Pioneers set to open season at Wartburg

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville women's basketball team is set to open the 2018-19 campaign on the road at No. 15 Wartburg College on Saturday, Nov. 10 in Levick Arena.

This season, the Pioneers return three starters, including senior guard Kassie Buchholz, junior guard Morgan Hostman, and senior post Kassie Hansen.  Buchholz contributed 8.3 points per game and made a team-best 32 three-point field goals in the 2017-18 season.  Horstman returns after missing a majority of the 2017-18 campaign due to injury, but led the Pioneers in the 2016-17 season with 12.9 points per contest. Sophomore Maiah Domask also returns after finishing sixth in the WIAC in rebounds during the 2017-18 season.

After traveling to Wartburg, the Pioneers will open up their home schedule next Saturday, Nov. 17 against Concordia Wisconsin on Bo Ryan Court at 2 p.m.  Other non-conference notables include the home contest against Loras College on Saturday, Dec. 8 at 3 p.m. The game will be highlighted by a Childhood Cancer Awareness campaign and the women's basketball program will be joined by the Pioneer men's basketball program, who host Central College, following the conclusion of the women's game.  The day's double-header tickets will be on sale later this month and admission will be good for both the women's and men's games. The Pioneers will round out non-conference play in New York as the team will travel to the Lehman College Coaches vs. Cancer Tournament  December 28-29.

The Pioneers will open up conference play back in Platteville on Jan. 2 when they host the UW Oshkosh Titans at 7 p.m.  They will close out home play against conference favorite and No. 21 ranked UW-Whitewater Warhawks on Bo Ryan Court and Senior Day on Wednesday, Feb. 13 at 7 p.m.  The regular season will wrap-up at UW-Stevens Point on Saturday, Feb. 16 with a 3 p.m. tip-off.

Click here for full 2018-19 schedule

This year, head coach Megan Wilson is excited to welcome a new addition to her coaching staff, Jim Myers. Myers enters his first year as an assistant coach with the UW-Platteville Women's Basketball program after an illustrious 40 years at Barneveld High School. Myers spent 38 years leading the Barneveld girl's basketball program and added two seasons leading the boys team to finish his career.

In his time with the girl's program, Myers became the winningest high school girl's basketball coach in Wisconsin history with 699 wins and only 138 losses. Myers led the team to six state championships in his tenure as the head coach.  UW-Platteville head coach Megan Wilson played for Coach Myers in 1997-98 and 1998-99 when the team won back-to-back state championships and went 53-0. Myers led the boy's team to the state tournament both seasons he served as the head coach. In his second and final season coaching the boys, Barneveld won their first ever Division 5 state championship in boys basketball. The 2017 championship run resulted in Myers to be named Wisconsin Boys Basketball All-State Coach of the Year by The Associated Press.

Myers finished his high school coaching career with a record of 747-145 which makes him the second winningest basketball coach in Wisconsin history among boys and girls coaches.

Coach Wilson is also pleased to return assistant coach Alexa Tovella for her fourth year with the women's basketball program.  In addition to coordination of recruiting efforts for the Pioneers, Coach Tovella has been increasing responsibilities and oversight of practice, scouting reports, operations, and player development. 

Finally, the Pioneers welcome student assistant coach Donovan Nathaniel.  Nathaniel wraps up his college career on the Pioneer football team this season as a team captain on the defensive line.  A native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Nathaniel looks to assist the Pioneer coaching staff in practice, game, and player development.

The Pioneers who finished last season 6-19 overall and 2-12 in the WIAC have been selected to finish eighth in the conference.  Click here to see full WIAC preview release.