Pioneers Fall To Eagles Wednesday Night

LA CROSSE, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville women's basketball team (9-12, 2-8 WIAC) fell 70-43 on the road to UW-La Crosse (16-5, 5-5 WIAC) on Wednesday night inside Mitchell Hall in La Crosse.

Freshman Ella Mackiewicz scored the first seven points for the Pioneers, and the visitors led 7-4 early in the opening quarter. The Eagles scored the next seven points to take a four-point lead until freshman Madalyn Reichmann ended the run with a jumper. UW-La Crosse extended the lead to 20-14 to hold a six-point advantage heading into the second. Mackiewicz scored a pair of buckets to get UW-Platteville within four early in the second, but the Eagles kept it from getting any closer as the hosts led 29-23 at halftime.

In the third quarter, UW-La Crosse slowly pulled away and held a 46-31 lead late. Junior Olivia Liddicoat made three free throws to cut it to 12, but the Eagles scored the final bucket to 48-34 heading into the final quarter. UW-La Crosse kept the Pioneers from cutting into the deficit in the fourth to pick up a 70-43 win.

Mackiewicz led UW-Platteville with 14 points on 5-of-11 shooting while securing a team-high seven rebounds. Reichmann added 11 points off the bench while shooting 4-of-6 including 2-of-2 on three-point attempts. The Pioneers shot 27.8 percent (15-of-54) for the game and went 4-of-20 on threes.

Alana Gilles scored a game-high 16 points for the Eagles while Lauryn Milne and Carly Coulthart each finished with 14. Kyah Steiner led UW-La Crosse in rebounding with seven. The Eagles shot 47.5 percent (28-of-59) for the game and 38.1 percent (8-of-21) from beyond the arc.

The Pioneers return home on Saturday to face UW-Stout at 3 p.m. for National Girls and Women in Sports Day. All girls and women get into Saturday's game free.