Another Big Quarter Leads to Win

 HANCOCK, Mich. --  For the second straight day at the Finlandia University Thanksgiving Classic, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville women's basketball team used a huge quarter to help defeat an opponent.  On Saturday, the Pioneers blew past the host Lions of Finlandia thanks in part to a 29-2 third quarter.  On Sunday, Platteville did its biggest damage in the first quarter, outscoring Marian (Wis.) University 23-8 out of the gates.  The win gave Platteville a 2-0 mark for the weekend and moved them back above .500 on the year at 4-3.  With the loss, the Sabers fell to 2-4.

Allison Heckert (Sr./Whitewater, Wis.) got the scoring started immediately by taking the opening tip to the basket and scoring on a layup while getting fouled.  After completing the "and 1", the team was initially unable to build upon the quick start as they proceeded to turn the ball over on its next three possessions.  While the offense took some time to heat up, the Pioneer defense, which held Finlandia to 47 points the day before, prevented Marian from finding a rhythm either. 

Holding a modest 10-6 advantage midway through the opening frame, the Pioneer offense finally began to settle in.  A Sarah Mueller (So./Stevens Point, Wis.) layup on a pass from Maiah Domask (Sr./Waupun, Wis.) began a run of four baskets in the next five possessions.  That ignited an 18-2 run over the final 4:37 of the quarter.

The turnover bug continued to rear its head throughout the second, preventing the Pioneers from potentially putting the game away early.  Marian took advantage of three straight UWP miscues to begin the quarter, scoring on two of its own first three possessions to get to within 11 in the opening minutes.

This time the Pioneers dialed long distance to re-gain its cushion.  Back-to-back three-pointers from Domask and Lily Guerra (So./Yorkville, Ill.) helped make it 31-12 with 6:15 remaining.  After that, the offense once again went cold, committing five more turnovers and allowing the Sabers to hang around enough to be within 13, 37-24 at the half.  The Pioneers took care of the ball a day earlier vs. Finlandia, but headed to the locker room Sunday having already registered 15 giveaways.

Five quick points from Marian out of the half brought the Sabers to within single digits for the first time since the first quarter, 37-29.  That quick punch seemed to wake the Pioneer defense up.  Platteville forced six turnovers in Marian's next eight possessions.  That crackdown had the added benefit of getting the Pioneer running game going.  Brynlee Nelson (Fr./Fennimore, Wis.) took over in that stretch, scoring two layups and assisting on another in the open court.  The offense continued to click after that, scoring on five of its last six possessions including a beautiful "point-to-post" connection from Taylor Gilbert (Sr./Kingston, Ill.) to Mueller for an easy lay in.

Almost every player from both teams saw some action in the fourth quarter, with Marian earning 21-20 advantage but being unable to mount a serious threat to the Pioneer lead the rest of the way. 

Platteville took care of the ball better in the second half, trimming its turnovers down to just five.  The team also turned 10 offensive rebounds into a 15-4 advantage in "2^nd Chance Points".

For the second straight day, Domask was dominant scoring 18 points on 7-9 shooting from the floor.  She also pulled down 9 rebounds and dished out four assists.  Over the two day event, the 5^th year senior shot a scintillating 82% (18-22) from the floor while averaging 20.0 ppg, 7 reb/gm, and 3 assists/gm.  She was named the weekend's Most Valuable Player.

Mueller was once again stellar in her "6^th Man" role.  The Stevens Point Pacelli graduate scored 18 points on 7-10 shooting and was instrumental in Platteville's 31-13 advantage in bench points.  For the weekend, the second-year forward averaged 13.5 points per game and was named to the All-Classic Team.

After a successful holiday weekend, the Pioneers will return home this week to open its Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference schedule.  On Wednesday, December 1^st, the team will face the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse at 7p.  The contest will mark not just the first WIAC showdown of the year for both squads but also will be the first home game of the season for Platteville after beginning its 2021-22 slate with seven straight road games.  After the battle with the Eagles, the Pioneers will return to the road next weekend, traveling to University of Wisconsin-River Falls on Saturday, December 4^th.  That game will begin at 4p.