Lawinger Hits 3-Pointer to Lead UW-Platteville to 59-56 Win Over Augustana

University of Wisconsin-Platteville junior guard Liz Lawinger hit a 3-pointer as the clock expired to propel the Pioneers to a 59-56 win over host and previously unbeaten Augustana on Tuesday night.

With the game tied at 59 and for the fifth time of the contest, the Mineral Point native completed a comeback effort by the Pioneers, who trailed by as much as 19 in the first 20 minutes.

She finished the night with nine points, teammates Claire Poad and Ashley Henry led UW-Platteville in scoring with 18 and 12 points, respectively. The win improves the Pioneers record to 3-4 as they head into the rigors of WIAC play, this weekend.

Augustana (4-1) had tied the game at 56 when Amy Hicks hit a jumper with four seconds to play, following a Viking timeout.  Whitney Miller and Gianna Pecora led Augustana with 14 and 13 points, respectively.

After being held to 16.2% (6-for-37) shooting in the first 20 minutes, the Pioneers came back to shoot a blistering 58.6% (17-for-29) in the final 20 minutes. Throughout the game, UW-Platteville challenged the Augustana attack throughout the contest. They held the Vikings to 29.6% shooting for the game.

Also, in the win, the Pioneers were held without a 3-pointer in the first half before hitting four in the second half. Making three of them was sophomore Danielle Hopkins and the fourth came on the game winner from Lawinger. The Vikings made five in the first half and were 0-for-5 in the second half.

Facing a 37-20 deficit early in the second half with 18:45 to play, the Pioneers went on a 17-4 run over the course of the next 5:37 to cut the deficit to 4, 41-37. When Hopkins made her third 3 pointer of the game, the UW-Platteville was within a possession of tying the game for the first time since the early moments of the contest.

Lawinger eventually tied the game at 46 when she hit a jumper 7:13 remaining and had her hand in putting the Pioneers up when she grabbed a defensive rebound. Junior Jordan Johnson put UW-Platteville in front for the first time in the contest at 48-46 when she made two free throws with 6:36 to play.

The game remained close and would be tied on four more occasions before the game-winning basket by Lawinger.