Pioneers Dealt Road Loss Against MSOE

MILWAUKEE, Wis. – A late comeback attempt came up short as the University of Wisconsin-Platteville women's basketball team (5-3) fell 61-54 on the road to MSOE (4-4) on Wednesday night inside the Kern Center in Milwaukee.

A nine-point Raiders run put the home team in front 15-4 midway through the opening quarter before back-to-back threes by junior Ashley Weir and senior Brianna Prieve helped the Pioneers get back within four. MSOE carried a six-point lead into the second, and a slow offensive quarter for both teams kept the difference the same heading into halftime at 26-19.

MSOE increased the lead to eight three minutes into the third, but a pair of three-point makes by Prieve and another by senior Macey Banasik gave UW-Platteville its first lead of the game at 30-29. The two teams traded baskets for the final three minutes of the quarter, and the Raiders entered the final frame holding a 38-35 advantage.

The Raiders pulled away in the first eight minutes of the fourth and led by nine at 51-42 with 1:53 remaining. The Pioneers quickly cut into the deficit, getting a three from Banasik and pair of layups by senior Addison Baierl and Prieve to make it 52-49 in favor of MSOE with 48 seconds to play. Following a pair of Raiders free throw makes, junior Ella Mackiewicz made it a two-point game with a three-pointery, but MSOE closed the game out at the free throw line to win 61-54.

Prieve finished with a team-high 12 points off the bench on 4-of-7 shooting. Three of her four makes were from deep, and she added three rebounds and an assist. Mackiewicz and Baierl joined her in double figures, scoring 11 and 10 points, respectively.

Baierl paced the team with seven rebounds, while Mackiewicz grabbed five boards and tallied a team leading four assists.

For the game, UW-Platteville shot 34.5 percent (20-of-58) and 26.7 percent (8-of-30) from beyond the arc. Trips to the free throw line were few, with the Pioneers finishing at 66.7 percent (6-of-9).

MSOE shot 34.6 percent (18-of-52) from the field, but were effective at the stripe, going 20-of-27 (74.1 percent). Mahima Chokshi scored 19 points to lead the Raiders, while Lana Kerley added 18.

The Pioneers remain on the road this Saturday, with a 2 p.m. tip-off scheduled for a matchup with Millikin.