No. 17 UW-Whitewater downs Women's Hoops

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – The 17th-ranked UW-Whitewater Warhawks were too much for the University of Wisconsin-Platteville women's basketball team as the Pioneers were setback by the visiting Warhawks, 72-60, Wednesday on Bo Ryan Court. 

Junior Alyssa Krajco recorded her fourth double-double of the season for the Pioneers with a game-high 24 points and 14 rebounds. Junior Stacy Clark added 15 points, while Rachel Cropp contributed seven points. 

The Warhawks tallied five double-digit scores with Andrea Olsen netting a team-high 18 points off the bench. Kaitlyn Thill scored 12 points, while Abbie Reeves and Kristen Ruchti added 11 points apiece. Mary Merg rounded out the Warhawks double-digit scorers with 10 points. 

UW-Platteville jumped out to a quick 7-2 lead, but the Warhawks got things going by scoring six unanswered, taking an 8-7 lead with just under four minutes into the game. The Pioneers responded with five unanswered points of their own, 12-8. UW-Platteville then went on a scoring drought as UWW scored the next 12 points taking a 20-12 lead. Freshman Mykaela Brandt stopped the bleeding with a big transition three-pointer, 20-15, with just under eight minutes till halftime. The Warhawks managed to push their lead back to double-digits, but the Pioneers ended the half with a three-minute 6-0 run, cutting their deficit to five points, 34-29, to go into the break. 

UWW opened the second half with a three-pointer by Reeves, and the Pioneers responded with a 9-0 run, regaining the lead, 38-37, with 16:47 left to play. The Warhawks took back the lead the very next possession and never allowed the Pioneers to lead again. UW-Platteville managed to make a 46-44 game with 13:09 to go, but turnovers on consecutive possession allowed UWW take 53-44 lead. UWW then answered just about every Pioneer basket, and didn't allow UW-Platteville to get any closer than eight points in the final eight minutes as the Warhawks took home the 72-60 victory. 

The Pioneers move to 8-7 and 2-4 in conference action, while the Warhawks improve to 12-3 and 6-0 in WIAC play.

UW-Platteville travels to UW-La Crosse on Saturday with tip-off set for 3 p.m.