DUBUQUE, Iowa – A big fourth quarter propelled the University of Wisconsin-Platteville women's basketball (1-0) to a 59-57 season opener win at Loras College (0-1). 

The Pioneers led 22-17 in the first quarter but the Duhawks rattled off 12 points in the second period, sending the teams to the locker room with UW-Platteville leading  by a narrow 31-29 margin. 

Loras took over momentum to start the second half and with one quarter left, the Duhawks held a 47-41 edge. Seniors Madalyn Reichmann and Ella Mackiewicz teamed up for back-to-back scores to bring the Pioneers within one with nine minutes left in the fourth quarter. A layup by junior Tatum Weir returned the lead to the Pioneers and two more baskets by Mackiewicz and Weir pushed UW-Platteville's lead to seven points with 1:12 left on the clock. A three by the Duhawks and another layup cut the Pioneers advantage to 59-57 with 0:19 on the clock and a missed shot at the buzzer locked in the opening win. 

Mackiewicz led the Pioneers in scoring, finishing with 18 points and two assists. Weir also finished in double digits with 14 points while sophomore Grace Groezinger posted a team-high six rebounds. 
In all, UW-Platteville's defensive attack forced 18 turnovers and finished with 13 steals on the night, with Mackiewicz and sophomore Ava Hanson each tallying three. 

The Pioneers shot 44.6 percent (25-of-56) from the floor in the win and 40 percent (6-of-15) from beyond the arc. The defense held Loras to 38 percent (19-of-50) from the field and 23.8 percent (14-of-21) from deep. Twenty of the Duhawks points came from Claire Wagner. 

The Pioneers will pack up for a trip to Walla Walla, Washington next weekend for the Kim Evanger Raney Memorial Classic, hosted by Whitman College. 
 
*As with every UW-Platteville win this year, the Platteville A&W will be offering a free ice cream cone (with purchase) the day after the win and the Platteville Taco John's will be offering a free churro (with purchase) the day after each Pioneer win.