Tesch, Wubben lead Pioneer win
February 7, 2007
Liz Tesch and Lisa Wubben combined for 59 points, leading UW-Platteville to a 75-73 victory over UW-La Crosse Wednesday on the Pioneers' Bo Ryan Court.
Tesch poured in 36 points, matching the third-highest point total in Pioneer history, while Wubben tied her career high with 23 points.
More importantly, Tesch said, "it was nice to finally get a win."
The Pioneers ended their seven-game losing streak and improved to 9-13 overall and 3-10 in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, while the Eagles slipped to 13-10, 7-7.
Tesch made 11-17 from the field, including 2-3 three-point shots, and 12-14 from the line.
"We were able to get the ball to the posts early, and then I hit a couple of outside shots, too," said the senior center. "Then when they double-teamed me, it opened it up for the perimeter players and they made their shots."
Tesch's last basket gave the Pioneers a five-point lead at 69-64 with 1:10 remaining. The Eagles closed the gap to three again at 73-70 on Ashley Wagner's jump shot with 13.2 seconds remaining. After Wubben made one of two free throws with 10 seconds left, UW-L's Katy Searing knocked down a three-point basket with four seconds remaining. The Pioneers' Megan Guernsey made the first of two free throws with 2.4 seconds left, then stole the ball after the Eagles rebounded.
Tesch (19) and Wubben (12) scored 31 of the Pioneers' 38 first-half points, staking UWP to a 38-31 lead. The Eagles came within 61-60 before Tesch hit two free throws and a jumper on the baseline for a 65-60 lead.
Besides her 36 points, Tesch added nine rebounds. Wubben, who was 11-12 from the line, added four steals to her night. All told, the Pioneers knocked down 28 of 34 from the line.
Searing led the Eagles with 15 points, while Mackenzie Hunter had 14 and Abby Johnson 10.
Tesch tied Donna Freitag (1980 and 1981) and Crystal Stietz (2001) for the third-most points ever scored by a Pioneer. Stephanie Sullivan holds the record with 42 against UW-Oshkosh in 1992, while Laura Finnegan had 38 vs. Clarke in 1986.
"I knew I had quite a few early, but didn't know I had 36," Tesch said. "It's kind of nice to put my name in the record books."
Related Links