Pioneers Win Fourth Straight

RIVER FALLS, Wis. -- Mark the University of Wisconsin-Platteville women's basketball team as "on board" with the new scheduling format in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.  Beginning conference play in early December as opposed to early January as in previous years suited the Pioneers just fine as they completed a 2-0 week with a decisive 81-61 win at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls on Saturday. It was the program's fourth-straight win and moved them to 6-3 overall, 2-0 in the WIAC.  River Falls has dropped two straight after a four-game win streak and now possess a 4-4 record (0-2 in the WIAC).

In a battle of contrasting styles it was Platteville's stout defense and patient half court offense that won the day against the Falcons' preference to play up-tempo and force opponents to do the same.  Three minutes into the contest, Platteville had built an 11-3 lead.  The home team battled back.  Down 18-10 later in the first, the Falcon quick strike offense heated up.  A pair of three-pointers by Alison Kickel, and another from Haley DeSousa turned the eight point deficit into a one-point advantage, 21-20.  Four free throws from Taylor Gilbert (Sr./Kingston, Ill.) and a buzzer beating layup from Allison Heckert (Sr./Whitewater, Wis.) allowed Platteville to regain a 26-23 lead at the end of one.

The Pioneer defense, quickly becoming the team's calling card, turned up the intensity in the second quarter.  Platteville held the Falcons to 3-18 shooting in the frame, including 0-8 from long range.  While UWRF was struggling to find the bottom of the net, the Blue and Orange continued to use its size and strength advantage to pound the ball inside.  By halftime, Gilbert and Maiah Domask (Sr./Waupun, Wis.) were in double digits in scoring with 10 and 12 respectively on 8-12 FG shooting from the floor.  Heckert contributed a pair of three's and the Pioneers extended used a 16-8 quarter to extend its lead to 42-31 at the break.

Point guard Aspyn Stewart (Sr./Stockton, Ill.) knocked down a three-pointer to begin the second half, putting Platteville up 45-31.  The Falcons would get no closer than 11 the remainder of the game.  River Falls, a team averaging 24 three-point attempts a game and eight makes, took a season-high 28 three-pointers on Saturday afternoon but could only connect on six. 

When Platteville wasn't scoring inside, they were kicking out to open shooters.  A 33% 3-pt FG shooting team thus far in the season, the Pioneers connected on nine deep balls, good enough for 40% (9-22).  Heckert led the charge on that front, knocking down 4 of her 7 attempts from long distance.  Addie Baierl (So./Marshfield, Wis.) came off the bench to chip in a pair of her own on 2-3 shooting.

Maintaining its halftime lead of 11 midway through the third quarter, the Pioneers authored a 14-4 run to effectively put the game out of reach.  The Pioneers led by as many as 21 in the fourth quarter before settling on the final margin, 81-61.

Gilbert, coming off a career 11-point / 6 rebound performance in Wednesday's conference opening win over UW-La Crosse, topped herself in the encore.  The 6'1 center scored a career-high 16 points, pulled down six rebounds, and swatted away six Falcon shots; also a career-high.

As a unit, the Pioneer post players were dominant.  The quartet of Gilbert/Domask/Sarah Mueller (So./Stevens Point, Wis.)/Lara Anger (Jr./DeKalb, Ill.) combined to score 47 points on 20-28 FG shooting.  Mueller finished with 15 points, the fifth time this season the second-year Pacelli product has reached double figures.

Heckert matched a career-high with 15 points.  As a team, Platteville shot a season-high 60% from the floor.

UW-Platteville will take a break from WIAC conference play until January.  The team returns to the court for a non-conference battle with Luther (IA) College on Tuesday, December 7th.  Tip time on Bo Ryan Court is set for 7p.