WHITEWATER, Wis. – In another top-ranked WIAC battle, the No. 18 University of Wisconsin-Platteville women's basketball team and No. 11 UW-Whitewater were tied midway into the fourth quarter before the Warhawks pulled ahead late to win 63-49 Wednesday night. 

Once again, the Pioneers started the night ready to battle and trailed by a narrow 17-15 margin at the end of the first quarter. The Warhawks held on to the slim two-point advantage through the end of the next two quarters, but the Pioneers tied the game, 45-45, with six minutes remaining in regulation. The difference maker in the end proved to be an efficient quarter at the free-throw line as the Warhawks made 10-of-12 attempts before the end of the game. 

Both teams found most of their success inside the paint with UW-Whitewater holding a narrow 38-34 edge in points. Senior Ella Mackiewicz paced the Pioneers with 14 points and seven rebounds. 

Mackiewicz started off the scoring and put the Pioneers on the board first. UW-Whitewater used a 12-5 run to create some separation, but UW-Platteville rallied and sophomore Caitlyn Strom's back-to-back makes cut the Pioneers' deficit to two at the quarter break. 

A 9-0 run, with Mackiewicz accounting for seven points, kicked off the start of the second quarter and UW-Platteville reclaimed the lead, 24-21, with 4:38 left in the half. The Pioneers led until the final seconds of the quarter where the Warhawks reclaimed their one-possession lead, 30-28, with 0:14 on the board. 

UW-Whitewater strung together another a 9-3 run at the start of the third quarter, but the Pioneers answered once again and cut the difference to two points going into the fourth quarter. 

Mackiewicz's diving layup with 7:56 on the clock tied the game 45-45, but UW-Whitewater pulled ahead behind a pair of three pointers and 10 free throws to win the game. 

The Pioneers shot 35.5 percent (22-of-62) from the floor, including 11.1 percent (2-of-18) from deep. The Warhawks finished 43.6 percent (24-of-55) for the game, with 23.5 percent (4-of-17) from beyond the arc. 

UW-Platteville will return to action when the team hosts UW-River Falls on Saturday, Jan. 24 at 3 p.m. on Alumni Day.