Offense Powers Pioneers To Win Over Vikings

NORTH MANKATO, Minn. – A strong shooting performance sent the University of Wisconsin-Platteville women's basketball team (2-1) to an 88-51 road win over Bethany Lutheran (0-4) on Tuesday night inside the Sports and Fitness Center in North Mankato, Minnesota.

The two teams traded baskets for much of the first quarter until the Pioneers went on a six-point run in the final two minutes to lead 19-17 entering the second. UW-Platteville played a strong second quarter, holding the Vikings to just nine points to extend the lead to 10 at 36-26 at half. Sophomore Madalyn Reichmann made a pair of threes in the quarter to highlight the scoring for the Pioneers.

Reichmann made another triple on the opening possession of the third, and UW-Platteville went on a 12-2 run in the closing minutes of the quarter to hold a 59-39 advantage heading to the final frame. The Pioneers scored the first nine points of the fourth, with five coming from Reichmann, to increase the lead to 28 before Bethany Lutheran made a layup to stop the run. Freshman Lizzie Poller knocked down a couple of threes and freshman Taliah DeGroot scored the final five points as the Pioneers won 88-51.

Thirteen different players scored for UW-Platteville in the game, lead by 18 from Reichmann, who shot 7-of-10 from the field and 4-of-6 from deep. Reichmann also grabbed seven rebounds and picked up a couple of steals to fill the stat sheet.

Sophomore Ella Mackiewicz also reached double figures with 12 points and recorded her first double-double of the season with 10 rebounds. Sophomore Allison Wokatsch and senior Brianna Prieve each added nine points, while senior Sarah Mueller finished with eight.

Junior Brynlee Nelson tallied seven points and dished out a team-high five assists.

The Pioneers shot 52.2 percent (36-of-69) from the floor and 36.4 percent (8-of-22) from beyond the arc in the win. UW-Platteville's defense held the Vikings to just 34.5 percent (20-of-58) shooting and forced 19 turnovers.

The team remains on the road for a 7 p.m. contest against Augustan (Ill.) on Thursday.