Pioneers prepare for week ahead

Platteville, Wis- The University of Wisconsin-Platteville men's basketball team (11-1, 1-0) travels to UW Oshkosh to battle the defending national champion Titans (7-5, 1-0) in an early Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) match-up pitting the two pre-season favorites. The Pioneers are currently ranked #9 in the latest d3hoops.com poll.

UW-Platteville welcomes UW-Eau Claire (10-2, 1-0) to Bo Ryan Court for a 7 p.m. tip on Jan. 11. 

The Pioneers opened up conference play with an 88-67 victory over UW-Stout Jan. 4.  The Pioneers had four players score double digits, led by Justin Stovall's 17 points.  Carter Voelker recorded his second double-double of the year with 13 points and 10 rebounds.   Quentin Shields chipped in 12 while Blake McCann added 11 for the victors.

Shields leads the Pioneers with 16.6 points per a game, which places him ninth in the WIAC for scoring.  Voelker (13.3), Stovall (10.7) and Kyle Tuma (10.3) join Shields in averaging double figures.  Stovall leads the Pioneers and ranks fifth in the WIAC with 6.3 rebounds per a game, while Voelker leads the team and ranks sixth in the WIAC with 3.2 assist per a contest.

The Pioneers come into the week as the number two scoring team, averaging 80.8 points a game and second in defense, allowing 62.1 points per a game.  They lead the WIAC in scoring margin with a plus 18.7.

For the second consecutive week, head coach Jeff Gard and the Pioneer's defense will face the top offensive team in the conference.  The Titans are averaging 83.9 points a game.  Adam Fravert lead the Titans with 17.8 points per a game, placing him fourth in the WIAC.  Matt Lewis is in his second year as head coach of the Titans, serving the 2018-19 season as interim head coach.

UW-Eau Claire will visit Bo Ryan Court to finish off the week on Jan 11.  The Blugold play host to UW-Stout on Wednesday.  Matt Siverling is in his eight year as head coach.  The Blugold are led in scoring by Cole Rabedeaux with 21.0 per game.  Rabedeaux ranks second in the WIAC in scoring.

Women's coach faces former team

Kelly McNiff will see familiar faces when the Pioneer women welcome McNiff's former employer UW Oshkosh (7-5, 0-1) to Bo Ryan Court for a 7 p.m. tip.  McNiff spent the previous six years as the lead assistant for the Titians.  The Pioneers (8-4, 0-1) dropped the conference opener to UW-Stout 65-41.  The Pioneers will travel to UW-Eau Claire (5-6, 0-1) on Jan. 11 for a 5 p.m. start.

The Pioneers have two of the top three scorers in the WIAC. Maiah Domask leads the Pioneers averaging 16.7 points per a game and Morgan Horstman is third in the WIAC with 15.1 points per a game.  Domask leads the WIAC in rebounding (8.6) and double-doubles (4).

Leah Porath is the leading scoring in the WIAC, averaging 19.7 points per a game.  Brad Fischer is in his eight season as head coach of the Titians.

Tonja Englund will be on the Blugold sidelines for her 20th season as head coach.  Hallee Hoeppner leads the Blugold in scoring, averaging 14.5 points per game.  The Blugolds play host to UW-Stout on Jan 8. 

Wrestlers battle Blugolds

Mike DeRoehn and the wrestling program return to the mat after an extended break when they welcome UW-Eau Claire to Williams Fieldhouse on Jan. 7 for a 6 p.m. dual meet. Along with the scheduled WIAC dual, the Pioneers and Blugold will wrestle a junior varsity match on a secondary mat.  The Pioneers last wrestled on Dec. 7 when they participated in the Milwaukee School of Engineering Invite.   Alexander Strueder (157 pounds) and Nathan Wynsma (165 pounds) won individual titles.   The Pioneers will travel to Pella, Iowa Jan. 11 to take part of the Central College Invite beginning at 9 a.m.