Pioneers Pull Away Late From Foresters

LAKE FOREST, Ill. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville women's basketball team (8-5) continued its recent stretch of strong play with a 68-59 road win over Lake Forest (3-6) on Friday afternoon. The Pioneers held off a late Foresters run to win their fourth consecutive game and seventh in the past eight contests.

The Foresters lead by two early in the opening quarter before the Pioneers closed the first on a 9-1 run to lead 14-8 after one. Sophomore Brynlee Nelson started the run with a jumper and freshman Madalyn Reichmann gave UW-Platteville the lead with a three following a steal by freshman Ella Mackiewicz. Lake Forest kept the game close in the first couple minutes of the second quarter, but three-point makes by Reichmann and freshman Blair Watters put the Pioneers up eight at 27-19. UW-Platteville closed the first half with a nine-point run to lead 36-23 at the break.

The Pioneers led by as many as 16 early in the third quarter but the Foresters closed the frame on a 15-4 run to cut the deficit down to three at 51-48 heading into the fourth quarter. Lake Forest tied the game at 52 with 6:12 remaining in the game and later pulled ahead by two with 4:19 left. UW-Platteville responded with 12 unanswered points to take a 10-point lead. The Foresters converted a free throw in the closing seconds as the Pioneers won 68-59.

Four Pioneers finished in double figures, with Reichmann scoring a team-high 14 points. Nelson added 11, while Mackiewicz and junior Sarah Mueller both totaled 10 points. Mackiewicz finished just shy of a double-double with a team-high nine rebounds, while Reichmann paced the team with four assists and four steals. The Pioneers recorded a season-high 19 steals in the game and forced 26 Lake Forest turnovers. UW-Platteville shot 39.0 percent (23-of-59) from the field and 23.5 percent (4-of-17) from deep.

Katie Neher led Lake Forest with 19 points and 10 rebounds while Maurissa Edwards tallied 15 points and four steals. The Foresters finished shooting 42.9 percent (18-of-42) in the game and converted 61.3 percent of free throw attempts (19-of-31).

The Pioneers resume WIAC play on Wednesday, January 4 when they host UW-La Crosse at 7 p.m.