Big First Half Guides Pioneers to 68-58 Win Over UW-Stevens Point

STEVENS POINT, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville women's basketball team (11-7, 4-3 WIAC) picked up a WIAC win on the road Wednesday with a 68-58 victory over UW-Stevens Point (13-5, 2-5 WIAC). The win in the league's first half finale marks the program's first time finishing above .500 at the midway point since the 1991-92 season. 

The teams exchanged the lead multiple times at the start of the night, keeping it a one-possession game through most of the first quarter. Momentum surged when sophomores Allison Wokatsch and Ashley Weir drained back-to-back three-pointers, including one at the buzzer to give the Pioneers a 16-12 lead at the quarter break. UW-Platteville took the momentum into the second quarter and quickly pulled ahead to a 12-point lead following a 9-1 run. The Pointers cut the deficit in half, but sophomore Madalyn Reichmann's three-pointer followed by two points from junior Brynlee Nelson and another two by sophomore Ella Mackiewicz gave the Pioneers a 36-24 lead going into halftime.

UW-Stevens Point managed to cut the Pioneers' lead to single digits at the start of the second half, but by 2:13 remaining in the third quarter, a pair of free throws by senior Sarah Mueller put UW-Platteville ahead 46-30, the team's largest lead of the game. The Pioneers went on to fend off a final comeback attempt in the fourth quarter, which saw the Pointers draw within five points, but 66.7 percent (4-of-6) shooting in the final quarter along with making 12-of-17 free throws secured the Pioneer's double-figure win. 

Mackiewicz tied for a game-high 15 points and paced the Pioneers with eight rebounds. Mueller finished with 12 points and Reichmann with 10 points. Wokatsch added eight points off the bench. 

Overall, the Pioneers shot 42.6 percent (20-of-47), 31.3 percent (5-of-16) from beyond the arc and made 23-of-34 of free throws. 

UW-Stevens Point was led by Courtney Krueger's 15 points and Rachel Hagen's 12 rebounds. The Pointers finished 20-of-62 (32.3 percent) from the field and 30 percent (6-of-20) from three-point territory.  

The Pioneers return to action on Saturday, January 27 when they host UW-La Crosse at 3 p.m. on Alumni Day. 

*As with every UW-Platteville win this year, the Platteville A&W will be offering a $3 Pioneer burger the day after the win and the Platteville Taco John's will be offering 10 tacos for $10 the day after each Pioneer win.