Big 2nd Half Gives Pioneers 63-44 Win.

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. -- For the first time since the 2004-05 season, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville women's basketball program is now the proud owner of a six-game winning streak.  The team's most recent victory came Tuesday night on Bo Ryan Court as the Pioneers shook off a slow start to defeat Augustana (Ill.) College, 63-44.  The team now sits at 8-3 overall as the players' head into final exams.  The visiting Vikings suffered its fourth-straight loss and fell to 5-5.

Early on, it was Augustana that came out physical and ready to play.  Taking advantage of three Pioneer turnovers in its opening four possessions, the Vikings built a 9-4 lead by first quarter media timeout with 4:31 remaining.  A Maiah Domask (Sr./Waupun, Wis.) offensive rebound and putback and Brynlee Nelson (Fr./Fennimore, Wis.) layup at the buzzer brought Platteville to within 15-14 at the end of one.

Both teams had their issues in the second.  The Pioneers, who had come into the night's contest shooting 38% from 3-pt range during its current win-streak, could not find the mark on Tuesday.  The team went 1-7 from downtown in the second on its way to a 2-22 night.  Meanwhile the Vikings could not take advantage because they could not take care of the basketball.  Six turnovers in the second quarter including three in its last five possessions helped allow Platteville to pull even at the break, 30-30.  

Four more Augustana turnovers to begin the third quarter gave the Pioneers the opening they needed to begin building a lead.  A pair of Domask layups began what would become an 8-0 Platteville run.  Another trademark of the Pioneers' current streak has been a staunch defensive effort which was apparent again Tuesday as they held the Vikings to just four points in the entire third quarter.  By the end of the frame, Platteville had built a 46-34 lead.

Any hopes Augustana had for a late comeback were quickly squashed to start the fourth.  Platteville scored on its first five possessions, highlighted by a pair of Nelson layups and a three from Aspyn Stewart (Sr./Stockton, Ill.).  Suddenly a 12-point lead had ballooned to 21 in just the first three minutes of the quarter and the Pioneers were able to coast to victory the rest of the way.  Augustana could not get closer than 18.

Domask, the reigning "Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Week", led all scorers with 19.  She also reached double figures in rebounds with 10 (5 offensive) to notch her sixth "double-double" of the season.  With its outside shots not falling, the Pioneers attacked the basket, owning a commanding 42-14 advantage in "Points in the Paint".

Gabriela Loiz led Augustana with 14 points.  Ultimately however, the team was unable to overcome its 28 turnovers.

Platteville will get some time to revel in its recent success, taking a break to complete the first semester and spend some time home for the holidays.  They will return to the court at the end of the month, December 29th-30th when they travel east to participate in the UW-Whitewater Holiday Classic.  On Wednesday the 29th, the Pioneers will face off against Edgewood College at 6p.  The next day, Platteville will complete the two day event by facing Lake Forest at 3p.