Pioneers rally from 17-point deficit to beat UW-La Crosse

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – After the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse (8-5, 0-2 WIAC) scored the first 17 points of the game, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville women's basketball team (7-6, 1-1 WIAC) bounced back in the second quarter and went on to defeat the Eagles 63-60 Wednesday night on Bo Ryan Court.

Following a rocky start, the Pioneers held UW-La Crosse to just 8.3 percent (1-of-12) from the field in the second quarter. Junior Allison Wokatsch ignited the Pioneers' comeback with back-to-back threes at the beginning of the second quarter and UW-Platteville went on to outscore the Eagles 19-8 in the quarter to narrow their lead to 30-24 at halftime. 

The Pioneers took the lead for the last time in the fourth minute of the second half behind another three-pointer by Wokatsch.  Junior Ella Mackiewicz was a perfect 4-for-4 in the third quarter and UW-Platteville held a 46-43 lead with one quarter to go.  

The game stayed a one-possession game down the stretch and the Eagles made a second chance layup with 3:42 on the clock to draw within two. UW-La Crosse missed the tying shot and junior Ashley Weir pulled down the rebound just before Mackiewicz extended it back to a two-possession game. A huge steal by senior Brynlee Nelson retuned possesion the Pioneers with 1:35 on the clock and Mackiewicz struck again to give UW-Platteville a 60-54 lead. The Eagles hit a clutch three-pointer with 19 seconds on the clock. Junior Madalyn Reichmann made both her free throws prior to UW-La Crosse hitting another three. Senior Macey Banasik made the second of her two free throws to give the Pioneers the 63-60 lead with 0:02 on the clock and the Eagles were unable to get their game-tying shot off before the buzzer. 

Mackiewicz finished with 17 points and six rebounds while Wokatsch finished with a career-high 16 points. Nelson also pulled down six rebounds and Reichmann finished with a game-high five assists. 

After shooting 11.1 percent in the first quarter, the Pioneers finished 42.6 percent (23-of-54) from the floor, 40.9 percent (9-of-22) from three-point territory, and 80 percent (8-of-10) from the foul line. UW-La Crosse shot 33.3 percent (19-of-57) from the field, 36.8 percent (7-of-19) from deep, and 83.3 percent (15-of-18) from the free-throw line.  

The Pioneers will return to action on Saturday, January 11 when they travel to UW-Oshkosh with tip-off set for 3 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.