Horstman carries scoring load in 10-point road win at Monmouth

MONMOUTH, Ill. — Sophomore guard Morgan Horstman (Bangor) picked up a bigger scoring load than usual Wednesday night for coach Megan Wilson's University of Wisconsin–Platteville women's basketball team.

Horstman, the Pioneers' leading scorer at nearly 14 points per game, poured in a career-high 27 points to lead the UW–Platteville to an 85–75 non-conference win at Monmouth College.

The Pioneers, now 3–5, needed every bit of Horstman's timely scoring outburst to overcome the absence of sophomore center Allison Prestegaard (Amboy, Ill.), who missed the game with a sprained ankle. Prestegaard is the team's second leading scorer at 10.6 points per game and leader in rebounding (5.6 rpg) and blocked shots (4.7 bpg).

The Pioneers couldn't replace Prestegaard's defensive presence in the middle, but instead shot and rebounded their way to victory.

Horstman finished the night 8 of 13 from the field, including 4 of 6 from beyond the 3-point line, and grabbed 10 rebounds for the winners. As a team, the Pioneers made a season-best 10 of 30 3-point attempts (33 percent) and outrebounded the Scots (1–6) 52–26. UW–Platteville pulled down 25 offensive rebounds and converted them into a 25–8 advantage in second-chance points.

Senior guard Megan Hartman (Rochester, Minn.) had 17 points, five rebounds and two assists. Sophomore forward Kassie Hansen (La Crosse) added eight points and 12 boards, while reserves Cassie Hamer (Platteville), Lexis Macomber (Lanark, Ill.) and Blaire Lutes (Shullsburg) were all key contributors off the bench.

Hamer had 11 points and five boards, while Macomber reached double figures with 10 points. Lutes finished with eight points, four rebounds and two assists.

Hartman hit a 3-pointer to open the scoring and Horstman added a pair of free throws to give the Pioneers an early 5–0 lead less than a minute into the game. UW–Platteville led throughout.

After a Monmouth 3-pointer, the Pioneers scored the next 12 points and led comfortably 23–9 after one quarter of play.

Horstman made all 10 shots she took in the opening half — three jumpers, one 3-pointer and six free throw attempts — and scored 15 points to lead UW–Platteville to a 45–29 halftime lead.

The Pioneers pushed the lead to as many as 20 points midway through the third quarter with a pair of Macomber free throws made it 58–38 with 5:59 left in the period, but the host Scots made a run. Monmouth whittled the lead all the way down to six points at 77–71 with 1:35 left in the game. Hansen made a jumper to push the lead back to eight, then the Pioneers made of 6 of 8 from the free throw line, including 3 of 4 from Hamer in the final 36 seconds, to close out the game.

UW–Platteville will return to action Saturday at Elmhurst (Ill.) College (7–2). Tip off is set for 2 p.m. The Bluejays defeated Illinois Wesleyan University 86–80 on Saturday.

By Jason Nihles, UW–Platteville Sports Information