Pioneers Fall in Season Opener to Ripon

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville women's basketball team opened its 2022-23 season on Tuesday night at home against Ripon in the Bone Cancer Awareness Game. The Pioneers fell 76-58 to the Red Hawks.

Ripon pulled away late in the opening quarter behind a 12-2 run over the final three minutes to take a 23-10 lead after the first. The Pioneers scored the first two buckets of the second quarter on layups by junior Sarah Mueller and freshman Ella Mackiewicz, and a three-pointer by sophomore Macey Banasik cut the deficit to eight. The Red Hawks extended the lead to 16 late in the quarter and took a 43-27 lead into halftime.

UW-Platteville outscored Ripon 16-15 in the third quarter, led by five points from Mueller. Senior Allison Heckert, junior Brianna Prieve, and Banasik each knocked down a triple for the Pioneers. In the fourth, the Pioneers got back within 13, but the Red Hawks extended the lead and won 76-58.

Mueller finished in double figures, scoring 10 points while making six free throws. Banasik connected on three triples to finish second on the team with nine points, while freshman Madalyn Reichmann added seven points off the bench. Junior Addison Baierl pulled down team-high five rebounds.

The Pioneers shot 31.3 percent from the floor and 31.8 percent from beyond the arc compared to 61.2 percent and 60.0 percent for the Red Hawks. Bonnie Jensen led Ripon in scoring with 19 points on 6-of-8 shooting while Skyylar Brescia tallied a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds.

UW-Platteville travels to Wheaton (Ill.) this weekend for the Wheaton College Tip-Off Tournament. The Pioneers will face Elmhurst on Friday, Nov. 11 at 5 p.m. before playing Wheaton on Saturday at 5 p.m.