Pioneers Fall to No. 24 Titans

PLATTEVILLE, WIS. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville women's basketball team (8-6, 1-2 WIAC) fell 54-47 to No. 24 nationally ranked UW-Oshkosh (11-3, 2-1 WIAC) on Wednesday night inside the Williams Fieldhouse. 

Back-to-back shots in the paint by senior Sarah Mueller kickstarted the night as the Pioneers breezed out to an 8-2 lead three minutes into the game. The Titans rallied with six-straight points, but the Pioneers answered UW-Oshkosh with back-to-back three-pointers by juniors Brianna Prieve and Brynlee Nelson, followed by another jump shot by Mueller. UW-Platteville led 16-12 at the quarter break and scoring was hard to come by in the second quarter. The Titans managed to take a five-point lead with three minutes left in the half, but the Pioneers had the final word. Sophomore Madalyn Reichmann's steal and fast break layup put an exclamation point on the Pioneer's 6-0 run which put UW-Platteville ahead 23-22 at the half. 

Sophomore Ella Mackiewicz hit a three-pointer to start the second half, but a 6-0 run in favor of the Titans gave UW-Oshkosh a 36-34 advantage going into the fourth quarter. The Titans attempted to deepen their lead, but Reichmann drained a three-pointer at the 4:35 mark and junior Barb Kling added two more points for the Pioneers to go ahead 44-43. On UW-Oshkosh following possession, Kennedy Osterman hit a three-pointer in order for the Titans to reclaim the lead. The visitors added another unanswered basket to go ahead six points with under a minute remaining in the game. The Pioneers outshot the Titans 50 percent to 35.7 percent in the final quarter, but the Pioneers could not overcome their six turnovers in the last quarter. 

Mueller's 14-points, 12-rebounds double-double paced the Pioneers. Nelson also hit double figures with 10 points and Mackiewicz pulled down eight rebounds. The Pioneers shot 36.4 percent (16-of-44) and 29.4 percent (5-of-17) from three-point territory. 

Osterman led the Titans with 16 points and 11 rebounds. UW-Oshkosh shot 29.8 percent for the game and 33.3 percent (7-of-21) from beyond the arc. 

The Pioneers will return to action when they head to UW-La Crosse on Saturday, Jan. 13 for a 3 p.m. game.