PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – In a game which featured 17 tied scores, the No. 18 University of Wisconsin-Platteville women's basketball team (14-4, 4-3) fell short 62-60 to UW-River Falls (11-7, 4-3) Saturday afternoon on Bo Ryan Court. 

The Pioneers were led by 13 points each from seniors Ella Mackiewicz and Ashley Weir in addition to 10 from senior Madalyn Reichmann. 

With nine lead changes and neither team ever leading by more than seven points, fans stayed on the edge of their seats until the very end. Apart from the third quarter, UW-Platteville struggled getting shots to fall in their favor, particularly from deep as they were 1-of-11 from three-point territory.  In a stronger third quarter, the Pioneers were 6-of-12 from the field, including 3-of-5 from beyond the arc which was enough to tie the game 45-45 going into the final quarter. 

Weir scored first in the final period on a jump shot, but the Falcons quickly answered with one of their own. The teams would exchange the lead a couple of times until a jumper by Reichmann at the 1:00 mark tied the game again at 58-58. River Falls called a timeout and went ahead by three on their next possession. A free throw with 00:08 put the Falcons ahead by four points before UW-Platteville's final timeout. The Pioneers missed their three-point chance, but an offensive board and layup by Weir in the final second cut UW-River Falls' lead to 62-60 at the buzzer. 

On the glass, the Falcons held a 41-37 edge with Weir pulling down a game-high eight rebounds. 

Overall, the Pioneers shot 36.4 percent (20-of-55), including 25 percent (4-of-16) from beyond the arc. UW-River Falls finished 37.7 percent (20-of-53), including 27.3 (6-of-22) from three-point range. At the free-throw line, UW-Platteville finished 61.5 percent (16-of-26) and the Falcons shot 64 percent (16-of-25). 

The Pioneers will return to action on Wednesday, Jan. 28 when the host UW-Stevens Point at 7 p.m. on Staff Appreciation Night.