Pioneers drop WIAC opener to Blue Devils

MENOMONIE, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville women's basketball team (8-4, 0-1 WIAC) suffered a 65-41 loss against UW-Stout (10-2, 1-0 WIAC) in the team's first WIAC game of the season. With a low-scoring first half on both ends, the Pioneers were unable to overcome the Blue Devils as they pulled away from a 21-18 lead at the half.

First half

• Neither team reached double digits until 2:37 remaining in the first quarter when the Pioneers led 10-8 over the Blue Devils and the score stayed stagnate through the close of the period.
• Two made free throws and a layup by junior Maiah Domask extended the Pioneers' lead to 14-8, but the Blue Devils chipped away and took their first lead of the game 21-18 in the final moments going into halftime and never trailed again.
• Overall, the Pioneers shot 25.8% (8-of-31) from the field while UW-Stout finished the half 25.0% (7-of-28).

Second half

• The Blue Devils took to the court for the second half and dished out five three-pointers in the third quarter to extend their lead to 46-32 going into the final period.
• As the Pioneers battled through UW-Stout's third quarter heat streak, the first three periods of play caught up to the Pioneers, and the Blue Devils continued to sink shots until the game came to a close 65-41.
• UW-Stout finished out the fourth quarter shooting a game high 53.3% (8-of-15) from the field.
• In all in the half, UW-Platteville shot 34.8% (8-of-28) from the field and 33.3% (3-of-9) from three-point territory. UW-Stout shot 50.0% (14-of-28) from the field and 60.0% (6-of-10) from behind the three-point arc.

Notables 

• UW-Platteville is 8-4 overall this season and 0-1 in the WIAC.
• The Blue Devils, who sit in second in the league with UW-La Crosse and behind UW-Whitewater, improved to 10-2 overall and 1-0 in conference play.
• Domask finished with a game high 14 points and pulled down seven rebounds.
• Senior Morgan Hostman added 13 points, five rebounds, one assist, and one steal.
• UW-Platteville shot 29.6% (16-of-54) from the field and 20.0% (3-of-15) from three-point territory. UW-Stout finished shooting 37.5% (21-of-56) from the field and 41.2% (7-of-17) from the three-point arc.
• The Pioneers were 42.9% (6-of-14) from the free throw line while the Blue Devils were perfect from the line in the first half and finished 80.0% (16-of-20). 

Remarks from Coach McNiff

"We have to learn from today in order to compete in this conference," said head coach Kelly McNiff. "If we can correct mistakes and up the intensity in practices, we'll have better results." McNiff went on to say, "Our defense kept us in the game in the first half, but unfortunately we made too many mistakes and had too many mental lapses in the second half. Stout knocked down big shots and we did not."

Up next

The Pioneers return to Williams Fieldhouse and Bo Ryan Court for the first home WIAC contest of the season on Wednesday, Jan. 8 against UW Oshkosh at 7 p.m.