Third Quarter Surge Moves Eagles Past Pioneers

LA CROSSE, Wis. -- The University of Wisconsin-Platteville women's basketball team shooting went cold in the second half Wednesday night at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.  Playing in its fourth game in eight days, the Pioneers shot 27% FG after halftime, enabling the Eagles to build upon a one-point lead and eventually earn a 64-53 victory.  The Pioneers fell to 9-10 overall and 2-7 in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.  UW-La Crosse improved to 12-7 and 4-4.

Both teams' defense came out on point as baskets were tough to come by early.  A Maiah Domask (Sr./Waupun) offensive rebound and putback made the score just 4-4 before the media timeout at 4:38.  Neither team made it to 10 points as the Eagles took a 9-8 lead into the second.

Pioneer guard Allison Heckert (Sr./Whitewater, Wis.) knocked down a 3-pointer to open the second quarter.  Later, a Domask layup capped a 6-0 run and gave the Pioneers its biggest lead of the game, 17-10.  The advantage would be short-lived however as back-to-back three's a few minutes later by the Eagles' Emma Gamoke and Paige Schumann allowed UWL to re-take the lead, 20-19.  The teams traded baskets over the final 3:39 to head into the lockerroom with the Eagles holding onto a slim 26-25 lead.

Back-to-back turnovers set the tone for the Pioneers to start the third.  Meanwhile, the La Crosse offense came to life scoring on five of its first six possessions.  The Eagles finished the quarter just as hot, scoring on three of its final four times down the court and expanding its lead, 47-37.

For the second straight quarter, the Pioneers began with a three this one coming from Aspyn Stewart (Sr./Stockton, Ill.) to trim the deficit to 47-40.  That is as close as Platteville would get however as the Eagles built a lead to as many as 14 at the 6:06 mark.  Stewart bookended the quarter with another three with :24 remaining to finish the scoring and give UWL its final margin of victory, 64-53.

Heckert and Taylor Gilbert (Sr./Kingston, Ill.) led Platteville in scoring with 10 points apiece.

The teams' split the season series with each winning on its own court.  The Pioneers took a 64-48 decision back on December 1st.

The Pioneers will get some needed days off over the weekend before returning to WIAC play next Wednesday, February 2nd, when the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh comes to Williams Fieldhouse for a 7p tip.  Oshkosh won the teams' first meeting back on January 19th, 66-56, in Oshkosh.