Pioneers Drop WIAC Opener to Blugolds

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – After holding a two-point lead at the half, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville women's basketball team (7-5, 0-1 WIAC) fell 70-45 to UW-Eau Claire (7-5, 1-0 WIAC) Wednesday night on Bo Ryan Court.  

In a low-scoring first half, neither team led by more than four points until the final two minutes of the half. Sophomore Madalyn Reichmann started off the action with a big three-pointer on the Pioneers' first possession. It was then senior Sarah Mueller's turn at the 1:36 mark of the second quarter who's own rebound and layup put UW-Platteville ahead 27-21, the largest lead of the half. The Blugolds answered with a layup followed by another off a turnover to close the gap to 27-25 at the break.

The Blugolds jumped out of the gates to start the second half and after tying the game on their first possession, UW-Eau Claire steadily pulled ahead, forcing five turnovers and adding a 10-point run late in the quarter to pull ahead 48-33. The Blugolds' pressure continued into the final quarter and intensified with Kyla Overskei staying hot at the three-point arc, finishing the half a perfect 5-5 from three-point territory and 8-9 from the field, totaling nearly half of UW-Eau Claire's points in the half.

Mueller paced the Pioneers with 12 points. Junior Brynlee Nelson also recorded double digits with 11 points and Reichmann led the team with five rebounds. UW-Platteville shot 33.3 percent (17-of-51) for the game and 17.4 percent (4-of-23) from deep.

Overskei led the Blugolds with 28 points, scoring all but seven in the second half. Kylie Mogen finished one shy of a double-double, posting 10 points and tallying nine rebounds, three steals and five blocks. UW-Eau Claire shot 48.3 percent (28-of-58) and 50 percent (10-of-20) from three.

The Pioneers will head to UW-River Falls on Saturday, January 6 with tip-off set for 3 p.m.