Pioneers down Loras, 70-63
November 25, 2006
UW-Platteville's late game surge lifted the Pioneers to a hard-fought 70-63 victory over Loras College Saturday at the Mississippi River Challenge, held at Clarke College.
Lisa Grantman's three-point basket with 1:37 remaining broke a 60-60 tie and gave the Pioneers the lead for good. Grantman then made one of two free throws, and Liz Tesch followed with a layup for a 66-60 advantage. After the Duhawks' Jackie Sears made a three-point shot with 32 seconds left, Megan Guernsey and Tesch sealed the game with a pair of free throws apiece.
The Pioneers improved to 4-1 this season and 7-1 in the four-year history of the challenge. They rebounded from Friday's 71-62 setback to Dubuque.
"We were so down yesterday," said freshman Liz Wisdom, who totaled 19 points. "This was our fifth game in seven days, and yesterday was the only one we lost, so we're feeling pretty good. It feels better to win."
Wisdom,a 6-2 center from Cuba City, came off the bench to make 7 of 11 shots from the field and all five free throws.
"They were really physical inside," Wisdom said. "Usually I have an advantage because I'm tall, but they were strong underneath. We had the hi-low working well, and we kept it up."
Fellow freshman Brianna Klaas, from Lancaster, added 15 points, while senior center Tesch totaled 13 points and 12 rebounds.
Klaas, from Lancaster, made three three-point baskets in five attempts, including a trey that brought the Pioneers within one at 50-49 after the Duhawks had scored nine straight points.
The Pioneers at several times during the game had four freshmen on the floor,including Wisdom who missed the first weekend of play because of injuries sustained in a car accident.
"I've never had an injury before and had to sit out," she said. "It was really hard, but it also helped to sit out and see things from the bench."
Blair Bennett led all scorers with 24 points for Loras (1-2), while Natalie Pucci added 15 points, and Mindy Meyer 10.
The Pioneers play at Millikin Wednesday then finally make their home debut Saturday vs. UW-Stout at 5 p.m.
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