Pioneers Win Second Straight Saturday

LA CROSSE, Wis. – Behind a season-high 18 points from sophomore Brynlee Nelson, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville women's basketball team (3-4) picked up a 68-47 win over UW-Superior (2-4) for its second win at the UW-La Crosse Thanksgiving Classic on Saturday afternoon.

Each team traded points over the first couple minutes before senior Allison Heckert connected on a three to give the Pioneers a slight edge. Nelson added a layup a minute later to push the lead to five at 11-6 with five minutes left in the first quarter. The Pioneers led by as many as eight in the opening frame, but the Yellowjackets cut the deficit down to one at 18-17 heading into the second. The game remained close throughout the second quarter and UW-Platteville held a 32-27 lead at the break.

UW-Superior scored the first six points of the third quarter to take a one-point lead but the Pioneers responded with a 21-1 run to take a 53-34 lead with just under two minutes left in the third. Sophomore Macey Banasik, freshman Ella Mackiewicz, and Nelson started the run by each making a three and junior Addison Baierl scored six points to help the Pioneers take control of the game. Holding a 17-point lead entering the fourth, UW-Platteville outscored the Yellojackets 13-9 during the final 10 minutes to win 68-47.

Four Pioneers finished in double figures, led by 18 by Nelson on 7-of-12 shooting. Mackiewicz tallied 13 points while junior Sarah Mueller and Baierl each added 10. Mueller finished with a team-high nine rebounds as the Pioneers outrebounded UW-Superior 41-33 including 25-11 on the offensive glass. UW-Platteville recorded 16 steals in the game, with 12 different players tallying at least one. The Pioneers shot 37.1 percent (26-of-70) from the floor and 22.7 percent (5-of-22) from deep.

Bryton Kukowski was the scoring leader for the Yellojackets, scoring 14 points while grabbing six rebounds. UW-Superior shot 43.2 percent (19-of-44) from the field and 40.0 percent (4-of-10) from beyond the arc.

The Pioneers open WIAC play on Wednesday night with a road matchup against UW-Oshkosh at 7 p.m.

Two Pioneers were named to the All-Tournament team.

Bryton Kukowski - UW-Superior
Ella Mackiewicz - UW-Platteville

*As with every UW-Platteville win this year, the Platteville A&W will be offering a $3 Pioneer burger the day after the win and the Platteville Taco John's will be offering 10 tacos for $10 the day after each Pioneer win.