Pioneers Fall To Central Saturday

OSHKOSH, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville women's basketball team (4-2) dropped the second game of the UW-Oshkosh Tournament 70-60 to Central (Iowa) (5-2) on Saturday afternoon inside the Kolf Sports Center in Oshkosh.

After Central scored the initial basket, the Pioneers rattled off 10 straight points to take an eight-point lead. UW-Platteville held a multi-possession lead for the remainder of the opening quarter and took a 21-14 lead into the second behind seven points by junior Ella Mackiewicz.

The Dutch trimmed the deficit down to just two heading into halftime after four made three pointers and six free throw makes helped them outscore the Pioneers 22-17. UW-Platteville was able to increase the lead back up to seven early in the third, but Central cut it back down and trailed 50-48 heading into the fourth quarter.

A 12-point Central run in the fourth quarter flipped the score in favor of the Dutch. Central shot over 55 percent in the final frame, while UW-Platteville finished under 30 percent. A 22-10 quarter handed the Dutch a 70-60 win.

Mackiewicz scored a game-high 21 points on 9-of-17 shooting while creating three steals. Senior Macey Banasik joined her in double figures with 11 points on 4-of-7 shooting including three made threes.

The Pioneers shot 39.3 percent (24-of-61) from the floor in the defeat, including 28.6 percent (6-of-21 from beyond the arc. Central sat at 38.8 percent (19-of-49) in the game but held a big advantage at the free throw line (22-of-27) compared to UW-Platteville (6-of-7).

On the glass, senior Addison Baierl finished with a team-high seven rebounds. Junior Allison Wokatsch, sophomore Ava Hoppert, and freshman Ava Hanson tied for the team lead in assists with three each.

The Pioneers will have two weeks off and will play their next game at home on December 7 against Washington (Mo.) at 1 p.m.