Pioneers Pull Away From Titans

UW-Platteville hit seven straight shots to close the first half and gain a 78-66 women's basketball victory over UW-Oshkosh on Saturday (Dec. 17) in Platteville.

The Pioneers (5-6/2-2 WIAC) trailed 21-17 with five minutes left in the opening period. UW-Platteville then went on a 16-7 scoring run to go ahead 33-28 at intermission. Kim Wellnitz converted two jump shots before Liz Lawinger sank a pair of lay-ups and a free throw in the final 58 seconds of the opening period.

Wellnitz topped UW-Platteville with 22 points, as Lawinger totaled 19 points, four assists and three steals. Ashley Henry posted 17 points and 10 rebounds for the Pioneers, who shot 46 percent (29-63) from the field and 78.9 percent (15-19) from the free-throw line. UW-Platteville made 5-of-17 (29.4 percent) three-point shots.

UW-Oshkosh (5-4/0-3 WIAC) rebounded from an early 13-9 deficit with a 12-4 scoring run. The streak featured five field goals from five different players, as Ashley Winterfeldt (Jr. • Hortonville) buried a jump shot to give the Titans a 21-17 advantage.

Henry converted a lay-in and jump shot after halftime to put the Pioneers up 37-28. The Titans then went to their outside game, swishing four three-point shots in a span of five minutes. Katie Kitzke (Jr. • South Milwaukee) counted the last two buckets to cut UW-Oshkosh's deficit to 50-43 with 11:05 remaining.

The margin never fell below seven points, and it grew as large as 66-50 when Wellnitz converted inside with 5:17 left. UW-Platteville was successful in the contest because it had just six turnovers, while the Titans committed 14. Claire Poad marked three of the Pioneers' eight steals.

Megan Wenig (Jr. • Oshkosh) counted a career-high 23 points for the Titans. She also grabbed four rebounds and dished off four assists. The Titans also received 14 points and seven rebounds from Kitzke, nine points from Megan Lund (Sr. • Reedsville) and seven points and five rebounds from Heather Conroy (Fr. • Wisconsin Dells).

UW-Oshkosh marked shooting percentages of 42.9 (24-56) from the field, 44.4 (8-18) behind the three-point line and 55.6 (10-18) from the charity stripe. The Titans lost the rebounding battle, 37-36.

UW-Oshkosh returns to Kolf Sports Center to host St. Norbert College on Tuesday (Dec. 20).