Pioneers Brush Away Titans

Two lay-ups from Brittany Brown in the final eight minutes helped UW-Platteville outscore the UW-Oshkosh women's basketball team, 16-8, down the stretch to earn a 63-49 win on Thursday (Dec. 10) in Kolf Sports Center.

UW-Oshkosh (1-5/0-2 WIAC) pulled to within six (47-41) with 8:10 remaining thanks to a three-pointer from Katie Kitzke (Fr. • South Milwaukee) that found the bottom of the net. UW-Platteville (7-1/2-0 WIAC) answered with two straight baskets by Brown to expand its lead to 51-41 with 7:05 left.

UW-Oshkosh got as close as seven (53-46) with 6:15 left on a long three-pointer from Megan Wenig (Fr. • Oshkosh). Four turnovers by the Titans, combined with a fast-paced Pioneers' offense, helped UW-Platteville take a 13-point lead (60-47) with 2:20 remaining and put the game out of reach.

The Titans started fast, opening a 4-0 lead with baskets from Heidi Baerenwald (So. • Appleton) and Laura Ebbens (Jr. • Appleton) accounting for the advantage.

UW-Platteville pulled to within one (8-7) on a lay-up from Charity Stotmeister with 12:40 left in the half, but UW-Oshkosh answered, outscoring the Pioneers, 12-5, to take a 20-12 lead.

The Pioneers stormed back, going on a 12-1 run to end the period and take a three-point lead (26-23) into halftime. UW-Platteville continued its run to begin the second stanza, outscoring the Titans, 4-0, keyed by a lay-up from Claire Poad.

UW-Oshkosh cut the Pioneers' lead to four (35-31) with a lay-up from Dannielle Bauer (Jr. • Dell Rapids, S.D.), but UW-Platteville never let the Titans get any closer down the stretch.

Pacing the Titans was Baerenwald, who tallied 11 points and a career-best 19 rebounds. Close behind was Wenig, who scored 15 points on the night.

UW-Platteville had three players tally double digits, including Stacia Nemitz with 16 points. Dru Schneider and Charity Stotmeister each added 12 points.

The Titans grabbed 45 rebounds, including seven from Shelby Churchill (Jr. • Sheboygan). UW-Platteville corralled 37 boards, topped by seven apiece from Nemitz and Poad.

UW-Oshkosh shot 33.3 percent (19-57) from the field while converting 60 percent (9-15) of its tries from the free-throw line. The Titans converted 2-of-15 from three-point range (13.3 percent).

UW-Platteville, which missed seven of its first eight shots, finished at 42.6 percent (23-54) from the field and 14-of-28 from the free-throw stripe (50 percent). The Pioneers hit 25 percent (3-12) from long distance.

UW-Oshkosh continues action on Saturday (Dec. 12) as it takes on UW-River Falls in Kolf Sports Center.