Women's Basketball nips Eagles, 85-82

LA CROSSE, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville women's basketball team defeated UW-La Crosse, 85-82, on Saturday, snapping a 12-game skid versus the Eagles and an eight-game streak at Mitchell Hall. 

Junior Stacy Clark led the Pioneers with a game-high 21 points and grabbed seven rebounds. Junior Alyssa Krajco added 17 points and six rebounds, while Rachel Cropp recorded 13 points and six assists. Senior Melissa Carmody rounded out the Pioneers double-digit scorers with 11 points and also grabbed seven rebounds. 

The Eagles had four double-figure scorers and were led by Rachel Atchison with 20 points. 

The Pioneers got out to a quick start and went up 12-2 in the first four minutes, but the Eagles responded with a 13-2 run, 15-14, to take their only lead of the first half. UW-Platteville answered UWL's run with a 16-2 run to take a 30-17 lead with 8:48 till halftime. The Pioneers didn't allow UWL to make another run in the first half and took a 48-41 lead into halftime. 

UW-La Crosse used a 19-4 run midway through the second-half, taking a 68-64 lead with 6:43 to go. Clark stopped the run by scoring five of the Pioneers' next six points, 70-70. A layup by Clark and then a pair of free throws by freshman Mykaela Brandt gave the Pioneers an 81-77 advantage with 1:18 left to play. Atchison cut UWL's deficit to 83-82 with a three-pointer with 14 seconds to go. Cropp then made a pair of free throws with 10 seconds left, 85-82, and Atchison missed a game-tying three-pointer at the buzzer. 

The Pioneers heads to UW-Stevens Point on Wednesday at 7 p.m.