Pioneers Roll Past Millikin 60-47

DECAUTR, Ill. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville women's basketball team (6-3) put together another strong defensive effort to beat Millikin (2-6) by a score of 60-47 on Saturday afternoon inside the Griswold P.E. Center in Decatur, Illinois.

The Pioneers scored the final nine points of the opening quarter and held Millikin scoreless for the final five minutes of the frame to take a 14-7 lead into the second. UW-Platteville increased the lead to 11 midway through the second behind a trio of layups makes before the Big Blue cut the deficit back down to six with a five-point run. Junior Ashley Weir ended the run with a three, and freshman Grace Groezinger made a pair of baskets to make it 30-17 in favor of the Pioneers at half.

The lead grew to 17 with just under five to play in the third quarter, but Millikin battled back with 17 points in the closing minutes to trail by eight heading into the fourth. The gap closed to six at 53-47 with 7:27 to play, but the Big Blue failed to record another point as the Pioneers defense held strong down the stretch. UW-Platteville scored the final seven points of the contest to win 60-47.

Junior Ella Mackiewicz finished with a game-high 15 points and recorded the double-double by pulling down 10 boards. She added a team-high three assists and posted two steals and a block on the defensive end.

Sophomore Ava Hoppert scored eight points off the bench, while senior Addison Baierl added seven points and tied Mackiewicz for the team lead in rebounds with 10.

UW-Platteville shot 41.5 percent (22-of-53) from the floor in the win and 40.0 percent (6-of-15) from beyond the arc. The defense held Millikin to 32.1 percent (18-of-56) from the field and 14.3 percent (3-of-21) from deep.

Millikin got 13 points from Nikkel Johnson off the bench to pace the team. Kyleigh Block also reached double figures with 11 points.

The Pioneers return to the court on Monday, December 30 at the Wartburg Tournament against Wisconsin Lutheran. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m.