Third Quarter Run Pushes Eagles Past Pioneers

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville women's basketball team (8-6, 1-2 WIAC) led against UW-La Crosse (12-2, 1-2 WIAC) at halftime, but the Eagles used a strong second half to pull away as the Pioneers lost 70-55.

The Pioneers took a quick eight-point lead midway through the opening quarter as the offense found some early success. Freshman Ella Mackiewicz scored five points in the first five minutes as UW-Platteville led 12-4 at the first media timeout. UW-La Crosse held the Pioneers to just to free throw makes in the final five minutes of the quarter and closed the gap to three at 14-11 heading into the second frame. Early in the second, the Pioneers extended the lead back to 12 at 27-15 behind an 11-point run. The Eagles cut the lead down to single digits, but UW-Platteville held a 33-27 lead at halftime.

UW-La Crosse flipped the game in the third scoring, going on a 15-2 run out of the break to lead 42-35 with 5:39 left in the quarter. The Eagles increased their led to 13 by the end of the third by closing the quarter on an 11-2 run. In the fourth, the Pioneers were able to get back within six with a six-point run, but the Eagles pulled away in the final four minutes to win 70-55.

Junior Sarah Mueller led the Pioneers with 12 points and four rebounds. while sophomore Brynlee Nelson added nine points and senior Allison Heckert tallied eight. Freshman Madalyn Reichmann paced the team with five assists, while Heckert finished with four of her own. The Pioneers shot 40.4 percent (23-of-57) for the game and 18.8 percent (3-of-16) from deep.

Kyah Steiner and Paige Schumann each scored 12 points to lead the Eagles while Gabby Ritchie scored 11 off the bench. After a poor shooting first half, UW-La Crosse shot 60.9 percent (14-of-23) in the second half, including 87.5 percent (7-of-8) from three-point range.

The Pioneers head to UW-Stout on Saturday, January 7 for a 3 p.m. tip-off.