HOLLAND, Mich. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville women's basketball team (0-1) opened the season on Friday evening at No. 4 Hope (1-0). The Pioneers kept the game close, but ultimately fell 72-65 from DeVos Fieldhouse in Holland, Michigan.
Junior
Caitlyn Strom finished with a career-high 19 points on 6-of-17 shooting to lead the team while junior
Ava Hanson joined her in double figures with 11 points on 4-of-7 from the floor. Hanson was the team leader in rebounds with seven and assists with five, while senior
Tatum Weir grabbed six boards.
Hope led for much of the opening quarter, but the Pioneers hung close and trailed 13-11 after Weir closed the frame with a three-point make. UW-Platteville kept the game within one possession in the early stages of the second thanks to a jumper by junior
Grace Groezinger and a three-point make from sophomore
Chloe Van Horn, but the Flying Dutch took an eight-point lead late in the half behind a six-point run. The lead remained at six at the break, with Hope in front 34-28.
Three-point makes by senior
Taliah DeGroot and sophomore
Reese Watson got the Pioneers back within two, but Hope answered with an eight-point run to go ahead 47-37 with under six to play in the third quarter. Hanson knocked down a triple to close out the scoring in the frame, with UW-Platteville trailing 52-46.
The Pioneers were able to get as close as five in the final quarter, but each time Hope answered with a basket of its own to maintain the advantage. The lead grew to 11 in the final minutes and the Flying Dutch hung on to win 72-65.
The Pioneers shot 42.9 percent (24-of-56) from the floor and 44.0 percent (11-of-25) from three-point range. The long-range shooting was great after the first quarter, as UW-Platteville shot 58.8 percent (10-of-17) from beyond the arc.
Hope finished at 44.3 percent (27-of-61) from the field and 37.5 percent (6-of-16) from beyond the arc. The Flying Dutch got to the free throw line more often than UW-Platteville and went 12-of-19.
The Pioneers will face another ranked team tomorrow in No. 24 Ohio Wesleyan. Game time is set for noon.
