Pioneers Fall on the Road to No. 4 UW-Oshkosh

Photo by: Steve Frommell, UW-Oshkosh Athletics

OSHKOSH, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville women's basketball team fell 60-44 Saturday afternoon at the Kolf Sports Center to No. 4 nationally ranked UW-Oshkosh. The Pioneers (7-7, 1-2 WIAC) kept it a two-possession game all the way until a Titans (14-0, 3-0 WIAC) buzzer beater at the half, and it wasn't until an 8-2 run at the start of the fourth quarter that UW-Oshkosh pulled ahead for good.

The Pioneers started the game hot and led for seven minutes early in the game until three-pointer by UW-Oshkosh switched the lead to 11-8 at the quarter break in favor of the Titans. That lead extended to five, but a three-pointer by junior Ashley Weir followed by another from sophomore Lauren Sparks gave Pioneers a 17-15 lead midway through the second quarter. The teams exchanged the lead twice until the Titans took their 31-24 lead at the half.

A steal and fast break by senior Brynlee Nelson cut UW-Oshkosh's lead to 31-30 with 6:43 left in the third, but a seven-point run pushed the Titan's lead to three possessions. Two made free-throws by senior Brianna Prieve cut UW-Oshkosh's lead to 38-34 with under a minute to go in the third quarter. The Titans used the run at the start of the fourth quarter to push their lead to double digits a minute into the fourth and held that advantage for the remainder of the game.

Junior Ella Mackiewicz paced the Pioneers with 14 points along with seven rebounds. Weir added five points and five rebounds off the bench.

The Pioneers shot 26.2 percent (16-of-61) from the floor, 15.8 percent (3-of-19) from deep, and 56.3 percent (9-of-16) from the free-throw line. The Titans finished shooting 39.6 percent (19-of-48) from the field, 30.8 percent (4-of-13) from beyond the arc and 78.3 percent (18-of-23) from the foul line.

The Pioneers will return to action on Wednesday, January 15 when they travel to UW-Eau Claire for a 7 p.m. tip-off.