Pioneers Take Down No. 11 WashU

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville women's basketball team never trailed Saturday afternoon as it put on a statement performance against the No. 11 ranked Washington University (Mo.). The Pioneers (5-2) used a hot start to break away and led by as much as 17 in the second half, on their way to a 69-54 victory on Bo Ryan Court.  

UW-Platteville outscored the Bears in the first three quarters, while the defense held the Bears' to just 37.9 percent (22-of-58) from the floor, including 6-of-21 (28.6%) from beyond the arc. 

Three Pioneers reached double-figures points as junior Ella Mackiewicz put up 14 and was joined by seniors Addison Baierl (13) and Brianna Prieve (11). Baierl's 10 rebounds locked the Pioneer in with the game's lone double-double. 

Mackiewicz and Baierl teamed up for the first three scores of the day, giving the Pioneers a 6-0 lead two minutes into the game. A three-pointer by Prieve extended the Pioneers lead to 10 points, midway through the first. Baierl hit another three with 1:33 left in the quarter, giving UW-Platteville a 21-10 lead over the Bears. 

WashU battled to make it a two-score game midway through the second quarter, but another three-pointer by Prieve extended the Pioneers lead back to double-digits with two minutes left in the first half. 

Leading 36-23 at the break, the Pioneers took their largest lead of the night late in the third quarter when back-to-back three-pointers by junior Ashley Weir and sophomore Alexis Strom extended UW-Platteville's lead to 52-35. 

With four players in foul trouble, the Bears had their best frame in the fourth quarter, outshooting the Pioneers 19-17, but WashU was never able to cut their deficit by less than 10 points. Both times the Bears started to heat up in the quarter,  Baierl and Prieve each hit clutch three-pointers to keep momentum with the Pioneers. 

UW-Platteville shot 45.1 percent (23-of-51) from the floor, and 37.5 percent (9-of-24) from beyond the arc. The Pioneers were 14-of-21 (66.7%) from the free throw line while WashU went 4-of-12 (33.3%).  

Forcing 19 turnovers, UW-Platteville has reached 19+ turnovers for the the fifth time this season.

The Pioneers returns to action on Wednesday, Dec. 11 when they travel to MSOE for a game at 7 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.