Domask's Monster Game Helps Pioneers Run Win Streak to Five

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. -- Maiah Domask (Sr./Waupun, Wis.) scored a career-high 35 points in front of the home crowd as the University of Wisconsin-Platteville women's basketball team defeated Luther College, 80-61.  It was the fifth straight win for the suddenly streaking Pioneers as they improved their record to 7-3 overall.  Luther fell to 3-7.  

On a night where they would shoot 54% from the floor, Platteville was hot from the word "go", scoring on seven of its first eight possessions to help build an eight-point lead.  Down 10-2, the Norse were forced to call an early timeout.  Whatever was said in head coach Amanda Bailey's huddle resonated with her team as Luther came roaring back.  On the 12 Norse possessions between their timeout and the end of the quarter, they scored on 10 of them.  The Pioneers meanwhile went in the other direction, committing five turnovers and actually trailing at the end of one, 25-21.

The second quarter began as the first ended with Platteville turning the ball over on its first two possessions and Luther scoring seven points in the first 2:30 to build its biggest lead of the game, 33-26.  That is when guards Allison Heckert (Sr./Whitewater, Wis.) and Caya Apostolou (Jr./Niles, Ill.) began a contest of "Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Better", three-point edition.  Apostolou got things started with a three-pointer at 5:52 remaining to bring Platteville back within four.  After Domask ripped away an offensive rebound and put it back to make it 33-31, Heckert got her turn.  The fourth-year senior knocked down back-to-back three's, allowing Platteville to re-take the lead, 37-33, heading into the media timeout.  In the first possession out of the break, Apostolou responded with another three, this time from the right wing.  All told, the tandem hit three's in four of five possessions, sparking an 14-0 run that turned a seven point deficit into a seven point lead in just over 2:00.  The teams played even the rest of the quarter and Platteville hit the halftime locker room with a 47-40 advantage.

In the second half, the Pioneers served up a healthy dose of "Killer D's":  Defense and Domask.  After scoring 25 points in the first quarter, the Norse could only muster 21 points in the entire second half against the once again stifling Platteville defense.  On the other end of the court, Domask just kept coming at the Luther defense.  The All-American scored 15 points in the second half and finished the game shooting 11-21 FG from the floor.  Fouling Domask did not slow her down either as she turned the 11 fouls Luther committed on her into a 12-15 night from the free throw line.

"The biggest factor in this kind of performance for me was that my team was connecting on all cylinders," said Domask, "my teammates gave me great passes into the post and they got hot from three.  These two factors allowed me to be able to go to work in the post.  Eventually when they (Luther) brought the doubleteam, I was able to return the favor by kicking out to my teammates."

Platteville outscored Luther in most offensive metrics including "Poinst off Turnovers" (24-17) and "Points in the Paint" (42-32).  The team used those as well as a 21-4 advantage in "2nd Chance Points" to build a lead to 21 midway through the fourth quarter, 74-53.  Luther would not get closer than 17 the rest of the way.

"We stressed limiting their second chance points by keeping them off the offensive boards, slowing them down in transition, and defending the three-point line," said Pioneer head coach Kelly McNiff, "safe to say our players executed the game plan!"

"And what can I say about Maiah:  She played like a woman on a mission!"

During the program's current 5-game winning streak, two of which came in Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play, the Pioneers have been winning games by an average of 20.6 points.  Domask thinks she knows why.

"The difference in this team versus those in the previous years is that we are playing more as a team, rather than individuals," said the fifth-year senior, "we are running the offense and letting our shots come to us, rather than forcing it.  I'm happy with the growth we've made as a team, and I'm excited to see where it is going to take us the rest of this season!"

After a stretch of five games in ten days, the Pioneers will get some much deserved rest.  The team will get nearly a full week off before returning to the court next Tuesday for a non-conference home match-up with Augustana (Ill.) College.  Tip-off on Bo Ryan Court is set for 7pm.