Third Quarter Springs No. 15 Blue Devils Over Pioneers

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – Competing against their second nationally ranked conference opponent in less than four days, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville women's basketball team (8-10, 2-5 WIAC) fell 74-53 to No. 15 UW-Stout (15-3, 6-1 WIAC) on Saturday inside Williams Fieldhouse on Senior Day.

Seniors recognized after the game included: Brynlee Nelson, Macey Banasik, Addison Baierl, Barb Kling, Brianna Prieve, and Makayla Mau.

Once again, the Pioneers went toe-to-toe against another Top 25 team in the first half, holding the Blue Devils' lead to two possessions or less for most of the first 20 minutes. Senior Brianna Prieve drained a three-pointer at the 8:11 mark in the second quarter to cut UW-Stout's lead to one, 19-18. Junior Ella Mackiewicz's layup from  junior Alexis Strom cut the Blue Devils' lead to one again, 25-24 with 2:42 remaining in the half, but an eight-point run gave the visitors a 33-24 lead as the teams went into the locker rooms.

UW-Stout kept the momentum going, scoring the first eight points of the second half. Midway through the third frame, Junior Ashley Weir cashed in on one of Strom's four steals of the day and senior Brynlee Nelson's quick steal on the subsequent inbound complete with a layup cut the Blue Devils' lead to 10, 45-35. Unfortunately, the Pioneers wouldn't break the double-digits deficit for the remainder of the contest.

The Pioneers forced 23 turnovers and scored 23 points off them. UW-Platteville's bench also contributed 22 points in the game.

Two Pioneers scored in double-figures with Mackiewicz scoring 12 and Nelson adding 11. Mackiewicz also led UW-Platteville with six boards.

The Pioneers shot 35.9 percent (23-of-64) from the field, including 10 percent (2-of-20) from deep, and 83.3 percent (5-of-6) from the foul line. The Blue Devils finished shooting 50 percent (27-of-54) from the floor, including 27.3 percent from beyond the arc, and 87.5 percent (14-of-16) from the free-throw line.

UW-Platteville will return to action and Bo Ryan Court on Wednesday, January 29 at 7 p.m. when they take on No. 4 UW-Oshkosh in the White Out game.