First half surge lifts Pioneers over Norse

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville Pioneers improved to 3-3 on the season with a 76-61 victory over Luther College Wednesday night on Bo Ryan Court. The Norse of Luther College drop to 1-3 on the year.

Maiah Domask racked up her third double-double of the season with 10 points and 15 rebounds on the night with 8 points and 11 rebounds dished out in the first half.

The Pioneers separated themselves  early on from the Norse shooting 47.6% (10-of-21) from the field and 50% (4-of-8) from the three-point range and outscored Luther 24-11 going into the second period. 

Three Pioneers teamed up in the first half to lead UW-Platteville with Domask, Kassie Buchholz and Caitlyn Tipton each sinking eight points apiece as the Pioneers led the Norse 39-24 into halftime.

The Pioneers extended the lead to a 20-point game (58-38) through the third period and Luther was only able to narrow the gap to 15 points at the conclusion of the game.

UW-Platteville and Luther combined for a total 55 fouls on the night as the Pioneers went 11-of-15 (73.3%) from the free throw line as the Norse went 18-of-34 (52.9%).

Four Pioneers finished in double digits as Tipton led with 14 points while Buchholz finished with 13 points, Lexis Macomber with 12 points, and Domask with 10 points.  Tipton and Macomber combined for 26 of the Pioneers' 36 points off the bench.  Rachel Emendorfer led the Pioneers with four assists and three steals over the Norse.

Overall, UW-Platteville shot 41.4% from the field and 35.0% from three-point range.  The Pioneers were  8-of-9 (88.9%) at the free throw line in the second half

Luther finished 38.2% (21-of-55) from the field, including 4.2% (one-of-24) from three point range, and 52.9% (18-of-34) at the line.  The Norse's Laura Hamilton with 17 points and Sarah Holtz with 16 points led Luther's scoring.

The Pioneers take the weekend off and will return to action next Wednesday, Dec. 5 as they host Carroll University on Bo Ryan Court at 7 p.m.