STEVENS POINT, Wis. – Seniors Ella Mackiewicz and Ashley Weir along with junior Tatum Weir all finished in double-digits Saturday afternoon as the No. 19 University of Wisconsin-Platteville women's basketball team (14-2, 4-1) held off a late comeback try by UW-Stevens Point (12-4, 1-4) to win 63-57 in Berg Gym.

The Pioneers shot 42.6 percent (23-of-54) from the floor in the win, including 61.5 percent (8-13) in the third quarter. Mackiewicz nearly had a double-double with 17 points and nine rebounds while also leading the team with four assists and three blocks. Ashley Weir added 14 points, including 6-of-7 from the foul line, and Tatum Weir finished with 10 points and eight boards.

The first quarter was a back-and-forth contest with six lead changes and neither team ever leading by more than three points. The Pointers took a five-point lead at the start of the second quarter, but Mackiewicz drained a three pointer at the 5:36 mark to give UW-Platteville the lead, 19-17, and UW-Platteville never trailed again in the contest.

The Pioneers led 25-23 at halftime and a three-pointer by Mackiewicz on the first possession of the second half set the tone for what was to come. Sophomore Caitlyn Strom's second chance layup at the 5:02 mark of the third quarter finished a 12-2 run and UW-Platteville led 43-29.  The Pioneers held the Pointers to just 22.2 percent (4-of-18) from the floor in the third quarter and an and one play by Ashley Weir increased Platteville's lead to 15 at the start of the fourth quarter. The lead built to 17 points and with 4:09 remaining in the game, the Pioneers led by 15 thanks to a three-point make by senior Madalyn Reichmann.

UW-Stevens Point kept it interesting for their home fans as a three-pointer by Ava Loftus capped off an 11-2 run to cut the Pioneers' advantage to 59-53 with 1:25 remaining. Weir answered with a layup and Mackiewicz's free throw pushed it to a three-possession game with 0:26 on the clock to stifle the Pointers comeback try.

UW-Platteville was dominant on the glass, out rebounding the Pointers 43-33.

Mackiewicz accounted for three of the Pioneers' six makes from beyond the arc (6-of-15). UW-Stevens Point finished shooting 39.3 percent from the floor, including just 2-of-13 (15.4 percent) from three-point territory.

The Pioneers will return to action on Wednesday, Jan. 21 when they travel to No. 7 UW-Whitewater for a 7 p.m. game.


*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.