Pioneers Picked Seventh In WIAC Preseason Poll

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville women's basketball team was selected to finish seventh in the 2023-2024 WIAC Preseason Poll it was announced on Friday.

UW-Whitewater was picked to repeat as champions after winning the conference tournament and earning a share of the regular season title a year ago. UW-Stout, who shared the regular season title with the Warhawks, was second in the poll, followed by UW-Oshkosh. UW-Eau Claire and UW-La Crosse rounded out the top five, while UW-River Falls was just ahead of UW-Platteville for sixth. UW-Stevens Point wrapped up the poll in eighth.

Head Coach Kelly McNiff will guide the Pioneers for the fifth season, with her career record sitting at 35-50. UW-Platteville will bring back 14 letterwinners and four starters from last season's team that went 11-15 and 4-10 in conference play.

The Pioneers return a pair of 2023 WIAC Honorable Mentions in sophomore Ella Mackiewicz and junior Brynlee Nelson. Mackiewicz, who also earned WIAC Newcomer of the Year, led the team with 11.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.8 steals per game. Her contributions helped her earn D3hoops.com Region 9 Rookie of the Year and WBCA Division III Public Newcomer of the Year following her impressive freshman campaign.

Nelson provided the UW-Platteville backcourt with 11.2 points, 3.2 boards, and 1.5 assists per game. The junior ended the year strong, averaging 14.2 points per game over the final five games as the Pioneers pushed for a spot in the conference tournament.

Other key returners include senior Sarah Mueller, junior Macey Banasik, and sophomore Madalyn Reichmann. Mueller was third on the team in scoring at 9.7 per game, and second in rebounding with 4.4 per contest. Banasik and Recihmann were the top three-point shooters for the Pioneers, connecting on 37.5 percent and 34.8 percent from beyond the arc, respectively.

UW-Platteville begins the season on the road on Friday, November 10 against Marian (Wis.) at the Hope College Tip-Off Tournament. The Pioneers home opener will be Tuesday, November 21 against Millikin, and WIAC play begins on January 3 at home versus UW-Eau Claire.

The full WIAC release can be found HERE.