Pioneers Fall to Blugolds in Down to the Wire Battle

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – As neither team led by more than two possessions all night long, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville women's basketball team (8-14, 2-9 WIAC) fell behind UW-Eau Claire (8-14, 3-8 WIAC) 46-44 in the final minute of Wednesday night's game on Bo Ryan Court. After the Blugolds' go-ahead layup following an offensive foul on the Pioneers, the Hail Mary attempt at the buzzer did not go.

The night, which saw 13 lead changes and seven tied scores, started with the Pioneers taking their largest lead of six points, just six minutes into the game. Seniors Macey Banasik (7) and Brynlee Nelson (4) accounted four all 11 of the Pioneers first quarter points. After the Blugolds put together a little run at the end of the first frame to cut their deficit to 11-9 at the quarter-break, they went ahead by two, taking their first lead of the game with 7:08 left in the first half. A jumper by senior Addison Baierl, followed up by a quick steal from junior Ella Mackiewicz and three pointer by senior Brianna Prieve quickly shifted momentum back to the Pioneers.  

With three minutes left in the second quarter, junior Alexis Strom nailed another three, and pushed UW-Platteville's lead back to two possessions, but another late run by the Blugolds gave the visitors a 24-22 edge at halftime.

The Pioneers took another five-point lead midway into the third quarter, but a 10-0 run shifted the advantage in favor of UW-Eau Claire. Sophomore Ava Hoppert answered and drained a three-pointer which was quickly followed up by another three pointer from Strom.

The Blugolds led 37-36 going into the fourth, and the quarter would continue to be back-and-fourth until the very end as the lead changed six times and the scored was tied on three occasions in the final 10 minutes of play. Mackiewicz was sent to the foul line with 3:55 on the clock and her two made shots gave the Pioneers a 44-42 lead. Both teams traded turnovers until an offensive rebound and made second chance layup locked the score 44-44 with 2:17 on the clock. After the offensive foul and made layup, the Blugolds Reanna Hutchinson missed two free throw attempts with 0:01.7 on the clock, giving the Pioneers one final chance at the buzzer, but the Blugolds held on for the win.

The Pioneers won the battle at the glass, 42-36, as Baierl led the team with nine boards. Banasik paced the Pioneers with 10 points, one off from her career-high.

UW-Platteville shot 27.6 percent (16-of-58) from the floor, including 26.9 percent (7-of-26) from deep. The Blugolds shot 32.1 percent (18-of-56) from the field, featuring 22.7 percent (5-of-22) from beyond the arc. UW-Eau Claire finished the night with 24 points in the paint compared to UW-Platteville's 14, and the Pioneers made 5-of-6 (83.3 %) of free throw attempts, in comparison to the Blugolds 5-of-10 (50%).

The Pioneers will return to action on Saturday, February 15 when they travel to UW-Stout with tip-off scheduled for 3 p.m.