Photo by: Jim Lund
LA CROSSE, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville women's basketball team's (8-12, 2-7 WIAC) third quarter 13-2 run got the Pioneers back in the game, but the rally fell short 75-65 at UW-La Crosse (12-8, 4-5 WIAC) on Wednesday night. Junior Ella Mackiewicz scored a game-high 19 points, becoming the 12th player in team history to join the 1,000 Point Club in the process.
The Eagles pulled ahead early behind a 14-4 run, but a three by Mackiewicz followed by baskets from junior Ashley Weir and sophomore Ava Hoppert narrowed the deficit to six points with 6:38 left in the first half. UW-La Crosse went on a 17-3 run to close out the second quarter, taking its largest lead of the night 41-21.
UW-La Crosse maintained a 21-point lead with 3:54 remaining in the third, but two made free throws by senior Brynlee Nelson opened the 13-2 run by the Pioneers, featuring back-to-back threes by Mackiewicz and junior Alexis Strom.
The Pioneers trailed 57-47 at the quarter break and after the Eagles scored first in the fourth, Weir's three-pointer narrowed the game back to 10 points with 6:17 left in the game. UW-Platteville would cut the deficit down to eight points with four minutes left, but was unable to erase the Eagles' first half shooting.
Mackiewicz led the Pioneers with six boards in addition to her 19 points while Weir added nine points, five boards and three blocks off the bench.
The Pioneers shot 35.6 percent (26-of-73) from the field, including 37.5 percent (9-of-24) from beyond the arc. After shooting 50 percent or better in the first three quarters, UW-La Crosse finished shooting 49.2 percent (29-of-59), featuring 40 percent (8-of-20) from three-point range.
At the free-throw line, UW-Platteville was 4-of-7 (57.1 percent) while the Eagles finished 9-of-15 (60 percent).
UW-Platteville will return to action on Saturday, February 8 when they hit the road again for UW-Stevens Point. The Pioneers and Pointers will tip off at 3 p.m.
