Big 2nd Half Earns Pioneers 7th Straight Win

WHITEWATER, Wis. -- University of Wisconsin-Platteville guard Allison Heckert (Sr./Whitewater, Wis.) returned to her hometown to lead a trio of scorers in double figures in the Pioneers' 67-39 win over Edgewood College Wednesday night.  The game was played on the campus of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater as part of the UW-Whitewater Holiday Classic.  The win was the seventh in a row for Platteville, the longest streak for the program since 2004.  The Pioneers moved to 9-3 overall on the season while Edgewood fell to 1-9.

In both teams' first contest in two weeks, it took some time to shake the rust off.  With Platteville holding a one point lead after the opening quarter, each team set a season-low for points scored in the second.  The Eagles were ice cold, shooting 1-12 FG including 0-5 from long range as part of a three point quarter.  The Pioneers only managed seven points of its own but it was enough to increase its advantage to 26-21 heading into the break.

After halftime, Platteville found its offensive groove.  Six different Pioneers scored in the third quarter alone, led by Maiah Domask's (Sr./Waupun, Wis.) seven points.  Coach Kelly McNiff's squad continued the defensive pressure allowing her squad to go on a 20-8 run in the quarter, blowing open what was a five point lead and turning it into a 17 point advantage heading into the fourth.

In that final frame, the blue and orange continued scoring in bunches, building a lead to as many as 31 points. With its combined 41-18 advantage over Edgewood in the third and fourth quarters, the game marked the fifth time during the current 7-game win streak that the Pioneers have held an opponent under 24 points after halftime.

Heckert, who sat out nearly the entire second quarter in foul trouble, led the Pioneers on both ends of the court in the second half. Seven of her team-high 13 points game after the break.  Defensively, Heckert led the effort to put the clamps on the Eagles leading scorer, Emma Klein.  Klein entered Wednesday night averaging over 11 points per game before Heckert and teammates held the junior guard scoreless in the second half and to just three points overall.

Brynlee Nelson (Fr./Fennimore, Wis.) and Taylor Gilbert (Sr./Kingston, Ill.) were the other Pioneers in double digits, each scoring 10.

The Pioneers held a 23-6 advantage on 'Points off Turnovers'.

UW-Platteville was originally slated to face Lake Forest College on Thursday in day two of the UW-Whitewater Holiday Classic.  Due to COVID issues within the Lake Forest program, that game has been cancelled.  Instead, the Pioneers will next take to the court on Wednesday, January 5th when they host #8 UW-Eau Claire in each team's return to Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play.  Both teams will enter that game with 2-0 records in the WIAC.  Tip time is slated for 7pm.