Pioneers win home opener
11/28/07
By Paul Erickson, Sports Information Director
Even though UW-Platteville was playing its home opener Wednesday, the Pioneers still went long distance for a 78-63 victory over Millikin.
UWP made 11 three-point baskets, one shy of the school record, in beating the Big Blue, ranked 13th in the D3hoops.com preseason poll.
"Beating a quality team like Millikin makes it even nicer," Pioneer Coach Tina Kuhle said. "I have so much respect for (Coach) Lori (Kerans) and the program she runs. They won the national championship in 2005, and she has a quality program year in and year out."
The Pioneers broke open a 43-43 game when freshman Angie Vamstad made a long-range three-point shot with 14:13 to play, and Lisa Wubben converted a basket and a foul for a six-point lead. After NCAA III all-American Lindsay Ippel made two free throws, Vamstad made a pair from the line, and Wubben and Charity Stotmeister followed with jump shots for a 54-45 advantage.
Ippel led the Big Blue on one more run, getting two layups to make the count 61-55, but the Pioneers answered with a 7-1 run, capped by a Vamstad three-point basket, for a 68-56 lead. Millikin never came closer than 10 the rest of the way.
Wubben led the Pioneers with 19 points, playing more than 39 minutes. She also had six rebounds, two assists and a steal.
"She is just one of those kids we need to have in there," Kuhle said. "We just seem to run things better, we seem more confident and seem able to execute when she is in the game. She has a calming effect on the team."
The Pioneers made 11-24 three-point baskets, compared to 1-15 for Millikin. Vamstad made 4-6 three-point attempts for 18 points, and sophomore Vanessa Nemitz made 5-7 for 17 points. Both players established career highs.
"To see Vanessa come out of her mini-shooting slump will only make us better," Kuhle said. "Angie Vamstad stepped up and show poised for a freshman and really hit some big shots. That's going to help the confidence of the team, especially starting conference play Saturday."
Ippel, a first team preseason all-American, scored 23 points, grabbed nine rebounds and had four assists, while Kayla Pembrock had 19 points and three steals for Millikin, who dropped to 1-3.
The Pioneers limited Ippel to just 11 shots, although she made eight.
"We told everyone she was going to get her points," Kuhle said. "She's too good of a player to shut down completely. I thought Dru Schneider and Ashley Callahan did a tremendous job on the defense end. Coach (Andy) Busch had a good defensive plan from the get-go, and we came in really prepared."
UWP, now 3-3, continues its six-game homestand by opening Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play Saturday at 1 p.m. vs. UW-Superior.
Related Links