Pioneers Drop High-Scoring Game to #9 UW-Whitewater

WHITEWATER, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville women's basketball team ultimately fell 82-72 on Wednesday night to No. 9 nationally ranked UW-Whitewater inside the Williams Center. With the exception of the second quarter, the Pioneers (14-10, 7-6 WIAC) outshot the Warhawks (21-3, 10-3 WIAC) in each period, averaged  51.6 percent from the field in the second-half alone, but were plagued by fouls most of the night where the Warhawks went on to make 20-of-24 free throw attempts.

A steal by junior Brynlee Nelson led to a made three by sophomore Madalyn Reichmann, which put the Pioneers ahead 9-5 two minutes into the game. Senior Sarah Mueller hit a three of her own with 1:27 to go in the first to reinstate the four-point lead, but the Warhawks answered back moments later with a quick three-point make. Not done, a pass from Mueller and a make by junior Macey Banasik from beyond the arc gave the Pioneers a 24-20 lead at the quarter break.

The Pioneers caried the momentum into the second quarter and Reichmann's three-point make extended the Pioneers' lead to six with eight minutes to go in the half. Unfortunately, UW-Whitewater found its rhythm, making 4-of-7 from deep, which pulled the Warhawks ahead to a 44-36 lead at the half.

UW-Platteville stayed determined and chipped away at the deficit and a hook shot by freshman Tatum Weir drew the Pioneers within four points of the Warhawks. The Pioneers shot a game-high 64.3 percent (9-of-14) in the third quarter to stay on pace with UW-Whitewater as both teams put up 19 points in the quarter.

Sophomore Ella Mackiewicz made the first layup of the final quarter and Nelson hit a three right after to cut the Warhawks' lead to a one possession game, 63-60. Four straight makes from the foul line extended UW-Whitewater's lead to seven with eight minutes remaining. Reichmann cut the lead to five points next, but an 8-3 run gave the Warhawks a double-digit lead with just under three minutes remaining.

Three Pioneers hit double-digits in the high-scoring affair with Mackiewicz pacing the Pioneers with 21 points and seven rebounds. Mueller added 17 points and Reichmann finished with 13 points and seven rebounds. The Pioneers shot 49.2 percent (30-of-61), 28 percent (7-of-25) from three-point territory and was 5-of-9 (55.6 percent) from the foul line.

The Warhawks were led by Kacie Carollo who dished out a 22-points, 13-rebounds double-double. UW-Whitewater finished 42.4 percent (25-of-59) from the field, 41.4 percent (12-of-29) from beyond the arc and benefited heavily from the free throw line where they went 20-of-24 (83.3 percent).

The Pioneers will return to action when they travel to UW-Stout on Saturday, Feb. 17 for a 2 p.m. game.