Pioneers ready to start unusual WIAC season

PLATTEVILLE, Wis.- In the 2019-20 season, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville women's basketball team was nationally ranked for the first time in school history. Head coach Kelly McNiff and the Pioneers lost three starters from that squad, but returned a two-time first team all-conference performer in senior Maiah Domask (Waupun, Wisconsin) for the shortened 2020-21 season.

The Pioneers will rely heavily on Domask, who was the leading rebounder in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) in 2019-20, averaging 9.1 boards a game, second leading scorer with 15.5 points a game and recorded a league best 12 double-doubles.  Seniors Jai Clemons (Chicago, Illinois) and junior Allison Heckert (Whitewater, Wisconsin) will look to fill the holes left by all-conference performer Morgan Horstman and the 2019-20 WIAC's top theft Rachel Emendorfer. 

"I am excited for all our returners, but there are definitely a few that have made great jumps," McNiff said.  "Allison Heckert had a phenomenal offseason. She's made great gains in the weight room and on the court. Jai Clemons has the opportunity to step into the point guard role, and I am excited to see how she responds to being on the floor more consistently."

McNiff and her staff brought in eight new faces to the program, with seven freshmen and one transfer in the fold. McNiff is excited to see what they can bring to the court. "All of our newcomers can potentially contribute valuable minutes for us," she said.  "Unfortunately, they all had to deal with setbacks due to COVID and injuries throughout the past few months, so how they respond to those setbacks will be key."

The Pioneers also return two valuable pieces that missed most of or all of the 2019-20 season due to injury. Junior Brianna Leahy (Shullsburg, Wisconsin) missed the season and senior Caitlyn Tipton (Rosendale, Wisconsin) missed all but two games in 2019-20. As a sophomore, Tipton averaged 9.2 points per game, starting 18 of the 26 games she played in. 

"Bri Leahy and Caitlyn Tipton are returning from injury and will definitely contribute on both ends of the floor," McNiff said.

With the delayed start and shortened season the WIAC has split the conference into west and east divisions. Teams will play each team from their division and one team from the opposite division in a Wednesday-Friday home and home series for a total of eight games.  The WIAC tournament will include all eight teams at the end of the year to determine the auto-bid for the NCAA tournament.

"I am interested to see if playing the same team twice in one week makes scouting easier," McNiff said. "It may take less time, but being prepared for different wrinkles that a team will throw at you two days later could be difficult. If we look at it through COVID issues, I think playing the same team twice in one week will potentially limit the spread by forming a small 'bubble' with the teams involved. Ultimately, we are just happy to be having a chance to play and will take any advantages or disadvantages with a grain of salt."

The Pioneers open on the road at UW-Oshkosh on February 3 before welcoming the Titans to Bo Ryan Court for the home opener on February 5. The Pioneers follow the Titans series with UW-Stevens Point and UW-Whitewater before playing west division UW-La Crosse to close out the regular season.

No fans will be allowed at WIAC winter season events, but UW-Platteville will provide free streaming of all home games with Daryl Fischer on the play-by-play and Chancellor Dennis J. Shields doing the color commentary. Links for livestream and complete schedule can be found here.