Pioneers Win Close Contest Against Loras

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville women's basketball team (5-5) outlasted Loras (5-2) 58-54 for its first home win of the season inside the Williams Fieldhouse on Wednesday Night.

The Duhawks scored the first five points of the game before a jumper by sophomore Brynlee Nelson and a layup by junior Sarah Mueller cut the deficit down to one. Loras was able to extend the lead back to six later in the first quarter, but the Pioneers scored the final four points to trail 14-12 after one. In the second quarter, freshman Madalyn Reichmann put UW-Platteville ahead for the first time on a pair of threes and sophomore Barb Kling scored a layup in the closing seconds to give the Pioneers a 27-22 lead at the break.

Midway through the third quarter, the Duhawks went on a six-point run to tie the game at 32. The Pioneers responded with six straight points of their own to regain the six-point advantage at 42-36 heading into the final quarter. Loras cut the deficit down to two early in the fourth quarter, but seven straight points by UW-Platteville pushed the lead to a game-high nine at 49-40 with five minutes to play. The Duhawks got back within one possession several times in the final three minutes, including one point with a 1:28 on the clock, but sophomore Macey Banasik converted a three-point play to put the Pioneers back up four. UW-Platteville wrapped up the game at the free throw line to win 58-54.

Mueller led the Pioneers in scoring with 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting while tying freshman Ella Mackiewicz for the team lead in rebounds with seven. Nelson added 11 points as the team finished shooting 44.0 percent (22-of-50) from the floor and 64.7 percent (11-of-17) from the free throw line. The Pioneers defense forced 22 Loras turnovers in the game.

Four Duhawks finished in double figures, with Sami Martin posting a team-high 14 points. Silvana Scarsella (12), Madison Fleckenstein (12), and Cierra Bachman (10) also reached double digits. Loras shot 40.7 percent (24-of-59) in the game and made just 4.2 percent (1-of-24) of attempts from beyond the arc.

The Pioneers will head to Missouri this weekend to play Washington University on Sunday, December 11 at 1 p.m.