2000-01 Pioneer Women's Basketball Season Review
Buechel earns all-WIAC honors
posted 2/28/01
Eleven players have been named to the 2000-01 WIAC All-Conference Women's Basketball First Team, selected by the conference coaches.
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UW-Platteville's Laurie Buechel (Sr., G, New Holstein) made the first team. She led the Pioneers to the WIAC tournament championship game, which they dropped 78-76 to top-seeded UW-Eau Claire Saturday. Buechel's basket with 5.9 seconds remaining lifted the Pioneers to an 80-78 upset victory at third-seeded UW-Stevens Point. The Pioneers also knocked off second-seeded UW-Oshkosh 68-57 in the tournament's first round.
Buechel ranks second in the WIAC in steals (3.07/g), fifth in scoring (14.4), tenth in three-point field goals made (1.26/g), 12th in field goal percentage (.379) and 15th in free throw percentage (.673). She was an All-WIAC Honorable Mention selection last season.
Eau Claire's Vanessa Schley was named Player of the Year, while River Falls Head Coach Cindy Hovet was named Coach of the Year.
Schley, an All-WIAC First Team selection last season, ranks third in the WIAC in scoring (15.5), fourth in field goal percentage (.508), ninth in rebounding (6.1), 11th in free throw percentage (.709) and 14th in blocked shots (.44/g). She set a school single-game scoring record with 36 points against Oshkosh on Jan. 17. In that same game, she also tied a conference record by making 16 free throws and also equaled the WIAC standard for free throw percentage at 1.000 by not missing any of her 16 attempts. Schley has led the Blugolds in scoring in 16 of 27 games this season.
Schley joins former Blugolds Arlene Meinholz (1995), Erika Schmidt (1997) and Jayme Anderson (2000) as players who have won the conference's Player of the Year honor.
Schley's teammate, Jessie Brantner, was also named to the All-WIAC First Team. She leads the WIAC in assist/turnover ratio (2.07) and ranks second in three-point field goals made (60), fifth in assists (3.44/g) and three-point field goal percentage (.387), eighth in free throw percentage (.744) and 12th in scoring (11.3). She was an All-WIAC First Team selection last season and received Honorable Mention honors in 1998-99.
The senior duo helped the Blugolds earn the WIAC's automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament with a victory over Platteville in the WIAC Tournament Championship. The Blugolds will make their tenth consecutive appearance in the NCAA tournament tonight when they host Lakeland. The Blugolds earned a share of the 2000-01 WIAC Championship after winning the title outright last season.
River Falls landed a conference-high three players on the First Team. Andrea Long makes her second consecutive appearance on the All-WIAC First Team. She leads the WIAC in scoring (16.6) and ranks fourth in rebounding (6.8), fifth in field goal percentage (.504), sixth in free throw percentage (.764) and 11th in blocked shots (.54/g).
Melissa McKernon ranks seventh in the WIAC in rebounding (6.2) and three-point field goals made (1.42/g), 11th in field goal percentage (.396), 12th in free throw percentage (.693) and 13th in scoring (12.5).
Mara Reif-Wenner ranks second in the WIAC in assist/turnover ratio (2.06), fourth in assists (3.73/g), sixth in steals (2.08/g), seventh in field goal percentage (.480) and eighth in rebounding (6.1).
Stevens Point's Carry Boehning and Kari Groshek helped the Pointers to their best record (20-6) since the 1986-87 season. Boehning ranks second in the WIAC in rebounding (7.0), seventh in scoring (13.7), eighth in field goal percentage (.470), 13th in free throw percentage (.693) and 15th in steals (1.35/g). She was an All-WIAC Honorable Mention selection last season and was named to the All-Defensive Team in 1998-99.
Groshek ranks second in the WIAC in scoring (15.8), third in blocked shots (1.23/g) and field goal percentage (.524) and fourth in rebounding (6.8).
Kristin Steckmesser helped Oshkosh to a share of the 2000-01 WIAC Championship, their third conference crown in four seasons. She ranks third in the WIAC in assists (3.92/g), fourth in three-point field goals made (1.64/g) and free throw percentage (.771), eighth in blocked shots (.60/g) and tenth in scoring (12.4) and steals (1.64/g). She was an All-WIAC Honorable Mention selection in 1998-99.
Stout's Amy Zelinger leads the WIAC in steals (3.24/g) and ranks sixth in blocked shots (.76/g), seventh in assists (3.16/g), eighth in scoring (13.0) and tenth in field goal percentage (.401).
Jill Murray helped La Crosse post its best conference record (7-9) since the 1988-89 season. She ranks fourth in the WIAC in scoring (15.2) and steals (2.56/g), sixth in field goal percentage (.495), ninth in free throw percentage (.742) and 13th in assists (2.52/g). Murray established new school single-game records with 36 points and 13 free throws made against Stevens Point on Dec. 13. She is the first Eagle to garner All-WIAC First Team honors since the 1995-96 season.
Named to the Honorable Mention team were: Eau Claire's Megan Murphy, Oshkosh's Amanda Dickerson, Melissa Schweitzer and Jamie Turtenwald, Stout's Tanya Halbach, Superior's Sheri Domitrovich and Whitewater's Brenda Brooks.
Named to the All-Defensive Team were: Eau Claire's Megan Murphy, Oshkosh's Jamie Turtenwald, River Falls' Mara Reif-Wenner, Stevens Point's Kari Groshek and Stout's Amy Zelinger.
River Falls Head Coach Cindy Hovet was selected the 2000-01 WIAC Coach of the Year by her peers. The first-year head coach guided the Falcons to an 18-8 overall record, their best mark since the 1988-89 season.
Upstart Pioneers lose at the buzzer
posted 2/24/01
By Paul Erickson, UWP Sports Information Director
EAU CLAIRE, WIS. -- What if they played a basketball game and both teams won?
Oh sure, the final score in Zorn Arena showed the hometown UW-Eau Claire women's basketball team beat UW-Platteville 78-76 in a thrilling Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference post-season tournament championship game Saturday.
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| Allison Rotramel drives baseline |
Jessie Branter's running shot in the lane at the buzzer gave top-seeded UW-Eau Claire the league's automatic bid into the NCAA Division III playoffs. The 22-5 Blugolds will begin national tournament play Wednesday.
The upstart Pioneers, who knocked off number two seed UW-Oshkosh 68-57 Monday and number three seed UW-Stevens Point 80-78 Wednesday, finished 11-16 but benefited from the realization they can play with anyone in the league. They certainly earned the WIAC's respect, as evidenced by the standing ovation they received after the game from the Zorn Arena crowd of 1,150.
"What a game to watch as a fan," Pioneer Coach Denise Dunbar said. "We got down a little bit, but had the confidence to come back. We just kept fighting. It just came down to that last shot. If we had 10 more seconds or had the last shot, we could have made it happen as well. They have a good player who made a good shot."
Branter made another good shot on the previous possession, a three-pointer with 28 seconds remaining to tie the score at 76-76. The Pioneers' Tifanie Brady had a shot roll in and out of the rim, and the Blugolds rebounded the ball with 17 seconds remaining. Brantner missed her first chance at the tie-breaker, but after a jump ball on the rebound, the possession arrow gave the ball to UWEC with four ticks left. Brantner drove from the left side and put up the runner as the buzzer sounded.
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| Grace under pressure: Foster's three give UWP a 76-71 lead. |
"It was the type of game where whoever had the ball last would win," Dunbar said.
The Pioneers stood toe-to-toe and battled with the champion Blugolds throughout the entire game.
"This week the kids just laid it on the line and played with nothing to lose," Dunbar said. "We just said the only ones who could stop us was us. They didn't want to stop playing basketball."
The Pioneers came out to take a quick 12-8 lead, only to have the Blugolds come back and grab the advantage at 14-12. The Blugolds stretched the lead to 10 at 25-15, and the Pioneers spend the rest of the half trying to whittle the margin. UWP sliced the margin to 33-30 at one point, but trailed at the half 42-35.
In the second half, the Pioneers continued to drive the ball right at the Blugold defense, continuing the aggressive philosophy that carried the team this week and kept the excitement going for the large contingent of UWP fans who made the three- and one-half hour trip.
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| Cassie Horgan battles the Blugolds. |
The Pioneers finally came all the way back with 9:45 to play, when Grace Foster drove the lane and scooped in a shot, giving the Pioneers a 54-53 advantage. The two teams played back and forth the rest of the way until the final minutes. The Pioneers trailed 71-68 before running off eight straight points. Brady hit two free throws and a jump shot, Allison Rotramel made one of two free throws, and Foster's three-point shot with 1:19 remaining pushed the Pioneer advantage to 76-71. The Blugolds' Vanessa Schley made two free throws with 1:04 left, setting the stage for Branter's two final baskets.
Brantner led all scorers with 19 points. Senior guard Laurie Buechel and Brady, a freshman center, tied for the UWP scoring lead with 18 points. Buechel pumped in 14 of her points in the first half, while Brady took charge in the second half with 12. Junior forward Crystal Stietz added 13 points. Oliver added five assists, and led the defense with three steals. The Pioneers scored 18 points off turnovers, compared to six for the Blugolds.
"We hung together and never gave up all week," Buechel said. "We didn't today either. We couldn't get down on ourselves because we had no pressure. I never had as much fun playing basketball as I did this week."
The Pioneers entered the tournament 9-15 and on the heels of a seven-game losing streak, but won in two tough arenas against two teams with NCAA III playoff aspirations and came within seconds of being in the national playoffs themselves.
"This has been an amazing week of basketball," Steitz said. "It's hard because this was a heart-breaker, but we know if we work hard and come back next year, what we can do. We will miss Laurie and Allison (Rotramel), though, so we'll have to step it up."
Buechel and Rotramel played their final games in Pioneer uniforms Saturday. Rotramel scored nine points and grabbed four rebounds. Besides scoring 18 points, Buechel made two steals, raising her season record to 75.
"Allison and Laurie put everybody else on their shoulders this week," Dunbar said.
The coach said this week's games are the foundation on which to build for next year.
"I think we learned a lot about ourselves," she said.
BoxscorePioneers,Buechel shoot down Pointers
posted 2/21/01
By Paul Erickson, UWP Sports Information Director
STEVENS POINT - As baseball Hall of Famer Yogi Bera once said, "It was deja vu all over again."
For the second straight night, UW-Platteville knocked UW-Stevens Point out of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference post-season basketball tournament as the women stunned the hosts Pointers 80-78 Wednesday night.
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Laurie Buechel's running jump shot in the lane with 5.9 seconds remaining lifted the seventh-seeded Pioneers to the semifinal victory. A night earlier, Bryan Stangel's three-point basket at the buzzer gave the UWP men a 57-56 victory in the same building.
"My thought was just to take it to the hole, and put up the shot. If it went in great, otherwise I knew Cassie (Horgan) was there for the rebound. It just happened to go in," Buechel said. "I jumped up and down, then looked up at the clock and saw how much time was left."
The Pointers inbounded the ball with 5.9 seconds left, got it to near halfcourt and called timeout with 1.9 seconds remaining. The Pointers threw a long bounce pass, and Tara Schmitt caught it, spun and shot. The ball bounced off the rim at the buzzer, touching off a wild Pioneer celebration.
The 11-15 Pioneers will face 21-5 and top-seeded UW-Eau Claire in Eau Claire's Zorn Arena Saturday at either 3 or 7 p.m. The winner earns the league's automatic bid into the NCAA III playoffs.
UWP will try and complete its improbable tournament run and knock off a one, a two and a three seed. The Pioneers defeated second-seeded UW-Oshkosh 68-57 Monday and Wednesday took down the 20-6 Pointers, who were seeded third.
The Pioneers split with the league champion Blugolds, winning 70-63 in Williams Fieldhouse Jan. 10 and falling 83-72 in Zorn Feb. 14.
"We beat them once. They beat us once," Buechel said. "We have a lot of confidence. If we execute our offense, we can win."
Early on Wednesday, the host team was the one executing. The Pointers jumped to a 22-9 lead and still kept a 13-point advantage (34-21) with 6:23 remaining in the first half. The Pioneers, however, answered with a 16-5 run to close within 39-35, with the freshman Horgan scoring seven of those points.
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The Pioneers were finally able to tie the score at 54-54 on Buechel's jumper at the 13:03 mark of the second half. Angie Sisson's three-point basket and Crystal Stietz's jumper gave the Pioneers their largest lead, 59-54. UWSP scored the next six points for a 60-59 advantage, and from then on the teams exchanged the lead.
Buechel scored with 26 seconds remaining, knotting the score at 78-78. The Pioneers then forced the Pointers into a five-second violation, gaining possession of the ball with 13 seconds left and setting up Buechel's last basket.
The senior guard's last score gave her a team-high 19 points. Freshmen Sisson and Horgan each scored 12, and junior guard Grace Foster added 11.
Post players Carry Boehning and Kari Groshek carried UWSP with 23 points apiece, but the Pointer women suffered the same fate as their men did the previous night.
"I listened to the last six seconds (Tuesday)," Buechel said. "I didn't expect our game to come to that, too."
BoxscorePioneers stun Titans in WIAC playoffs
posted 2/19/01
UW-Platteville upset UW-Oshkosh 68-57 in a Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference playoff stunner Monday in Oshkosh.
The Pioneers became the lowest seed (seventh) in the three-year history of the WIAC post-season tournament to post a victory. In addition, the Pioneers broke a 23-game losing streak vs. the Titans and earned the school's first playoff victory since beating Lakeland 75-63 in the 1990 NAIA District 14 playoffs.
"This was awesome," a jubilant coach Denise Dunbar said. "We just came out on fire. That was our game plan, to shoot the ball before the defense could come out and play us."
The Pioneers rolled out to leads of 18-4 and 33-16 in the first half, surprising the Albee Hall crowd. The Pioneers settled for a 36-24 halftime lead.
The Titans (19-6) stormed back in the second half, scoring the first 14 points to take a 38-36 lead.
"I knew they could come back," Dunbar said. "They're a very good team, but this time we kept our poise."
Allison Rotramel's three-point shot put the Pioneers ahead to stay at 49-48 with 7:05 remaining. The Pioneers outscored the Titans 19-9 down the stretch, successfully converting 15 of 18 from the line during that time.
"We made our free throws, and we also won the rebound battle (36-29), which forced them to foul us at the end," Dunbar said.
Rotramel led the Pioneers with 20 points, hitting 7-12 from the field and 4-5 from the line. Laurie Buechel added 13 points and 5 steals, while Katie Oliver had probably her best Pioneer game with 11 points and 2 steals. Crystal Stietz grabbed a game-high 9 rebounds.
"We shot the ball with confidence," Dunbar said. "I give the kids all the credit in the world tonight."
The Pioneers now travel to face the 20-5 UW-Stevens Point Pointers Wednesday at 7 p.m.
UWP, now 10-15, defeated both conference co-champions UW-Eau Claire and UW-Oshkosh this season.
"This was just as big as the Eau Claire win," Dunbar said, then thought a second and added, "OK, this might be bigger."
BoxscoreFalcons beat Pioneers in home finale
posted 2/14/01
By Kristin Henke, Sports Information Assistant
The UW-Platteville women lost to the Falcons of UW-River Falls,61-80, in the Pioneers' final home game of the season.
The Falcons came out strong, shooting 60 percent giving the Pioneers all they could handle. The Falcons made their first 6 3-pt shot for a 22-11 lead, then their first 2 of the second half for 43-27 advantage.
UW-Platteville came within 59-49 late in the second half, but couldn't come any closer.
Laurie Buechel broke the UW-Platteville season record with 72 steals. She is second in the conference in steals with three per game. She led the Pioneers with 15 points and 5 rebounds. Angie Sisson followed with 13 and Allison Rotramel delivered 12. Buechel and Rotramel, the lone seniors, were saluted before the game for their outstanding leadership.
UW-Platteville is now 5-11 in the WIAC, 9-15 heading into the tournament. The seventh-seeded Pioneers will play at UW-Oshkosh Monday at 7 p.m.
UW-River Falls improved to 11-5 in the WIAC, 17-7 overall. The fourth-seeded Falcons will play host to #5 UW-Stout. The other pairings are #8 UW-Whitewater at #1 UW-Eau Claire and #6 UW-La Crosse at #3 UW-Stevens Point.
BoxscoreHot-shooting 'Golds hold off Pioneers
posted 2/14/01
UW-Eau Claire made 68 percent of its second-half shots and held off a pesky UW-Platteville women's basketball team 83-72 Wednesday in UWEC's Zorn Arena.
The Blugolds, 18-5 overall and 11-4 in WIAC play, took a 39-31 halftime lead, then hit several big shots in the second half to keep the Pioneers (9-14, 5-10 WIAC) at bay.
Grace Foster led the Pioneers with 12 points, while Crystal Stietz added 11. The Blugolds' Vanessa Schley led all scorers with 27 points.
The Pioneers close their home season Saturday at 7 p.m. vs. UW-River Falls. They will salute seniors Laurie Buechel and Allison Rotramel before their final Williams Fieldhouse appearances.
BoxscoreEagles pull away from Pioneers
posted 2/7/01
UW-La Crosse broke open a one-point game at the halftime and posted a 79-57 women's basketball win over visiting UW-Platteville Wednesday night.
The Eagles led 33-32 then used a 25-8 run early in the second half to distance themselves from the Pioneers.
UWL improved to 9-12 overall and 4-9 in the WIAC. The Pioneers fell to 9-13, 5-9.
Laurie Buechel took scoring honors for the Pioneers with 15 points, all in the first half. Allison Rotramel added 12 points and 10 rebounds.
The Pioneers return to action Wednesday at UW-Eau Claire.
BoxscorePlatteville loses to Point
posted 2/3/01
By Kristin Henke, Sports Information Student Assistant
The UW-Platteville women lost to the Pointers of UW-Stevens Point, 70-48, before a season-high attendance of 593 at the Williams Fieldhouse on Saturday night.
The Pioneers celebrated National Girls and Women in Sports Day, and 181 youngsters between the grades of second and seventh took part in the day's activities, which included the game.
The Pointers held the lead throughout the entire game, keeping the Pioneer women struggling to make something happen with only 30.6 percent shooting in the game.
Allison Rotramel and Carrie Vobian led the Pioneers with 8 points each. Crystal Stietz followed with 7.
UW-Platteville women fell to 5-8 in the WIAC, 9-12 overall. UW-Stevens Point improved to 8-4 in the WIAC, 16-4 overall.
The Pioneer women travel to UW-La Crosse to take on the Eagles at Mitchell Hall at 7 p.m. Wednesday.
BoxscoreWarhawks surprise Pioneers
posted 1/31/01
UW-Whitewater upset visiting UW-Platteville, 76-60, Wednesday in women's basketball action.
The Warhawks earned their second league victory, improving to 2-10 in the WIAC and 6-11 overall. The Pioneers fell to 9-11, 5-7.
Grace Foster led the Pioneers with 17 points, hitting 3-5 from three-point range. She also had 6 rebounds and 4 assists. Heidi Mess added 12 points, while Crystal Stietz had 9 points and 10 rebounds.
The Pioneers play host to UW-Stevens Point Saturday at 7 p.m.
BoxscoreBlue Devils beat Pioneers
posted 1/27/01
By Kristin Henke, Sports Information Student Assistant
UW-Stout Blue Devils beat the UW-Platteville Pioneers, 74-64 Saturday night at the Williams Fieldhouse.
UW-Stout used a 16-0 to end the first half and start the second half. The Pioneers, who led 30-27 at the break but soon trailed 34-30, fought to regain lost ground with a layup by Laurie Buechel to tie the game 56-56 with 4:48 left in the game, but it wasn't enough. The Blue Devils stayed strong to extend their lead by 10 finishing the game 74-64.
Buechel led the Pioneers with game-high 20 points. Angie Sisson and Allison Rotramel each chipped in 11.
UW-Platteville fell to 5-6 in the WIAC, 9-10 overall. UW-Stout improved to 7-4 in the WIAC, 14-5 overall.
The Pioneers travel to UW-Whitewater to take on the Warhawks on Wednesday Jan. 31. The UW-Platteville women return home next Saturday Feb.3 to take on UW-Stevens Point at 7 p.m.
BoxscoreTitans pull away from Pioneers
posted 1/24/01
First-place UW-Oshkosh pulled away late in the second half to defeat UW-Platteville 73-61 in women's basketball Wednesday at Oshkosh.
The Titans improved to 16-2 overall and 9-1 in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. The Pioneers fell to 9-9, 5-5.
The Pioneers led 59-56 with four minutes remaining, but the Titans outscored them 17-2 down the stretch.
Laurie Buechel led the Pioneers with 22 points, but she was the only player in double figures.
The Pioneers will continue their battle for an upper-division finish Saturday when UW-Stout comes to Williams Fieldhouse for a 7 p.m. start.
BoxscorePioneers bounce UW-Superior
posted 1/20/01
By Kristin Henke, Sports Information Student Assistant
UW-Platteville women stomped over the Yellowjackets of UW-Superior, defeating them 74-45 in a Saturday afternoon match-up at the Williams Fieldhouse with the appearance by NCAA mascot JJ Jumper.
UW-Platteville defense kept the Yellowjackets at just 24% shooting throughout the game, and played without starter Crystal Stietz, who sat out with an ankle injury. UW-Platteville dominated the game with offensive explosion with the help of Carrie Vobian's 3-4 three-point attempts. The Pioneers also took advantage of UW-Superior fouls by making 83% of their free-throw attempts.
The Pioneers were led by Allison Rotramel with a game-high 16 points. Cassie Horgan followed with 13 points and 6 rebounds, and Laurie Buechel and Vobian each collected 11.
UW-Platteville improved to 5-4 in the WIAC, 9-8 overall. UW-Superior fell to 0-9 in the WIAC, 2-14 overall.
The Pioneers travel to Oshkosh on Wednesday, Jan. 24 to take on the Titans of UW-Oshkosh.
BoxscorePioneers' upset bid falls short
posted 1/17/01
UW-River Falls nipped UW-Platteville 78-74 in a tight Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference women's basketball game Wednesday in the UWRF Karges Center.
The Falcons' Abby Nelson made all four free throws in the final 19 seconds to hold off the Pioneers. The hosts improved to 13-3 overall and 7-1 in the WIAC. The Pioneers fell to .500 at 8-8, 4-4.
UWP's Grace Foster's three-point shot cut the lead to 74-72 with 26 seconds remaining, before Nelson hit her four straight free shots. The Pioneers' Tifanie Brady added a jump shot with one second remaining for the final 78-74 count.
Brady led the Pioneer effort with 19 points, hitting 9 of 12 from the field. Foster and Heidi Mess each added 13 points. Mess, playing against her former school for the first time, added 6 rebounds.
The Pioneers return to Williams Fieldhouse Saturday at 2 p.m. vs. UW-Superior. That game will feature NCAA Productions making a Virtual Tour of Williams Fieldhouse. Chancellor David Markee has proclaimed the day "Orange and Blue Day" and encourages fans to show their school colors at the contest.
BoxscorePioneers lose to Lakeland
posted 1/13/01
By Kristin Henke, Sports Information Student Assistant
UW-Platteville lost to Lakeland College 72-59 in a non-conference women's basketball match-up Saturday night in Williams Fieldhouse.
The Pioneers came out strong and quick against the Muskies in the first half, hitting 7 of their first 10 shots, but Lakeland quickly regained lost ground to gain the lead at the half, 43-33. Lakeland held the lead for the rest of the game despite some Platteville comeback attempts.
Laurie Buechel led the team with 19 points and Tifanie Brady scored 9.
UW-Platteville fell to 8-7 overall, and Lakeland is now 13-2. The Pioneers travel to UW-River Falls on Wednesday, January 17. Game time is at 7 p.m.
BoxscorePioneers end long losing streak vs. #8 Blugolds
posted 1/10/01
By Kristin Henke, Sports Information Student Assistant
UW-Platteville broke its 19-game losing streak to the 8th-ranked UW-Eau Claire by clinching a win 70-63 Wednesday in Williams Fieldhouse.
The Pioneers beat the Blugolds for the first time since the 1990-91 season.
With 12:53 on the clock, Carrie Vobian made a 3-point basket that gave UW-Platteville the lead (39-36) for the rest of the game. Grace Foster held off the Blugolds all by herself making 9 of her 13 points in the last minute of the game.
The Pioneers and Blugolds spent the first half struggling to keep a lead, however with Angie Sisson's layup and a free-throw shot all within the last 29 seconds of the half gave Platteville the lead by just one point, 27-26.
UW-Platteville came out in the second half shooting 31% in 3-pointers, holding the Blugolds to a 0-9 in 3-point attempts.
Laurie Buechel led the Pioneers with a game-high 22 points, and grabbing 9 rebounds. Foster followed with 13 points and 9 rebounds.
UW-Platteville improved to 8-6 overall, and 4-3 in the WIAC. UW-Eau Claire fell to 11-3, and 4-2 in the WIAC.
The Pioneers return to Williams Fieldhouse on Saturday Jan. 13th at 7 p.m. to host 12-2 Lakeland College.
BoxscoreFirst half cold spell snaps UWP streak
posted 1/6/01
Host UW-Stevens Point held UW-Platteville to just 6 field goals in the first half and built a 17-point lead at intermission before going on to a 76-61 victory Saturday afternoon.
The Pointers, who outshot the Pioneers 49 percent to 22 percent in the first 20 minutes, led 40-23 at the half. The Pioneers whittled the lead to as few as 8 at 59-51 in the second half, but that was as close as they could get.
UWP had its three-game win streak stopped and fell to 7-6 overall, 3-3 in the WIAC. The Pointers improved to 11-2, 3-2.
Tifanie Brady led the Pioneers with 20 points and 5 rebounds, while Laurie Buechel added 12 points, ad Carie Vobian came off the bench to hit 4 of 5 shots for 11 points.
Carry Boehning's 26 points and 12 rebounds led the Pointers, who held a 50-26 advantage on the boards.
The Pioneers face UW-Eau Claire in Williams Fieldhouse Saturday at 7 p.m.
BoxscorePioneers win third straight
posted 1/3/01
By Kristin Henke, UWP Sports Information Student
The UW-Platteville Pioneer women defeated the UW-La Crosse Eagles, 73-61 for Platteville's third straight win Wednesday night in Williams Fieldhouse.
The Pioneer women rallied to keep the lead heading into the locker room at halftime (28-25) as La Crosse came out in the second half ready to play, tying the game 41-41, but with the help of 5 straight points from Laurie Buechel and Pioneers shooting 72 percent from the line, the Platteville women stretched their lead to 13 at 58-45. La Crosse attempted to gain a lead with a couple late 3-point baskets but Platteville was too much to handle, resulting in a 73-61 Platteville victory.
Crystal Stietz led the Pioneers with 12 points and 11 rebounds, with Buechel also gathering 12 points. Angie Sisson scored 11 points for the Pioneers, who improved to 7-5 overall and 3-2 in the WIAC. UW-La Crosse fell to 5-6, 2-4.
UW-Platteville women travel to Stevens Point on Saturday at 3 p.m. to take on UW-Stevens Point, who upset league-leader UW-Eau Claire Wednesday, and return to the Williams Fieldhouse on Wednesday January 10 to play UW-Eau Claire at 7 p.m.
BoxscorePioneers win consolation title
posted 12/31/00
UW-Platteville won two out of three games to claim the consolation title at the fourth annual Clarke College Holiday Classic.
The Pioneers lost 57-51 to Calvin, an NCAA III tournament participant last year, in the opener, then rebounded to beat Trinity International 79-65 and Clarke 64-50 to win the title.
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| Crystal Stietz was an all-tournament pick. |
The Pioneers raised their record to 6-5 overall heading back into Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play. UWP resumes league wars Wednesday when UW-La Crosse comes to Williams Fieldhouse for a 7 p.m. game.
The Clarke tournament helped the Pioneers tune up for the league by offering outstanding competition. The Pioneers played a back-and-forth game with Calvin, before the Michigan team pulled away in the final minutes. Crystal Stietz, named to the all-tournament team, led the way with 22 points, while Allison Rotramel added 8.
The Pioneers shot 57 percent in the first half Thursday and buried Trinity International by 14 points. Angie Sisson led the way with 17 points, while Laurie Buechel and Stietz each scored 13, and Tifanie Brady added 11 points and 8 rebounds. Buechel was credited with 5 assists, and Sisson and Katie Oliver each made 4 steals.
Sisson repeated her offensive fireworks in the win over Clarke Friday, again totalling 17 points. She made 6 of 8 from the field, including 3 of 5 three-point attempts. Brady chipped in 13 points, and Buechel added 10.
Viterbo University won the tournament title, beating Concordia (Neb.) 76-65 in the championship.
Clarke BoxscoreTrinity International Boxscore
Calvin Boxscore