PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – The No. 22 ranked University of Wisconsin-Platteville women's basketball team cruised to a 78-55 victory over UW-Eau Claire on Wednesday night on Bo Ryan Court. With the win, the Pioneers (18-6, 8-5 WIAC) became the first squad for UW-Platteville to reach eight conference victories since the 2014-15 season.
UW-Platteville shot 45.8 percent (27-of-59) from the field, including 50 percent (7-of-14) from beyond the arc. Senior
Ella Mackiewicz's double-double of 13 points and 12 rebounds was joined by a team-high 15 points from junior
Tatum Weir and 11 points from senior
Alexis Strom. At the line, the Pioneers finished 17-of-25 (68 percent) with Strom accounting for seven made free throws.
Both teams shot over 50 percent in the high-scoring first quarter and the Pioneers held a 24-20 lead at the break. A Mackiewicz layup three minutes into the quarter pushed the advantage to eight and four made free throws by Strom extended the lead to double digits.
UW-Platteville led 41-30 at halftime and that advantage only grew in the second half. Five straight points from Weir opened the third quarter and four minutes in, Mackiewicz's turnaround jump shot gave the Pioneers a 49-32 lead.
The Pioneers took a 60-38 advantage into the final quarter and Mackiewicz put an exclamation on the win when she drained a three with 2:49 to go in the game, giving UW-Platteville its largest lead of the night, 75-51.
The Pioneers held advantages in rebounds (43-29), turnovers (8-10), points in the paint (36-26), and points off the bench (34-11).
The Blugolds finished the night 20-of-57 (35.1 percent) from the field, 13.3 percent (2-of-15) from beyond the arc, and 81.3 percent (13-of-16) from the foul line.
The Pioneers will hit the road on Saturday, Feb. 21 for the final game of the regular season at UW-Stout. Game time is scheduled for 3 p.m.
*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.
