Pioneers Handed Loss By Blue Devils Saturday

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville women's basketball team (9-13, 2-9 WIAC) dropped a 70-61 contest to the UW-Stout Blue Devils (16-6, 8-3 WIAC) on Saturday afternoon on Bo Ryan Court.

The Pioneers led by six midways through the opening quarter as freshman Ella Mackiewicz scored seven early points to put the hosts ahead 12-6. In the closing minutes of the first, freshman Allison Wokatsch knocked down a three and freshman Madalyn Reichmann scored following a UW-Stout turnover to put UW-Platteville ahead 18-12 after one.

The Blue Devils scored six straight early in the second to cut the deficit down to two, and a three with 4:14 on the clock brought the game within one at 24-23 in favor of the Pioneers. UW-Platteville answered with seven straight points, including a three from freshman Blair Watters to extend the lead back to eight. In the final second of the half, sophomore Brynlee Nelson converted a tough layup to make it 33-26 at the break.

UW-Stout pulled within one possession at 37-35 with just under five minutes to play in the third until a Mackiewicz layup put the Pioneers back up four. The UW-Platteville lead increased to seven, but the Blue Devils slowly chipped away and tied the game at 43 with six second in the quarter. Nelson put the Pioneers back in front with a three just before the buzzer to end the third.

Senior Allison Heckert provided the early scoring for the Pioneers in the fourth with a trio of made threes, but the Blue Devils kept in close and took a one-point lead on a three of their own with 5:48 to play. The triple started a nine-point run in favor of UW-Stout and the score was 62-55 Blue Devils with under three to play. UW-Stout maintained the lead for the remainder of the game to win 70-61.

Nelson scored a game-high 18 points while shooting 8-of-13 and tallying four steals. Mackiewicz added 13, while Heckert finished with 12 on four made threes. Heckert and Reichmann tied for the team lead in rebounding with four each. The Pioneers shot 42.6 percent (23-of-54) and converted 40.0 percent (8-of-20) three-point attempts, the second-highest mark in a game this season.

The Blue Devils had four finish in double figures, with Haylee Yaeger finishing with a team-high 17. Anna Mutch recorded 16 and tied Yaeger for the team lead in rebounds with seven. UW-Stout shot 47.3 percent (26-of-55) and 33.3 percent (3-of-9) from deep.

The Pioneers head to UW-Eau Claire on Wednesday for their final road game of the regular season. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.