Titans get past Pioneers, 59-47

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. -- University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh senior Leah Porath poured in 20 points on 9-16 shooting Wednesday night to lead the Titans to a 59-47 victory over the University of Wisconsin Platteville.  Featuring one of the nation's best scoring defenses, Oshkosh was able to hold Platteville to just 8 total points in the second and third quarters.  The loss dropped the Pioneers' record to 9-11 overall and 2-8 in Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play.  UWO improved to 15-4 overall and 5-3 in the WIAC.

Both teams came out of the gates on fire.  Oshkosh scored on its first six possessions.  Platteville only missed two shot attempts in the entire quarter.  Four early turnovers by the Pioneers however allowed UWO to jump out to the 16-8 advantage at the media timeout.  The Pioneers cleaned up its ballhandling after the break, finishing the quarter on a 10-0 run and taking an 18-16 lead to the second.  Forwards Maiah Domask (Sr./Waupun, Wis.) and Sarah Mueller (So./Stevens Point, Wis.) chipped in 4 points each during the stretch.

Turnovers once again haunted Platteville in the second.  Three turnovers over the first five possessions and the final five possessions bookended a quarter that saw the Pioneers only make three baskets.  UW-Oshkosh on the other hand stayed hot from the field, shooting 44% allowing them to take a 31-26 lead into the locker room.

The third quarter took on a similar tone.  For the second straight stanza, Platteville could only manage 3 FG's, coming up empty in its final six possessions.  However the Pioneer defense held strong early in the second half and a Domask layup at the 4:39 mark pulled the home team to within one, 35-34.  Unfortunately for the Pioneers that basket wound up being the last points by the team in the quarter and a 9-0 Titan run to finish gave them its first double-digit lead, 44-34.

A layup by Allison Heckert (Sr./Whitewater, Wis.) pulled the Pioneers to within 48-40 with 4:04 remaining in the game but that is as close as they would get.  Not helping matters in its bid for a comeback were seven missed free throws in the fourth quarter alone.  Oshkosh too, struggled at the charity stripe going only 9-17 late but hit its final four attempts to close out the 12-point win.

Domask led the Titans 16 points.  Mueller was the only other Pioneer to reach double figures with 10.  Heckert set a career-high by pulling down 10 rebounds.

The Pioneers return to the action this Saturday, February 5th when they will take on the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.  The Pointers won the first matchup between the two teams back on January 15th, 75-65.  Tip time on Bo Ryan Court is set for 3p.