Strong Start Powers Women’s Basketball to Win Over Spartans

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville women's basketball team opened up a double-digit lead in the first quarter and never look back as it earned a 64-51 victory over the University of Dubuque on Tuesday night.  

With the win on Bo Ryan Court, the Pioneers improve to 3-1 on the season while the Spartans drop to 1-3. 

Midway through the first quarter, junior Ella Mackiewicz followed up a three-point make with a fastbreak layup, giving UW-Platteville a 15-7 edge. The Pioneers stretched the lead to 10 points at the quarter break and extended it by three more as senior Macey Banasik hit a three to start the second quarter. 

The Spartans failed to trim the Pioneers' lead to fewer than eight in the quarter and Mackiewicz drained another three-pointer right before halftime, giving UW-Platteville a 37-23 advantage. 

Dubuque's start to the second half kept the Spartans in the game, and a 9-0 run cut UW-Platteville's lead to four points with 2:53 left in the quarter. The Pioneers answered with an 8-2 run of their own, featuring four made free throws by sophomore Ava Hoppert, to lead 46-37 at the end of the third period.

The Pioneers largest lead of the night of 16 points came late in the fourth quarter, right before securing the 64-51 victory. 

Mackiewicz scored a season-high 25 points to pace the Pioneers and added eight rebounds. Senior Addison Baierl registered a team-high four assists while also adding eight rebounds and six points.  

The Pioneers shot 39.4 percent (26-of-66) from the floor and 19.2 percent (5-of-26) from three-point territory. Dubuque finished shooting 38 percent (19-of-50) from the field and 28.6 percent (4-of-14) from beyond the arc. The Pioneers forced 24 turnovers, including 13 steals, while the Spartans forced 23 turnovers of their own. 

The Pioneers return to action on Friday, November 22 when they travel to the UW-Oshkosh Tournament where they will first take on Wheaton College at 5 p.m. 

*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.