With less than 24 hours to prepare for No. 23 Loras, McNiff said, "Would we have like one more day to preppare for them? Absolutly, but I am proud of what our team was able to accomplish today. We still have to take better care of the ball, but we were more composed in this game than we were at Luther who plays a very similar style."

Looking ahead to conference play, McNiff said, "We've just finished a tough non-conference schedule at 8-3. We've seen multiple styls of play that will help us be ready for the grind of the WIAC. Our coaching staff and players are excited to get the conference portion of the season started."

Up next

The Pioneers open Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play on Saturday, Jan. 4 on the road at UW-Stout at 3 p.m.