No. 2 Wartburg Narrowly Avoids Pioneers’ Upset Bid

WAVERLY, Iowa – Junior Madalyn Reichmann's three-pointer tied the game 56-56 with one minute to go, but No. 2 Wartburg answered with its own three-pointer to go ahead and avoid the University of Wisconsin-Platteville's best effort of an upset win Tuesday afternoon. The Knights (10-2) escaped with a 64-62 win at Levick Arena as the Pioneers (6-5) close out the non-conference portion of the schedule. 

Tied midway through the first, the Pioneers went on a 6-0 run to outscore Wartburg 14-9 in the opening quarter. Junior Ella Mackiewicz completed a three-point play at the foul line to extend UW-Platteville's advantage to 17-9 with 9:20 to go in the first half. Wartburg finished strong though on a 15-4 run to take the lead at halftime, 26-21.

The teams went back-and-forth and a layup by Mackiewicz with 6:11 left in the game made it a one-score contest, 51-48, in favor of the Knights. Reichmann drained one from deep five minutes later to tie the game 56-56, but Wartburg made its own go-ahead three to hold on to the slim lead until the final seconds ran out. 

Mackiewicz finished with a 24-points, 10 rebounds double-double and added three assists, four steals and two blocks. Senior Brianna Prieve finished with eight points and sophomore Ava Hoppert and Reichmann each finished with seven points off the bench. 

UW-Platteville shot 39.7 percent (23-of-58) from the field and 22.2 percent (6-of-27) from beyond the arc while making 10-of-13 (76.9 percent) free throws. Wartburg finished shooting 33.3 percent (20-of-60) from the floor, 16.7 percent (5-of-30) from deep and 65.5 percent (19-of-29) from the free throw line.  

The Pioneers will return to action on Saturday, January 4 when they return to Bo Ryan Court and open conference play against UW-Stevens Point at 3 p.m. on Youth Day.