Giant Third Quarter Propels Pioneers Past Blugolds

Photo by: Chico La Barbera

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. – Down by six at the half, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville women's basketball team outscored UW-Eau Claire 21-6 in the third quarter, surging the Pioneers ahead for a 59-48 victory on Wednesday at the Sonnentag Event Center. 

Junior Ella Mackiewicz dropped a game-high 25 points, including 12 in the third quarter on 5-of-6 shooting. Mackiewicz added a game-high eight rebounds and three steals.

The Blugolds (6-9, 1-3 WIAC) opened the game on an 8-2 run, but the Pioneers (8-7, 2-2 WIAC) took their first lead with 2:11 remaining in the first quarter behind a jump shot by Mackiewicz. A 10-2 Blugold run down the stretch of the second quarter put the home team ahead by nine, but three made free-throws in the final minute by junior Allison Wokatsch and senior Makayla Mau cut UW-Eau Claire's lead to 31-25 at the half.  

After a Blugold three-pointer, Mackiewicz poured on the Pioneers' next 12 points, including back-to-back three-pointers. Junior Madalyn Reichmann joined in on the action and hit another three, giving the Pioneers a 40-35 advantage with 2:31 remaining in the third. Reichman finished out the quarter with a tip-in layup and two made free throws, pushing UW-Platteville's lead to 46-37 at the quarter break. 

The Pioneers extended their advantage to 10 points early in the fourth quarter and held the double-digit lead for the majority of the final 10 minutes. UW-Platteville shot 51.9 percent (14-of-27) in the second half, while holding UW-Eau Claire to just 28.6 percent (6-of-21). 

UW-Platteville scored 21 points off turnovers in the game, compared to the Blugolds' eight. The Pioneers also added 29 points from the bench while UW-Eau Claire's bench contributed eight points. 

The Pioneers finished 41.8 percent (23-of-55) from the field, but just 18.2 percent (4-of-22) from three-point range. The Pioneers were also 64.3 percent (9-of-14) from the stripe. The Blugolds shot 35.2 percent (19-of-54) from the floor, 25 percent (4-of-16) from beyond the arc, and 40 percent (6-of-15) from the free throw line. 

UW-Platteville will return to action on Saturday, January 18 when they host UW-River Falls at 3 p.m. on Alumni Day. 

*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.