Pioneers pick up first win of season at Wheaton Classic

WHEATON, Ill. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville women's basketball team earned its first win of the season Friday at the Beth Baker Classic, defeating Elmhurst College 58-46.  

The Pioneers (1-1) pulled ahead 16-10 after one quarter, shooting 58.3 percent to build enough of a lead to never trail in the contest. Junior Sarah Mueller went 3-of-4 from the floor to tally seven points in the quarter. 

The Blue Jays (0-2) used a six-point run to cut UW-Platteville's lead to 24-21 with 2:52 left in the first half, but a three-pointer by sophomore Macey Banasik and a pair of made free throws by senior Allison Heckert gave the Pioneers a 29-22 lead at the half. 

The Pioneers were 4-of-7 from three-point territory in the third quarter and a three-pointer from Heckert with 6:30 remaining in the game gave UW-Platteville its largest lead of the evening, 55-39. 

Banansik was a perfect 3-of-3 from the three-point arc and Mueller recorded a game-high 12 points. Heckert led the game with four assists and finished 4-of-4 from the free throw line. Freshman Ella Mackiewicz pulled down a game-high eight rebounds.  

Katie Matrise led Elmhurst's scoring with 11 points and Reilly Webb tallied seven rebounds. 

UW-Platteville shot 43.8 percent from the floor and 42.1 percent from three-point territory compared to the Blue Jays' 33.3 percent and 31.3 percent. 

The Pioneers finished 72.7 percent (8-of-11) from the foul line while Elmhurst shot 50 percent (9-of-18). 

Next up, the Pioneers will take on host Wheaton College on Saturday, Nov. 12 at 5 p.m. in King Arena.