Big 3rd Quarter Lifts Pioneers Past Eagles

Coming out strong after halftime has been a challenge at times this season for the University of Wisconsin - Platteville women's basketball team.  Such was not the case Wednesday night however as the Pioneers used a 7-0 run in the first 2:30 of the 3rd quarter to take control of their game over visiting UW-La Crosse.  The outburst more than doubled Platteville's six point lead at the break as they would not look back en route to a 68-58 victory at Williams Fieldhouse.  The win improves Platteville's record to 2-5 while La Crosse falls to 3-4.

In fact, Platteville had runs to begin every quarter against the Eagles, starting the game with a 7-2 advantage, the 2nd with a 10-0 streak, the aforementioned 7-0 run to start the 3rd, and then finished the trend and essentially the game with a 7-2 spurt to begin the 4th.  That last run gave the Pioneers their biggest lead of the contest, 62-42, and they would maintain a double-digit cushion the rest of the way.

On an evening where they were honored after the game, it was the three seniors that led the Pioneer charge.  Point guard Jai Clemons (Sr. Chicago, Ill.) made her Senior Night a memorable one with a career-high 15 points.  Maiah Domask (Sr. / Waupun, Wis.) matched Clemons' 15 points and added 15 rebounds for her sixth "double-double" of the season.  Caitlyn Tipton (Sr. / Rosendale, Wis.), who set her own career-high point total at 27 last week vs. Whitewater, chipped in 8 points to go with 5 rebounds and 3 assists.

The win was a nice wire-to-wire statement for a program that had not defeated La Crosse in its last 8 meetings, the last win over the Eagles coming back on January 30, 2016.  That pre-dates this year's trio of seniors, who did not arrive on the scene until the 2017-18 campaign.  The victory also served as a confidence builder for a team that has shown progress beyond what their sub-.500 record might indicate.  If a 2-point lead with :30 remaining vs. Whitewater last week hadn't ended in an overtime loss and the previous week's 16-point halftime lead at Stevens Point hadn't dissolved in the 2nd half the Pioneers are looking at completing a winning season on Friday.  But wins are not handed out in the WIAC, considered by many to be one of the top conferences in all of NCAA Division III.  To get them, a team needs to execute for a complete 40 minutes.  The Pioneers have been on the cusp and in this game they finally got over the hump.

"For multiple reasons this was a much needed win," said Pioneer Head Coach Kelly McNiff, "we've had some tight games which we've come up short, mainly because we couldn't put together 4 solid quarters.  Tonight was probably our most complete game and by far our most complete 3rd quarter."

Helping the Pioneers on their way to victory were solid shooting performances from 3-point range as well as the free throw line.  Platteville's 8-20 (40%) performance from long range and 10-12 (83%) showing from the free throw line continues a season long trend for the team.  Through seven games, the Pioneers are hitting on 38% of its 3-point attempts and over 74% from the charity stripe.  Those numbers are good enough for 1st and 2nd place respectively in conference.  Compared to last year's 24% team shooting from deep and paltry 59% on free throws; the improvement is easy to see.

Platteville will look to keep the momentum going when they head to La Crosse on Friday for a rematch between the two squads in what will be the final regular season game for both.  Tip time for the tilt at Mitchell Hall in La Crosse is set for 7pm.